President Miller

[filbert]

Re: President Miller

Wild, wild thought:.....

There are some examples of people from outside academia who have been great university presidents. Sometimes people have left the political arena with a great deal of experience and know-how that translates directly to running a university (fund-raising; ability to rub elbows and schmooze; leadership; guts; willing to take a stand; etc. etc.). After all, running a university requires one to be a politician of sorts.

I've always been a registered Republican. But, it seems a certain former Senate Majority Leader (happens to be an SDSU grad) would be an interesting thought. Some would continue to hate his guts because he's from the wrong political party but....interesting nonetheless.

President Miller turned out to be exactly the right person at the right time for SDSU...we've been lucky to have her.

Must . . . not . . . make . . . snarky . . . political . . . comment . . .




In all seriousness, I'm not sure how well Tom D. would do in the job--college president entails a different sort of politics than the polarizing cutthroat hardball as currently played by both sides on Capitol Hill.

I'm gonna hold fast to some Vice President of a major Land-Grant as my own dream candidate.

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: President Miller

Wild, wild thought:.....

There are some examples of people from outside academia who have been great university presidents.  Sometimes people have left the political arena with a great deal of experience and know-how that translates directly to running a university (fund-raising; ability to rub elbows and schmooze; leadership; guts; willing to take a stand; etc. etc.).  After all, running a university requires one to be a politician of sorts.

I've always been a registered Republican.  But, it seems a certain former Senate Majority Leader (happens to be an SDSU grad) would be an interesting thought.  Some would continue to hate his guts because he's from the wrong political party but....interesting nonetheless.

President Miller turned out to be exactly the right person at the right time for SDSU...we've been lucky to have her.

My experience with university presidents from outside of academe is not positive. The university environment requires a certain level of respect for notions like academic freedom along with an understanding of the vagueries of the consensus-driven world of faculty politics. Those concepts, in my experience, tend to be misunderstood by people who have no experience working within the academic part of a university. I think if a president is chosen from outside of academe, it would likely trigger a departure of faculty and administrators, and SDSU cannot afford to lose any of its qualified people. We don't want to take a step backward. We want to move to the next level.

My hope would be for a new president who, like President Miller did, brings a fresh perspective from outside of the SDBOR system and has a healthy respect for academic freedom, for the value of inquiry, and is able to lead while negotiating the nebulous world of academe.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: President Miller

My experience with university presidents from outside of academe is not positive. The university environment requires a certain level of respect for notions like academic freedom along with an understanding of the vagueries of the consensus-driven world of faculty politics. Those concepts, in my experience, tend to be misunderstood by people who have no experience working within the academic part of a university. I think if a president is chosen from outside of academe, it would likely trigger a departure of faculty and administrators, and SDSU cannot afford to lose any of its qualified people. We don't want to take a step backward. We want to move to the next level.

My hope would be for a new president who, like President Miller did, brings a fresh perspective from outside of the SDBOR system and has a healthy respect for academic freedom, for the value of inquiry, and is able to lead while negotiating  the nebulous world of academe.

Precisely what I am thinking except you added a very important point of consideration, namely academic freedom. Unless you are a faculty member, we other alums can't appreciate how important this consideration is to an institution such as SDSU.

UNKearney has a man named Christiansen as chancellor. Christiansen was a real heavy in the Nebraska Unicameral, and I recall talking to one faculty person there who express concern about a politician taking over and running an academic instittuion. I think Mr C has just carried the water, and not really did anything spectacular

Our neighbors to the South have a non academic president in James Abbott. I dont know how to judge his progress so far. He's an USD alum. He has a challenge as USD has always had weaker presidents than SDSU.  In some ways he looks progressive, but what their faculty think of him is something I would not a clue about.

Way back, we had a good one in President Slagle who was so good and so impressed the board of regents that he was reassigned to USD to straighten out their mess. ;D

Lets hope President Millers successor follows the Slagle path to progress. So good that our neighbors to the south want him running their show.

[Jacks99]

Re: President Miller

I say choose the best candidate for the job. Also having experience outside SDSU/south dakota at a large DI university is a huge consideration.

However, SDSU is definetly on the right track and if there is someone currently near the top at SDSU and has the same vision and goals then they may be a good candidate as well.

Just keep in mind, in many ways SDSU still has a long way to go to be considered an equal to U of Minn, U of Wisc, U of Iowa and so on.

[Dakota]

Re: President Miller

SDSU president retiring

Rapid City Journal
By Doris Haugen, Associated Press Writer
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/arti...te/state06.txt

MADISON — South Dakota State University president Peggy Miller, who plans to retire at the end of next year, hasn’t had time to figure out what she will do after she steps down as leader of the state’s largest university.

But Miller says no matter what happens next, she will keep working on behalf of the Brookings college.

“It was hard decision for me,” Miller said Thursday. “I think I’d planned to go on forever.”

Miller announced her decision in an e-mail to SDSU staff late Wednesday. It was made public Thursday morning at the South Dakota Board of Regents meeting in Madison.

With several major accomplishments behind her, Miller said the time was right for her to start paving the way for a new president and begin to say goodbye to the students, faculty and staff at the school she has led since 1998.

Harvey Jewett of Aberdeen, Board of Regents president, said a search committee will be formed, and a timeline will be set later for finding a replacement.

“It’s been an extraordinary run,” Jewett said of Miller’s tenure. “It’s been an extraordinary thing for State.”

