Freeman A. Hrabowski is president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and one of the more renowned college or university presidents in the US. He's no stranger to SCUP, having been a panelist in SCUP's first virtual event, SCUP's 1999 satellite telecast: "Creating Tomorrow's Learner-Centered Environments: Today." That webcast, BTW, is available for viewing on SCUP's YouTube channel: www.youtube.Plan4HigherEd.

Hrabowski will kick off SCUP–46 with the Sunday evening opening plenary address on July 24, near Washington, DC. We have a couple of updates on his recent activities, below:

• TIAA-CREF has announced that Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has been awarded the 2011 TIAA-CREF Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence. Dr. Hrabowski was selected by an independent panel of judges based largely on his work to increase the representation of minority students in science and engineering and create an institutional model of inclusive excellence.

• Hraboski was recently interviewed for The Washington Post:  

Problem: College students of all backgrounds struggle in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses at a time when the U.S. needs to increase dramatically the number of graduates in these fields.

Solution: Group learning in introductory courses supports student success and increases interest in pursuing STEM majors, with the long-term goal of increasing the numbers of students who graduate in STEM majors and pursue graduate studies and careers in these fields.

Strategy: Ten years ago, we examined how we were teaching our introductory science classes, with the goal of improving the academic performance of students. A 200-plus lecture hall does not work for everyone, and does not necessarily encourage student engagement with the work and each other.

 

UVA president Teresa Sullivan has an advisory group that many consider unusual for a university campus, but which sounds remarkably SCUP-like. Its existence and its functioning is, we hope, being studied so that other institutions can learn whether this kind of group is beneficial, and in what ways.

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The 13-member crew, whose membership is weighted toward those with some business or finance acumen, is charged to serve as an informal advisory group to Teresa A. Sullivan, the university’s recently minted president. But Sullivan says the committee is also designed to bring transparency to the institution’s often-mystifying budgeting process, connecting the university’s administrators with a diverse pool of faculty.

“It seemed to me a shame these two groups of smart people hadn’t sat down with each other before,” she says.

Unlike a standard faculty budget task force, the advisory committee isn’t necessarily engaged with a particular issue, such as where the university should cut or invest. Instead, it is grappling with more fundamental high-level questions, such as whether the university operates with sufficient liquidity – or cash on hand – to pay its bills should there be another huge economic plummet.

Another point of distinction for the budget committee is its make-up. Like most university-wide committees, the group includes professors across a range of disciplines. At the same time, Sullivan clearly sought a number of faculty with business orientations, and committee members were charged to "draw on on their own expertise in financial matters to provide advice."

While Sullivan says she wasn’t looking for a brain trust to tap for input on specific policy questions, she notes that she won’t “rule out the idea that as we make budgetary decisions I will consult this group.”

Moreover, Sullivan may well be inclined to turn to this committee for ideas, rather than using outside groups that offer such services for a fee, sometimes inviting faculty criticism. "President Sullivan said that she would certainly go to this internal group for advice before resorting to the outside as a general matter," Carol Wood, a university spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. "Sometimes," she added, "there are issues of such technical complexity that you still need the right expert."

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Lessons Learned: Reflections of a University President by William G. Bowen is a new book that may represent, at this point in time, reflections on a career in that role longer than nearly all future university presidents will have. Consider the words below, conveying the importance and value of a long presidential tenure.

If you decide to purchase this book, consider doing so here, so that SCUP can receive a small percentage of the sale—without increasing your price.

You can learn more about Bowen and the new book from this Inside Higher Ed interview:

Q: Toward the end of the book, you suggest that 8-10 years would be "a good target" for a president to accomplish an agenda. You served 16 years at Princeton, but these days, five- and six-year presidencies are increasingly the norm. Why do you suggest a bit longer as a target goal? Do you think something is lost when presidencies are shorter?

A: My experience is that more than five or six years is often needed to achieve important objectives. As I explain in Lessons Learned, building strength in the life sciences at Princeton was a major strategic objective, and it took us a decade or more to do what needed to be done: achieve clarity on the precise goals, recruit essential faculty leadership, plan for the construction of laboratory space, raise the large amounts of money required, and recruit additional faculty. We made several false starts (from which we learned important lessons), and it then took time to accumulate the necessary resources and recruit strong faculty leadership. Shorter-term presidencies also mean that searches are more frequent and that too much time is spent on transitions. But of course much depends on the age of a president (I was 38 when I became president of Princeton), on health, and a number of other factors that can be specific to the institution or the individual.

Richard Ekman, president of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), worries a lot about where the presidential- and CAO-level leadership for smaller institutions will come from over the next decade. A large majority of CAOs do not plan to attempt a presidency, many because they think the job is too hard and unappealing. In this University Business magazine essay, he makes the case that being a president is actually pretty rewarding, and discussions options for leadership development on the academic side of the house, to prepare future presidents.

What doesn’t get emphasized often enough is how satisfying the president’s job can be—at best, how the joys of the presidency more than compensate for its frustrations. Consider, first, that the cause of higher education is itself a lofty mission. To devote oneself professionally to an enterprise that helps other people equip themselves for future lives of success, satisfaction, and civic responsibility inspires idealism and is of clear societal value. Second, presidents do have the opportunity to craft, then to act on the basis of an idealized vision for the institution—to weave personal values into one’s work to an unusual degree. Third, leading is usually more satisfying than following—presidents may lie awake at night because every detail of campus life is ultimately their responsibility, but that is generally preferable to midnight anxiety over one’s boss’ fitful indecision.

Now SCUPers can connect on Facebook and on LinkedIn.

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Join a great (virtual) conversation on Wednesday, November 11 at 1 pm Eastern. It's free for SCUP members and only $49 for others.

