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UT’s NEW #2
Incoming Provost David Stern speaks about campus visit and what he aims to bring to UT starting in April
By MIA GLATTER
News and Features Editor
After flying into Tampa last November, the night before his first interview for the provost position, David Stern crossed the Kennedy Bridge and walked around campus. “I was struck by the remarkable campus,” Stern said, “combining a location right in a major urban center, a gorgeous natural setting on the park and the river and the beauty of the campus environment itself. I was also struck by the liveliness on campus, which conveyed to me that UT is a vibrant residential campus.” The next morning, Stern had his “airport interview,” meeting briefly with the search committee and then university president Ronald Vaughn. Later, President Vaughn invited Stern-most recently a high-level administrator at Minnesota’s Hamline University-- back to the school. As one of the four finalists, he took part in two days of interviews with faculty,
students, staff and members of the board. “I was excited to be one of the finalists, and my time on campus convinced me that UT would be a good fit for me,” he said. “Of course, the decision whether I was a gwood fit for UT had to be determined by members of the UT community.” After engaging in several extended conversations with President Vaughn after the campus interview, Stern received an offer to be the university’s next provost on Dec. 18. After finalizing details, he officially accepted the president’s offer on Dec. 21. The position of provost is currently held by Janet McNew. Stern will take over for her in April. His official position title: provost and vice president for academic affairs. His responsibilities include oversight of numerous university offices, programs and the four main colleges-- the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), the College
of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS), the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education (CSSME) and the John H. Sykes College of Business. Stern is not concerned about the many and varied responsibilities he will be undertaking, in part because of his experience at Hamline. He served from 2006 to 2012 as vice president for academic and student affairs at the St. Paul, Minn., liberal arts school. “At Hamline, the dean of students is the senior student affairs officer, and he reported to me as vice president,” he said. “At UT, the organizational structure is different, though I expect that academic affairs and student affairs will collaborate closely in working to ensure that the student experience at UT is a rich and fulfilling one.” Stern is eager to settle into the provost position, confident he will bring a variety of skill sets and experiences to the job
Photo Coutesy of ut.edu David Stern will relieve Janet McNew as the new provost starting April 2013.
and school. “I will bring to UT a dedication to high academic standards, a commitment to an educational experience that prepares students for success beyond the academy and a belief in the combination of liberal education and professional preparation that characterizes the
most salient universities today,” he said. “None of these things are new to UT, of course, but it is my hope and expectation that we can make demonstrable advances in all of them while I am provost.” Mia Glatter can be reached at Mia.Glatter@theminaretonline. com.
SG Approves Amendment to Change Election Process By JOSHUA NAPIER
Editor-in-Chief
The UT Student Government senators voted to revise their constitutional bylaws on Tuesday in an amendment that restricts students from running for the office of president or vice president if they have not previously held a SG position. Shelby Santos, chief of the Judicial Advisory Board, presented the amendment before the senate on Feb. 12, which stated, “For the President and Vice President and Vice President positions, one of the candidates must have previously held a Student Government
In Other News...
position. Standing as a Student have the benefit of experience Rutkovitz said the amendment Government representative for when coming into office,” SG will benefit future SG staffs by your organization does not suffice President Matt Rutkovitz said. preventing potential issues that this requirement.” “Knowing the organization would arise if someone unfamiliar The SG Senate with their procedures revisited the amendment were elected president. on Tuesday to determine Rutkovitz described the if the revision would situation of his 2012 “The purpose of this amendment take effect immediately running partner Alison is to ensure that at least one or after the spring McKay’s resignation member on the presidential ticket election cycle. In a nine once they were elected will have the benefit of experience to three vote with three and how his knowledge when coming into office.” members abstaining, of SG policy helped him the Senate voted to determine a course of - Matt Rutkovitz, SG President immediately uphold the action when he began amendment. looking for a new VP. “The purpose of “Change isn’t this amendment is to ensure and basic operations of Student always easy, but sometimes that at least one member on Government is invaluable during it’s for the best,” Rutkovitz the presidential ticket will the transition period.” said. “To be the best Student
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Government leader, you need to have that Student Government experience.” Although the revision to the bylaws prohibits many students from running for the office of president or vice president, the requirement to campaign isn’t restricted to current officers. Rutkovitz explained that anyone who has held an official position with UT’s SG during his or her college career is eligible, regardless of the amount of time spent in that role. For those eligible, election packets are due to the SG office March 19 by 5 p.m. Joshua Napier can be reached at joshua.napier@ theminaretonline.com.
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