Provost won't be appointed until May 1

Delay holds up VPUL search A new University provost will not be announced until at least May 1, Provost Search Committee Chairperson and Economics Chairperson Andrew Postlewaite said last night. The search committee, which was appointed after former Provost Michael Aiken's departure for the University of Illinois last February, said in December they hoped to finish their search by last month. Originally, the committee put off their search pending the selection of a new president. A February date was chosen after the approval of Yale Provost Judith Rodin as the next University president. The committee now hopes to have a final list of candidates for Rodin by the end of the month, Postlewaite said. Rodin is ultimately responsible for narrowing down the list and selecting the provost. Postlewaite added that he hopes Rodin will make a final selection by May 1. "The academic world is such that it would be much more difficult for her if she's not able to get [the search] done by May 1," he said. "Most external people would have to let their own university know by then [if they will be leaving]. "If getting the right person means going past May 1, I am sure [Rodin] would," Postlewaite added. Another search, that for the Vice Provost for University Life, hinges on the provost search, acting VPUL Valarie Swain Cade McCoullum said this week. McCoullum took over for former VPUL Kim Morrisson January 1. She agreed to hold the position until June 30. The new provost will be instrumental in the search for a permanent VPUL, McCoullum said. "It's my understanding that President Rodin is focusing her intentions on the Provost search process," she said. "Just as they wanted the new president before the new provost, they are doing something very similar in the student life positions." McCoullum said she does not know if the VPUL Search Committee will be able to complete their work by June 30, her last day on the job. She added that it would be best for the University if her term ended at the scheduled time, "to provide President Rodin with optimal flexibility in her choices for academic and administrative leadership positions." "When Interim President Fagin and Interim Provost Lazerson invited me to serve as Acting VPUL, we agreed it would be important for our terms to be co-terminate," she said. McCoullum added that her successor's transition should not be difficult, explaining that she was able to make an easy transition when Morrisson left her position. "I really was able to come in to serve in a very short period of time," she said. "I had three weeks to make the transition, [but] I had enormous cooperation with students and administrators." McCoullum added that her previous University employment as assistant to the president "did make a difference." Although she hopes her term will end by June 30, McCoullum said she is willing to continue in the post if the VPUL Search Committee "needed additional time." "It would be my pleasure to do whatever I could to support the University Life area and the new president and the new provost," she said. "If there was an opportunity to provide support during the transition period, I would welcome it." McCoullum said she hopes to ensure a smooth transition for the new VPUL by making sure that "all of the projects and programs and work that has been underway be fully nurtured and strongly supported." Postlewaite said the Provost Search Committee had "no connections" with the future search for a VPUL.