President Lawrence V. Weill of Gordon College will discuss his recent Planning for Higher Education article, The President's Role in Cultivating Positive Town-Gown Relations, with several senior SCUP leaders, including Planning for Higher Education executive editor Tom Longin, former SCUP presidents L. Carole Wharton, consultant, and Sal D. Rinella, STRATUS/Heering International, as well as 2010-11 SCUP president Joan Racki, Iowa State Board of Regents.

Enjoy listening it at a late or early lunch with colleagues. You can ask questions via a Live Chat.

Find out more: http://www.scupconversations.org/. (You can download the article at that link to read in preparation.) Register now to ensure availability.

P.S. If you haven't enjoyed a SCUP Virtual Conversation yet, you're missing a lot. Typical audience reactions:

"A terrific way to be informed by the experts and network with a family of educators sharing common concerns and questions." - Stan Plewe, Vice President, Dixie State College of Utah

"Winning combination of critical topics, industry experts and audience Q&A—all from the ease of my office!" - Kristie Hester, Marketing Services Manager, Charter Builders, LTD

Active SCUP member Laurence V. Weill, president of Gordon College (GA), has recently edited a book of chapters written by himself and others about the many somewhat personal issues that arise for a college president involving the wider campus-area community. What does it mean to be the face that most of the community associates with the college or university? It's a must-read for checklists and advice on the pitfalls and promises of being such a public face - whether president or not.

Here is a collection from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities of statements from, the voting record of, and pre-election media reports about President-Elect Barack Obama's positions on higher education-related issues.

Note: All of the current SCUP Links which pertain to election news, and which appear in the November 6 issue of "SCUP Email News," are in this single blog post.

Here is an early collection of several news sources with perspectives on what the recent federal (and state and local) elections might mean for higher education:

America Gets a Professor in Chief (The Chronicle of Higher Education): "The 2008 presidential election has broken so many political barriers that historians may overlook one unusual fact: When Barack Obama takes the oath of office next January alongside his running mate, Joe Biden, it will be the first time in history that the president, vice president, and both of their spouses have worked in higher education."

Obama Win Could Hit Recruitment of Foreign Students (The Guardian): "The US will look a lot more attractive, especially in the face of tighter UK visa rules."

Obama on Higher Ed (Inside Higher Ed): "President-elect has called for reform of loan programs, a tuition tax credit in exchange for service, new investments in research, and a broader concept of affirmative action."

Good Showing for Higher Ed Ballot Measures (Inside Higher Ed): "Despite recent downturn in U.S. economy, voters show some support for higher ed, approving key bond measures for community colleges — and reject a Massachusetts tax plan that would have devastated public colleges."

Turning a Page (Inside Higher Ed): "What should the president-elect study between now and the inauguration? Scott McLemee presents a reading list."

Application, U.S. Secretary of Education (Inside Higher Ed): "Wick Sloane offers the presidential candidates his one-year plan for a federal role in education when most attention will be elsewhere."

As Democrats Strengthen Grip on Congress, Key GOP Lawmaker Ousted (Inside Higher Ed): Rep. Ric Keller of Florida, senior Republican on the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness, and an avid supporter of Pell Grants, defeated.

Obama, Helped by Youth Vote, Wins Presidency and Makes History (The Chronicle of Higher Education): Includes a section on policy priorities and higher education challenges.

Democrats Win Big in Congressional Races but Face Spending Constraints (The Chronicle of Higher Education): "Practically speaking, that means 'things that cost money are going to take longer to accomplish,' said Becky Timmons, assistant vice president for government relations at the American Council on Education."

Obama's Possible Candidates for Education Secretary (The Chronicle of Higher Education): "Even if higher education is not Mr. Obama's top priority when choosing an education secretary, he still might want someone with a higher-education background, said Shirley M. Hufstedler, chosen by President Jimmy Carter as the nation's first education secretary."

Ban on Preferences Succeeds in Nebraska; Colorado Measure Remains Undecided (The Chronicle of Higher Education): "Those measures were among 19 referenda related to higher education that voters in 15 states were deciding on Tuesday. The ballot questions included proposals to create state lotteries to finance scholarships and questions about whether to issue bonds to pay for campus construction."

Results of State Referenda Related to Higher Education (The Chronicle of Higher Education): Access to this resource is protected for Chronicle subscribers.

State-Level Races Shape Education Landscape (Education Week): "In an election year dominated by a historic race for president, state-level candidates and issues struggled to compete for attention. But the stakes were high. The gloomy economic climate will pose big challenges for governors and legislatures in crafting state spending, about half of which typically goes to K-12 and higher education. " Access to more than the introduction to this resource is protected for Education Week subscribers.

Obama Elected 44th President (Education Week): "The Democrat’s agenda includes expanding preschool, recruiting teachers, increasing funding for charter schools, and amending the No Child Left Behind Act." Access to more than the introduction to this resource is protected for Education Week subscribers.

WEDNESDAY BUZZ: Obama Elected President, Higher Education Pledges Support in Addressing the Country's Challenges (ACE): From American Council on Education President Molly Corbett Broad:

"The American Council on Education congratulates President-elect Barack Obama on his historic election as the 44th president of the United States. I know that I speak for college and university presidents across the country in wishing him well as he starts his new administration in January.

Our nation faces a clear set of national and international challenges. That daunting list includes preserving peace and security in an increasingly interdependent world, revitalizing and sustaining a strong economy, and expanding educational opportunity in order to maintain America’s research and innovation edge. I can assure President-elect Obama that more than 3,000 American colleges and universities stand ready to assist his administration in addressing our society’s most pressing needs. We in higher education look forward to working together to meet the challenges of the next decade."