President Chopp leaving Swarthmore

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
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<p>Rebecca Chopp has been named the 18th Chancellor of the University of Denver. <a href="http://magazine.du.edu/campus-community/university-of-denver-names-rebecca-chopp-president-of-swarthmore-as-18th-chancellor/"&gt;http://magazine.du.edu/campus-community/university-of-denver-names-rebecca-chopp-president-of-swarthmore-as-18th-chancellor/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>On the SWAT site now…<a href=“President Rebecca Chopp Announced as Chancellor at Univ. of Denver, Constance Hungerford Named Interim President for Swarthmore :: News & Events :: Swarthmore College”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/news-and-events/president-rebecca-chopp-announced-as-chancellor-at-univ-of-denver-constance-hungerford-named-interim-president-for-swarthmore.xml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>As an alum, and parent of a soon-to-be freshman, I find this welcome news.</p>

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Today’s news strengthens my regret that the search committee did not choose Christina Paxson back in 2009. As an alum and the parent of an alum, she has strong Swarthmore ties. Alas, the committee was risk-averse because of the recession, so the members went with experience.<br>

<a href=“http://www.browndailyherald.com/2012/04/11/from-dean-to-president-paxsons-rapid-ascent/”>http://www.browndailyherald.com/2012/04/11/from-dean-to-president-paxsons-rapid-ascent/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>My just graduated S said that the students don’t seem particularly upset by this. S said that she seemed really disconnected from the students. He could pass by her walking on campus and she wouldn’t greet/acknowledge him in any way.</p>

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<p>Four years on campus and my very social, involved and friendly student never had an exchange with Rebecca Chopp. At a school of this size that is inexcusable.
Hopefully, the search committee can find an exceptional leader (because given the school’s recent history, a person with exceptional leadership skills is essential) willing to come to the Swarthmore campus. Given the school’s climate in the last year and a half in particular, it will be a tough sell. There will be plenty of sub par candidates throwing their hat in the ring but hopefully the search committee will be discerning. The new president will need to raise the bar in many/most administrative and student services area and inspire the faculty to create an undergrad experience at Swat that goes beyond merely assigning enormous work loads on students. Enormous work loads do not equal quality.</p>

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<p>Amazing… at my kid’s LAC, the president sought her out at orientation because she had memorized the names and faces of the whole freshman class, but for some reason the picture we had sent (requested by the college) of my D did not get to her stack to memorize. So she wanted to meet my D and put a face to the name.</p>

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<p>intparent-that is an amazing story.</p>

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<p>Well…my kid turned down Swat last year for this other school (which is why I still take an interest in the Swat forum, since my kid came close to attending). The president said there were only half a dozen students in the class she didn’t know by face, and was watching for them at orientation. Now I don’t know if my kid has spoken to her again since then. :)</p>