The University has entered the final stages of the search for a senior vice president and provost, the second in charge to University President Dave Frohnmayer.
The candidate will replace John Moseley, who has served in the position since 2001.
One of the three candidates has already made a formal presentation to the University. Dr. Uday Sukhatme, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo presented his vision of “challenges and opportunities” that will face the University in the coming years during a presentation Oct. 27.
The senior vice provost and president oversees four University vice presidents in the areas of finance and administration, academic affairs, research and graduate studies, and student affairs.
Moseley is the second top-level administrator to retire in the past two years, with Vice President for Administration Dan Williams retiring in June 2005. Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Davis will also retire at the end of this academic year.
The retirements sparked a restructuring of the administration, with Williams’ position renamed the vice president for finance and administration and appropriating the duties of the University’s chief financial officer, which had been undertaken by Moseley. Frances Dyke took on the position once Williams retired.
Davis, the chair of the search committee, said the University is searching for a candidate who “brings with them leadership, scholarship and understanding of a research university.”
An effective administrator is one who has a wide variety of leadership and organizational skills, she said.
“If you believe that you are successful in the way in which you can lead, can coordinate, can get the best out of people … and look at administration as a way in which the values that you hold from an academic and personal perspective can be expressed, then I think you can do it,” she said. “You have to deal with a wide variety of issues … and be somewhat unflappable.”
“People that move into administration want to feel like they can make a difference somewhere,” she said.
According to the University-issued information packet for applicants, the search committee is seeking an “innovative, experienced administrator” who will “play a pivotal role in guiding the UO through this transformative period.”
The packet mentioned funding cuts the University has suffered as a result of reduced higher education spending and said that applicants must be able to “enhance the reputation of UO” by recruiting respected professors and competitive out-of-state students.
All the students the Emerald spoke with were unaware of the ongoing search and of what exactly the senior vice president and provost does.
Stephanie Woodlee, a business administration and international studies senior, said that she knew “conceptually, but not precisely” what the provost’s job is.
When asked if she knew about the search, she said that she had not heard of it.
Others had suggestions for the new provost to focus on.
Tim Griffith, a sophomore who has not declared a major, said academic quality should be improved.
“I’ve had a few professors that have just been terrible, and I don’t think this University should have professors like the ones I’ve had,” Griffith said.
Amy Long, the greek leadership adviser, said she hopes the new provost will work on making sure students have excellent “outside learning” experiences and ensure there is unity between different groups on campus.
“I’d like to see great out-of-classroom learning experiences provided . in terms of internships, practicums,” Long said. “It’s so crucial for students to have the opportunity to have some practical internship experience.”
ASUO President Adam Walsh said the University has done a good job of publicizing the search and of involving students.
“Leaders from student unions have been invited to host our own panel with the candidates, to ask any questions that we want to ask,” he said.
“No candidate has made up their mind, so on the one hand it’s attempting to sell the University but also to find out where they stand on various issues.”
He said he hopes the new senior vice president and provost will be “open to student comments and receptive to students.”
When asked what qualities he thinks are most important, Walsh said effective and open communication with the student body.
“Someone who really respects the voice of the student government … hopefully someone with an open-door policy, even after they get their office at Johnson Hall,” he said.

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