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September 10, 2004 > News > Search committee for undergrad dean formed

Search committee for undergrad dean formed

By Katherine Corley | Thresher staff

The search committee for the new dean of undergraduate education will include two Rice undergraduates — Student Association President Derrick Matthews and another student yet to be named. The second student will be selected by the Office of the President from nominees submitted by the nine college presidents. Adviser to the President Maryana Iskander (Wiess ‘97) said the students will be joined by a small group of faculty members. ‘The committee will be chaired by a faculty member and include representation of interested parties,’ Iskander said. ’It is important that it not be so big that it [will] be unwieldy.’ The dean’s position was created after former Vice President for Student Affairs Zenaido Camacho announced his retirement in early August. At the time, President David Leebron announced the vice president’s position would be eliminated and replaced by that of a dean of undergraduate education. The search committee is expected to produce names of several candidates for the position, with Leebron and Provost Eugene Levy making the final decision. Iskander said Leebron hopes to select the dean by the end of the fall semester. ‘He would like this to be done as quickly as possible, though we don’t want to rush,’ she said. ‘The sooner we can get the search committee together, the better.’

Selecting the representative The college presidents will submit nominations for the open spot on the search committee by today, Matthews said. The process for choosing nominees varied from college to college. Brown College President Tamara Friedrich and Sid Richardson College President Laura Sawyer asked that interested students send them e-mail statements about why they would like to be on the committee and what relevant experience they have had at Rice. Friedrich said she had received nine application statements by the Tuesday deadline. Martel College President Phill Brown said he saw little interest in the position. ‘I think people are afraid of a huge time commitment,’ Brown said. ‘At Martel, we also have a master search taking place this semester, which is definitely drawing attention away from the dean search.’

Creating the job description In a question-and-answer page posted on the Office of the President’s Web site Aug. 20, Leebron addressed the role of the new position. While the job description has yet to be completed, the Web site states the dean will oversee undergraduate curriculum, advising, career services, extracurricular activities and the social aspects of undergraduate life. Although the new dean will replace the Vice President for Student Affairs, the responsibilities of the two positions differ, Iskander said. ‘The idea is to take a holistic approach to all spheres of the undergraduate endeavor, from classroom to campus life to engagement with cultural education,’ Iskander said. ‘The dean is someone who can give the students a direct voice on the curricular side, who can bring together broad aspects of the undergraduate experience that includes extracurricular activities and social life.’ Iskander said the President’s Office will post an official job description for potential candidates, but the committee will also have input in determining the qualities it will seek in the candidates. Matthews said he intends to use the SA forum — a monthly discussion held in place of the SA Senate meeting — to gather student opinion on undergraduates’ visions for the new dean. ‘I plan on holding the next monthly forum to focus on specific attributes and qualities that should be emphasized in this new position,’ Matthews said. ‘The forum should yield a lot of good information and discussion, just as the last one [did].’ Leebron has also been holding forums at each of the residential colleges to discuss the restructuring of the Office of Student Affairs as well as other aspects of student life. He and his wife, Ping Sun, plan to eat dinner and facilitate a discussion at each college during the semester. The next forum will be held Thursday at Lovett College.

Gathering opinion Friedrich said she thinks the new dean should focus on the overall undergraduate experience. ‘I am looking for someone who has had a broad spectrum of experiences at Rice, understands the importance of Rice fostering the all-around growth of students, and someone who is a good listener and will be able to effectively present our views and fill the role as a liaison,’ Friedrich said. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Professor Paul Harcombe, one of two faculty members to attend Leebron’s forum at Martel Tuesday, also said he is interested in a person with a broad vision of the university. ‘Ideally the new dean would share … Leebron’s holistic view of undergraduate affairs [and] education and command enough respect and be articulate enough to persuade the faculty to set aside narrow disciplinary interests in thinking about undergraduate education,’ Harcombe said. Brown said he would look for a candidate approaching Camacho’s level of involvement in student life. ‘The nominee for the position of the dean would have to have ample free time and a flexible schedule,’ Brown said. ‘He or she would also have to have taken an active role in the college system and university organizations. In addition, the nominee needs an approachable personality for when the time comes to take suggestions [and] feedback from the student body.’ Matthews said he hopes to find a dean who is accessible and up-to-date on undergraduate life. ‘[We need] someone familiar with all aspects of student life, including the colleges, the academic workload students get and stress caused by student activities and homework,’ Matthews said. ‘Because this new dean will report to the chief academic officer of the university, I would look for someone who understands the unique nature of undergraduate education.’

Making the transition With the search for the new dean underway, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs John Hutchinson is responsible for managing the Office of Student Affairs. Iskander said the daily operations of the office are running well. ‘Everybody in Student Affairs is doing the great things that they’ve always been doing,’ Iskander said. ‘Dr. Hutchinson is there to help students as they need it.’ Formerly associate vice president for Student Affairs, Hutchinson said he will continue to fulfill his duties as Brown College master and chemistry professor once the new dean is selected.

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