The new academic year not only brings a record number of freshmen onto campus, but also significant change to the University. While more than 500 freshmen find themselves occupying units at Stadium Park Apartments (the University’s response to student housing overflow), the Oregon State Board of Higher Education is busy searching for a new president who will support the myriad construction projects on campus. These include, but are not limited to, the new baseball stadium, an academic center for athletes, and the 10-year housing plan that will increase the number of beds to nearly 5,500.
The Strategic Housing Plan is the University’s two-phase plan to enhance the character of the residence halls and add more beds. With the two athletic buildings and the increase in housing all set to be complete by 2017, it will not be easy for University president Dave Frohnmayer’s successor to take it all in stride right out of the gate.
As the Strategic Housing Plan gets off the ground, the administration will also be preparing for the transition to a new University president. He or she will have to juggle many competing agendas, including the balance between athletic and academic excellence, and institutional financing. The contentious issue of competitive faculty salaries remains unresolved, in part because of consistently low state funding, a disheartening trend the future president must work hard to reverse. It is essential for the University to remain – as it calls itself – the flagship university in the state of Oregon. Many critics last year expressed concern that the University’s academic status is dropping, but if the future president can ease the tension between the academic and athletic sectors, and successfully lobby for state funding, he or she will be on the right track.
Equally challenging for the new president will be bringing together many varied student interests, thus enabling the University to prosper and grow. In addition to these important roles, the new president should be supportive of the student organizations that govern the student body. Developing a stronger relationship with the ASUO and increasing the clarity and communication about student fee structures and tuition increases will be essential. Last year, Frohnmayer’s relationship with the ASUO executive was strained at times, making it difficult for the two to work together for the benefit of students. One example is Frohnmayer’s resistance to former ASUO President Emily McLain’s fee transparency campaign – an objective the future president should support.
The search for the next president, who will take office in fall 2009, is completely closed, so not even top University administrators will know whom the candidates are. But the state board, which is conducting the search, will likely host several public forums on campus this year where students and community members can chime in on what qualities, experience and character they want in the future president. The year’s first session will take place tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in the EMU Gumwood Room, and a subsequent forum is scheduled for Oct. 14. Students should participate in at least one of these oft-neglected public forums, which offer campus stakeholders the rare opportunity to influence a decision that will affect the campus in monumental fashion.
We welcome the new freshman class at this exciting time of change and growth, where all students have the opportunity to shape not only their education but also what the University will become. We also welcome letters to the editor about the presidential search – or any other campus issues that arise throughout the year – for publication. During this transitional period, the student voice is more important than ever.
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