By Kyeland Jackson —
The University of Louisville staff ranked honesty foremost among the desired traits for the school’s next president.
That’s according to a survey issued in March which asked 253 staff members to list five traits they valued most in the next president. Staff reviewed the results in a staff senate meeting June 10.
Most asked the successor be honest and dedicated, and have integrity, a leadership style and other personality traits. Staff wants the new president to be “visionary with a focus on strategic planning” and have the highest degree in their field.
Just a few asked the next president embrace shared governance, be collaborative or value students, faculty and staff.
Those lesser-ranked traits among staff are recurring concerns for students and faculty. Faculty Senate Chair Enid Trucios-Haynes and outgoing Student Government Association President Aaron Vance fought for further representation in U of L’s administration, asking for a seat on the U of L Foundation board and various committees.
Representation concerns surfaced again when U of L Board of Trustees Chair David Grissom dissolved all internal presidential search committees, shifting those duties to the board. That day, Grissom assured faculty they would have representation in the search process.
“There will be a very comprehensive outreach program to touch all the important constituencies of the college community, whether it’s faculty, students, alumni, community leaders,” Grissom said after the June 28 board meeting. “I don’t think there should be any concern about the openness of it.”
Though U of L’s board will run the presidential search, a search firm will help. Applications for interested firms end July 19.
U of L’s Interim President Greg Postel will host forums to discuss the budget, presidential search and more this month. Those forums are July 25 at 9 a.m. in the Strickler Hall Middleton auditorium and July 28 at 9 a.m. on the Health Sciences Campus.
File Photo / The Louisville Cardinal
