SUMMARY

DISCUSS CHALLENGES FACING A NEW PRESIDENT
DISCUSS DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW PRESIDENT

MEETINGS

Student Government Association - April 14, 2009
Staff Advisory Committee/Staff - April 14, 2009
General Faculty - April 23, 2009
Foundation Board - April 30, 2009
Executive Council - May 6, 2009
Deans - May 6, 2009
Vice Presidents - May 6, 2009
Other Comments

Comments That Were Common to Multiple Meetings:

• Be visionary, not content with status quo.
• Bring in more funds, both state funds and private funds.
• Continue and build upon Richmond relationships with legislators and other government officials.
• Be enthusiastic, dynamic, innovative, bold and have charisma, good personality.
• Enhance branding of the University, both its academic programs and athletics.
• Continue sustainability efforts.
• Strengthen connections with the Town of Farmville and region.
• Be a visible president on campus and in the community.
• Recognize that Athletics is important - need for an athletic conference.
• Bring experience with accrediting agencies.
• Maintain close relationship with faculty and students through small class size.
• Continue to improve physical campus.
• Continue priority to have diversity in faculty, staff, and students.
• Create a vision for innovation and use of technology to enhance pedagogy, better class delivery techniques, and internal communications.
• Ensure sufficient support for Library and Student Counseling Center.
• Understand culture of Longwood - history and traditions, strengths, and move University forward.
• Provide more faculty development and opportunities for faculty engagement.
• Develop new academic programs to meet today's world and keep University competitive.
• Recognize importance of time management (being a president is a 24/7 job).
• Be a good communicator, both internally and externally.
• Understands dynamics of living in a small town in a rural setting - for president and family.
• Be a good listener.
• Be an optimist - the glass is half-full.
• Recognize that Longwood needs to be distinctive versus our in-state competition.

 Unique Comments:

• Need a president with an academic background, said some; others said a business background; while others suggested a "marriage" between academics and business - business savvy.
• Enhance the value of a Longwood University degree.
• Values students being allowed in the decision making process.
• Continue to allow students to run Honor Board and Judicial Board.
• More consideration of student perspective in making decisions.
• Support Greek Life.
• Reorganize structure to reflect a university (not a college) and adapt to changes in technology, diversity, student demographics, etc.
• Provide more autonomy and empowerment to others in budget and personnel decisions.
• Inspire faculty as scholars and provide tangible support for scholarship.
• Determine if Longwood's "footprint" in Richmond should be expanded and how programs would be delivered.
• Review student, physical campus, and human infrastructure to determine if growth has kept pace in all areas.
• Determine if Longwood is suffering from "growing pains" and if there are sufficient personnel/resources to sustain itself.
• Concern regarding heavy teaching load, family responsibilities, and University's desire for community service.
• Need a "culture of communication."
• Continue safety and security as major concerns.
• Understands tenure and promotion process and can talk about quality of academics.
• Need a full-time president; not egotistical; not just focused on own area of expertise; not a caretaker.
• Understands budgeting and restrictions placed on various types of funds (state funds for academics; student fees for student life/state funds versus private funds).
• Effectively manage conflict between different interests.
• Show respect for the past (affects alumni, retired faculty/staff and others with long-term association with University).
• Balance stewardship of accomplishments, but continue to to build reputation.
• Explore decentralized fund raising throughout the University .
• Make the University more flexible.
• Approaching inflection point - major cultural changes and challenges, i.e., offering housing to every student.
• Need to understand bureaucracy involved in being a public university.
• Be enough of an academician to be respected, but can still move people out of their comfort zone and push forward.
• Willing to see alumni.