<p>After reading about UVA Pres stepping down, and learning that the Pres at DS school will be leaving in 2013, I have to wonder, just how much immediate impact a President has on a school. I wasn't initially concerned about a change in leadership at a school that thrives on tradition, but I do wonder, other than fundraising and securing the endowment, how quickly can a President enhance a college or destroy it?</p>
<p>I think both Steve Koblik and Colin Diver made an impact on Reed, even if it could be broken down as simply as emphasizing what made Reed, Reed.
Both presidents took a vocal stand against participating in the us news ranking, for example.</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_college_and_university_rankings_(North_America[/url])”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_college_and_university_rankings_(North_America)</a></p>
<p>I think their day-to-day impact on the undergraduate experience is minimal.</p>
<p>Over the 8+ year tenure of the average college president, he/she can do many things which either push the U forward or keep it static. But in the life of the typical undergrad? Probably nothing of note.</p>
<p>The immediate impact may not be felt, but there is an impact. I went to the University of Illinois, a great school, that has lost 2 presidents to scandal in the last few years (not comparable to what happened at UVa, or so it would seem). However, I know it has impacted the faculty, and I am sorry that my son will not be applying to my alma mater, although I never encoraged him to. Leadership is still essential.</p>
<p>One thing Ds LAC does is give all staff a stipend to encourage connection with students. D reportedly has a great time playing paint ball with staff @ Reed, including the acting president - although admittedly that wasn’t a daily interaction.
;)</p>
<p>Having a great one with lots of contacts, actively involved in a school is absolutely terrific. Richard Celeste really made a difference at Colorado College in terms of opportunities he provided to the students during his tenure. A terrible one can really cause problems right down to the day to day operations of a school, and if a public incident occurs that is handled poorly, it can really hurt. But for the most part, an “adequate” president is what most colleges have and going from one to the other is usually not a big deal unless some big issue hits the school and a strong head can handle it better than mediocre and weak presidents.</p>
<p>Very good ones can make a real difference. Average will maintain things as is for better or worse. Bad can can very negative impact–mostly on staff morale.</p>
<p>What I can tell you is not having one at all because the BOV ousts your president without a replacement when it is not absolutely necessary (gross misconduct), that will have a negative impact on the university community…students, faculty, parents, and alumni. When you are given a reason that leaves you with more questions then answers, you are left with little confidence that anyone is at the helm that knows what the heck to do, especially the idiotic BOV!</p>
<p>Pullings strands from both the “have you drunk the LAC cool-aide” thread and the one about how much guidance to give your reluctant college searcher I will answer thus: I spent A LOT of time reading old talks, watching “fireside chat” videos and going through the book list reviews of what turned out to be my D’s college president (rising freshman). It doesn’t have to be this way, but a president can permeate the atmosphere of an institution (especially a small one) with her or his attitude and personal demeanor. They will come from a particular background of study - in this case a PhD in English Literature rather than Theology. They can set a tone for the institution - even one which is fairly bound to its own history and traditions. As crazy as it sounds, it was an affinity for the president that made me suggest that D look at this school even though at face value it might not have seemed like a fit.</p>
<p>Well, mine has taken the opportunity to deny anti-discrimination rights to students, constantly act counter to the “mission” of the university he constantly preaches, do nothing when the athletic office repeatedly and clearly tries to cover up rapes by football players, and sue the federal government over a desire to deny workers’ rights.</p>
<p>So yeah, apparently they do have an impact.</p>
<p>Conversely, we had a president for decades who basically made the university what it is today. So I’m under the impression that it is a fairly important office.</p>
<p>I agree with barrons. Most are capable in their jobs and so don’t seem to have much of an effect, but get a bad one and watch out! And good ones make the job look easy so people may not appreciate what an impact they make. </p>
<p>Maybe interpersonally in terms of the student body it’s more important at a LAC? Ds has played broomball with his college’s president, and, once while we were on the phone, ds engaged in a side conversation that, when he finally got back on the line with me turned out to be with the college president. Ds thinks quite highly of his president, likely because of these encounters (and others). Meanwhile, I can’t recall the name of the president at my 20,000+ uni. I’m sure if I had had direct contact with him I would have.</p>
<p>University presidents are like CEOs. Yes, they matter.</p>
<p>I went to two schools with progressive presidents, and I believe that a good President is extremely important to the quality of education. A good president will surround themselves with other talented administrators so that they may improve the school and eduction as a team. This is very important if you want to see the value of your degree improve even after you have graduated. I am confident, even after graduating, that the value of my degree will increase because the president of my alma mater is committed to growing the school and improving its reputation. And securing endowmnet is huge! How could you grow a school (or business, which a university is) without funds?!</p>
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<p>Pres Morty Schapiro at Northwestern has been there only about 2 - 3 years, but he’s established a tremendous presence with the students - visiting dorms, having dinners with them, inviting Jewish students to religious holidays at his house, etc. He’s a very visible presence on campus. And that’s a school with 7000 or so undergrads. As a point of comparison, he seems more engaged / visible at that campus than the pres of Wellesley does at my D’s campus which is 1/4 the size. (Which is not to say that she’s not a fine president, just that her focus isn’t as much meet-and-greet)</p>
<p>Some university presidents have a tremendous impact. With his exceptional political savvy, ability to innovate, and fund-raising prowess, Terry Sanford elevated Duke to a major national university during his tenure. Duke students called him “Uncle Terry.” His legacy is not typical.</p>
<p>Even at very large schools the right person can reach out and touch the undergraduates. Biddy Martin at UW was one of those. How many chancellors get featured in songs and videos?</p>
<p>[Zooniversity</a> - My Biddy ft. Sam Petricca - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>At all the liberal arts colleges I’ve been associated with, they make a HUGE impact. (By the way, I thought that Morty was a terrible President at Williams, and am not surprised that he;d make a more positive impression at a larger place.) They make a great difference in quality of education, in the launching of new initiatives, in helping to dictate institutional admissions policies, in managing budgets especially during down periods, in conveying a sense of belonging to alumni. They also make a massive difference when it comes to institutional problems, including alcohol abuse and rape/sexual assault (at Williams, Morty usually swept them under the rug, the new President has made both major campuswide issues).</p>
<p>DS school is only 900 students and the President has been successful at steering the school through the rocky waters over the last few years, keeping the endowment one of the largest per capita and spearheading an aggressive capital campaign successfully. He feels the next President needs to be in place for the next decade in order to be successful. I guess I will pay more attention to the next few years from an administrative standpoint as well. </p>
<p>Thank you for all your input.</p>
<p>John Peters’ quiet and compassionate leadership at NIU is credited by a lot of people with making a major contribution to the healing process after the campus shootings five years ago. Now he’s taking a very visible role in an initiative to significantly upgrade the academic profile of the school. It’s yet to be seen how that will play out, but he’s managed to get a lot of people excited about it.</p>