Tressel Suggests Transition Plan for University of Akron
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron's Board of Trustees announced Tuesday that Jim Tressel is one of three finalists to replace Luis Proenza, who is retiring July 1. Tressel currently serves as UA's executive vice president for student success, and has also applied to become the next president of Youngstown State University.
The other two UA finalists are Dr. Ronald A. Nykiel, provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md., and Dr. Scott L. Scarborough, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at The University of Toledo. (CLICK HERE to view each candidate's application materials.)
In his letter to the UA trustees applying for the job (CLICK HERE), Tressel sets forth a two-phase transition plan that focuses on stabilizing the school's fiscal health and re-aligning "operations and faculty-student experiences" to increase graduation and retention rates.
"With great reverence to Dr. Proenza's impressive legacy, the University finds itself at a crossroads that an external candidate may not be able to competitively navigate," Tressel writes. "It is my opinion that we need more than a leader who can 'hit the ground running.' Rather, the University would be better served by a leader who has been 'on the ground' with the current team. ... While the outcomes of the strategic initiatives I have led under the all-inclusive student success banner are yet to be objectively measured for their impact, there is evidence of early wins and positive momentum in the recruitment, retention, scholarship reallocation, alumni engagement, career planning, faculty relationships, inclusive excellence and partnership areas."
Tressel, who earned his master's degree at UA and served as head football coach at YSU as well as Ohio State University, concludes his letter with "Go Zips!"
YSU's Board of Trustees met behind closed doors for nearly three hours Tuesday night, and narrowed YSU's list of presidential candidates down to an "A" list of six applicants and a "B" list, according to a spokesman. Interviews with the "A" list candidates will be conducted this weekend via Skype. YSU expects to announce who's on the "A" list once all the applicants have been contacted.
Both universities hope to have their new president selected by June 30.
Tressel's letter accompanying his application for the presidency of YSU cites his community support in the Mahoning Valley, noting that "alumni, area educators and countless citizens" have asked him to "come back and join us as we do extraordinary things today." The letter emphasizes his ties to the Valley. "The 15 years that our family spent at YSU were special, and the thought of contributing in an even more significant role is exciting and daunting," he wrote.
In a memo announcing the three finalists for the UA position, the trustees said "each finalist will spend an entire day interviewing on campus with the multiple constituency-advisory groups who helped to define the qualities sought in the next University of Akron president," the trustees said.
"Those groups include university deans, senior administrators and the elected presidents of undergraduate, graduate and law student governments, as well as representatives of academic department chairs and school directors, faculty senate and Akron-AAUP, contract professionals and staff employees, and community leaders. Each finalist also will appear at an open, public forum on campus."
Here is more information about the three finalists at the University of Akron, as released publicly in a memo for the school's trustees:
Ronald A. Nykiel, Ph.D. Visiting UA, April 28
Dr. Nykiel currently is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland. Appointed to that position in February 2013, he is responsible for all schools, programs, faculty and staff in the academic division; academic accreditations; international programs; institutional research; instructional technology; the honors program; registrar’s office; policy and strategy development and implementation; organizational and strategic planning; academic budget oversight; and brand management and marketing.
Scott L. Scarborough, Ph.D. | Visiting UA, April 30
Dr. Scarborough currently is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Toledo. Appointed to that position in 2012, he serves as the chief academic and operating officer in charge of the colleges of engineering; business; communication and the arts; language, literature and social sciences; natural sciences and mathematics; education; social justice and human service; law; graduate; honors; adult professionals; YouCollege; UTXnet World Campus; as well as the university’s libraries; enrollment and management; registrar’s office; university teaching center; and the division of student affairs.
James P. Tressel, M.A. | Visiting UA, May 1
Mr. Tressel is Executive Vice President for Student Success at The University of Akron. Appointed as Vice President of Strategic Engagement in 2012, he is responsible for academic advising; academic encouragers; Office of Accessibility; Adult Focus program; Akron Experience; Career Center; Choose Ohio First scholarship programs; Counseling Center; financial aid; learning communities; Military Services Center; Multicultural Academic Services/Office of Multicultural Development; new student orientation; Student Success Center; Transfer and Adult Student Enrollment Center; tutoring and workforce development; and continuing education.
SOURCE: University of Akron.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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