Chancellor Gee leaving.....

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<h2>I'm somewhat disappointed he is leaving but I appreciate all the things he has done for the university. </h2>

<p>(Email to Vandy students)</p>

<p>Dear Colleagues,</p>

<p>Today, it is with mixed emotions that I have informed the Board of Trust and its Chairman, Mrs. Martha Ingram, of my intention to resign the Chancellorship of Vanderbilt on August 1 of this year. At that time, I will assume the Presidency of The Ohio State University. This was by far the most difficult professional decision that I have ever made. I want you to know that I am not leaving Vanderbilt. Rather, I am following my heart and returning to a place that I consider my home. My decision is that simple and that complex. Over the past several weeks, members of the University Board and the University family have done everything possible to make me feel valued and appreciated. I assure you that I do.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt is a magnificent university with a world-class faculty, remarkable
students, devoted staff, and passionate alumni. It is blessed with an extraordinary group of senior leaders. Its future is boundless. It will continue its unprecedented trajectory to greatness. I assure you that I will give Vanderbilt my full measure of devotion until I assume my new duties. And, I will always take great pride in the achievements of the University and the friendships that I have made and will continue to cherish.</p>

<p>Gordon</p>

2

<p>(Additional Info. In Second E-mail)</p>

<p>"We are grateful to Chancellor Gee for his efforts over the past seven years and wish him well in his new endeavors," said Martha R. Ingram, chairman of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust. "This is a remarkable University, with the most deeply committed and loyal students, faculty, staff and alumni. Their accomplishments, and the support of our many friends around the world, have made every member of the Vanderbilt family proud and excited for the future."</p>

<p>Ingram added: "The Board looks forward to working with every part of the Vanderbilt community in planning a thorough and inclusive process to select our next Chancellor. In the meantime, we are blessed to have an extraordinarily talented senior management team in which we have complete confidence."</p>

<p>The Executive Committee of the Board of Trust will meet later this week to begin the transition process.</p>

<p>Gee came to Vanderbilt in 2000 as the seventh chancellor in the University?s
134-year history. He previously served as president of Brown University, Ohio
State, The University of Colorado and West Virginia University. During his tenure, Vanderbilt has enjoyed significant success in a number of areas, including:</p>

<ul>
<li>Completing a $1.25 billion capital campaign two years ahead of schedule and raising the goal to $1.75 billion with an emphasis on endowed scholarships and faculty
chairs.</li>
<li>Growing the University's endowment by almost 50 percent, to more than $3 billion.</li>
<li>Leading the country in the rate of growth for academic research, with external funding increasing from $232 million in 2000 to more than $450 million today.</li>
<li>Doubling the annual budget for financial aid from $30 million to $60 million, and reducing significantly the debt burden for graduating students.</li>
<li>Launching the $100 million Academic Venture Capital Fund to seed new research centers in life sciences, social sciences, humanities, culture which have led to important discoveries and insights and new educational opportunities for undergraduates.</li>
<li>Increasing applications for admission, from 8,000 in 2000 to more than 13,000 in 2007, and becoming one of the most selective institutions in the country, with average SAT scores rising almost 100 points, and more than 90 percent of incoming students coming from the top 10 percent of their high school classes.</li>
<li>Renewing Vanderbilt?s commitment to being one of a small number of private
universities that admit applicants regardless of their ability to pay and that meet the full demonstrated financial need of all students so that a Vanderbilt education is affordable to all.</li>
<li>Leading one of the most rapid changes in diversity, with a 50 percent increase in minority students.</li>
<li>Completing or beginning construction of more than $700 million new facilities for medical research, student services, studio arts, engineering, law, children?s health, diabetes care, performing arts, interdisciplinary work in arts and sciences, tennis, baseball, Jewish life and African-American culture.</li>
<li>Becoming the most-preferred provider of health care services in Middle Tennessee, with the opening of the most advanced children?s hospital in the country and new clinical services in a number of areas.</li>
<li>Starting construction of The Commons, a $150 million investment in the
undergraduate experience that will transform student life by creating a "campus within a campus" for first year students beginning with the entering class of 2008</li>
<li>Restructuring Vanderbilt's athletics program, which resulted in unprecedented success with seven of Vanderbilt's teams ranked in the top 25during the Spring, 2007, season.</li>
</ul>

3

<p>I agree with college2332 - Chancellor Gee has done a great job at Vanderbilt and deserves to be happy as he moves on to Ohio State. I hope Vanderbilt will be fortunate in recruiting a successor of his caliber.</p>

4

<p>My daughter is so disappointed - she loved the Chancellor, as did I. Agreed that he has done a phenomenal job at Vanderbilt. He's leaving big shoes to fill. My d doesn't think there's a viable internal candidate. She's anticipating a lengthy replacement process.</p>

5

<p>overall, i think you have to let the dust settle and then examine what has transpired during Gee's reign. at first blush it would appear lots of good has happened. but some of what has been discarded--such as not taking into account legacy as a factor for admission which is throwing the baby out with the bath water imho--are traditions that should be preserved. sometimes some of the hires are a little too pc--houston baker from Duke????--ahhhhhh.</p>

<p>if you look at the previous posts Gee has had there seems to always be an issue (or issues) that follow his leaving.</p>

6

<p>Alot has happened to Gee in the last year. Accused of overspending and a divorce, so it may be as simple as he is looking for a new (old) start. I know that he is greatly admired and well respected. The board of trustees have been through this before and hired Gee and they will take there time and hire someone just as well respected in the end. A great team of senior and supporting cast are in place at Vandy and I am sure that will all be taken into consideration when hiring someone new as far as the direction of Vanderbilt as a University.
As far as legacies are concerned, I have read where like 1700 of the approx. 13,000 apps were from legacies. In order to be a diversified and competitive univ. you can't except all legacies. I was told if all things are equal and you fit into their matrix then legacies become part of the equation. My son got in and he is a legacy, but his grades and scores and ec's all were in the 25-75boundaries of the accepted students. They are doing the right thing in this regard.</p>

7

<p>Gee has been mostly good for VU. But it will be nice to leave behind our first job-hopping chancellor.</p>

<p>I've previously mentioned how overlooked Joe B. Wyatt was in light of Gee's clear charisma. Wyatt came in made big changes (slowly), finished his projects, and left a stable and much improved university. Gee did a good job of extending on this and shaking things up a bit too. And some shaking was needed.</p>

<p>Given her involvement and generous family contributions to the University, this will very much be Martha Ingram's call - as was Gee. I'd like to see her board ask Joe B. to come back as the interim chancellor until a new perfect person is found who will stick around for 20+ years.</p>

<p>Gee is far from THE university. His departure will be more missed than cheered for sure, yet he can be replaced. Surprisingly, this certainly seems like less than a lateral move.</p>

8

<p>while recollecting some items out of the past--</p>

<p>the pc nonsense over confederate hall comes to mind. how much was the total bill spent on that legal boondogle?</p>

<p>agreed on wyatt.</p>

9

<p>Gee's tenure coincided with my older daughter's undergraduate and graduate experience on the campus. He has a unique ability to relate well to both students and parents, and a wonderful presence at major events such as commencement. My younger daughter is attending Vandy this fall and I was looking forward to seeing him. Annual applications to Vanderbilt from my daughters' high school increased from three to approximately thirty in six years. He helped position Vanderbilt as a national university and will be missed.</p>

10

<p>The most recent issue of Vanderbilt Magazine has a lengthy article on admissions, which says they do not consider legacy status at all. The Common Data Set says the the same thing, so they are at least claiming that it is not even a small factor or tie breaker. This is quite unusual, and I am not aware of other major private schools that have done it. </p>

<p>Oh course they don't claim that $$$ is not a factor. Mrs. Ingram's grandkids may not get a preference due to legacy status, but they'll get a preference due to something else...</p>

11

<p>VUAlum, I don't know anything about the period under Wyatt, but I'm curious about your statement, "Wyatt came in made big changes (slowly)"</p>

<p>Can you talk about any?</p>

12

<p>Im glad to see this guy go, his actions on the 9/11 anniversary were sickening and in very bad taste; he embarrassed the entire university in my opinion. We can also do without his ridiculous spending and his exwife smoking pot on campus...</p>

13

<p>what did he do?</p>

14

<p>he's kind of a soul-less opportunist</p>

15

<p>He didn't cancel classes on 9/11, I think?</p>