During her years at SDSU, enrollment grew to more than 11,000 students, and the school moved up to NCAA Division I athletics. Jewett said Miller helped increase scholarship opportunities for students, has been committed to more research on campus and led the university through several construction and renovation projects.

Miller, who will be almost 70 when she retires, said that by the end of 2006, the university will have finished its 125th anniversary year and have the second phase of its “Lead Forward Agenda” under way.

Joel Hefling, chairman of the Academic Senate at SDSU, said Miller came to the university with an idea of what she wanted to accomplish and has been able to carry out her goals.

He said that although some wondered whether a woman could handle the responsibilities of leading a large university, Miller proved them wrong.

She not only understood the mission of a land grant university but embraced it, Hefling said. And along the way, she helped faculty and staff work to their potential by reminding them of their value and worth, he said.

“She is a pushy woman, and God bless her for being that way,” Hefling said.

Regents thanked Miller for her service to the state and applauded her leadership.

Carol Pagones, a regent from Sioux Falls, said, “Peggy Miller, I just think you’re terrific. As I said before, dynamite comes in small packages.”

“We all appreciate the work you’ve done,” student Regent Tony Venhuizen said.

At the time she was hired, Miller — then Peggy Gordon Elliot — was a senior fellow at American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C.

She had resigned her most recent college presidency at the University of Akron, Ohio, amid accusations of questionable hiring practices.

Miller, who replaced Robert Wagner as SDSU president, described her years at SDSU as among the most satisfying.

“I have had no happier or rewarding period of my life than this time I am spending with all of you at SDSU,” Miller said in her e-mail to staff. “I thank each of you sincerely for helping me and making me part of this great university family.”

She also has earned a reputation on campus for her dedication to students.

“I’m described as the mother bear, and don’t be bothering any of these cubs,” Miller said. “If you’ve got a problem with one of the students, then you’ve got a problem with me.”

The regents already are in the process of looking for a new president at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. That opening came after President Tom Flickema announced his retirement after 11 years with the university.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: President Miller

Not to look ahead too far but speculate and hope is what we do here.  

Who's next?

I like the name Mark Benedetto - Those of us from the Sioux Falls area know that name well and know what he has done as far as fund raising and improving the Athletic facilities at USF.  He would be a huge addition.

This is a stronger possibility than many might think!

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: President Miller

This is a stronger possibility than many might think!

From my perspective as a faculty member, Benedetto would be a bad choice. His background is in student services, athletics, and student affairs, not academics. His bio indicates that Benedetto has never served as a professor at any level at any university.  He also has very little experience at public universities. I have worked at a university (the University of Oklahoma) where student comfort and happiness trump everything else (the soundness of academic programs, for example). That sort of culture is not a comfortable place for a faculty member to be and can lead to the erosion of a professor's ability to control his or her own classroom.

I am sure I wouldn't be alone as a faculty member opposing any presidential candidate who brings a student affairs background as his or her only qualification for the presidency. Of course there is no indication that faculty concerns will play into this much at all.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: President Miller

What might make Benadetto a good candidate and it seem to be highlighted in the Argus coverage of strides being made by USF, is his ability to partner with the business community in SF.

In terms of media and corporate sponsorship and from an SDSU fan's perspective, this skill seems to be important, but hoardes there are many, many more issues and challenges to work on besides building our D1 programs.

I concur with OK rabbit, in that having a leader who has not taught in the class room is a negative.

[jackmd]

Re: President Miller

I really know nothing about the process of replacing a unversity president. Who can enlighten me? Who remembers the search for Peggy? Who were the candidates at that time and would any of them be considered now? Thanks.

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: President Miller

I really know nothing about the process of replacing a unversity president.  Who can enlighten me?  Who remembers the search for Peggy?  Who were the candidates at that time and would any of them be considered now?  Thanks.

I don't know anything about the prior search, but here's how they go, in general: There'll be a search committee, probably chaired by a president from one of the other universities (one who holds the proper degrees to lead such a search... so Abbott's out, I think). The committee will probably include representatives of the various constituent groups involved (faculty, staff, regents, administration, community, alumni, students, etc.) They'll review applicants and will probably forward the results of their review (which could be as general as merely eliminating obviously unqualified candidates or as specific as naming three finalists) to the regents who will make the final choice on who to invite to campus for extensive interviews. Once the regents, with input from various constituencies, make a choice, they'll negotiate with that person. The negotiations are a key part of the process and can have great benefit to the university. For example, if there is a candidate the regents really want, that person will negotiate his or her own salary, but also may have demands for new administrative positions, faculty lines, salary money for university employees, special initiative funds, etc.

It's not a very open process, until they get to the point of inviting people to campus. That's a key step and a very exciting one for the university community. And you really won't know if they have offered and failed to land any of the finalists (although rumors will fly, and some candidates may drop out, prompting much speculation about their motives.)

It's a scary and exciting time for university employees. We've had very good luck at SDSU, with some truly great presidents and only one or two clunkers. Peggy, though, will be an awfully tough act to follow.

One name I have heard thrown around is Fred Cholik, former dean of the SDSU College of Agriculture, now Dean of Ag at Kansas State. I don't know if there's anything to that, and I've heard mixed, but mostly good, reviews of him. But I would just put that information under the category of wild guesses.

[Rabbitlivinginverm]

Re: President Miller

Seems like it would be a pretty sweet gig...any idea of where I can pick up an app?

[jackmd]

Re: President Miller

From the Argus....

Challenges ahead
Peggy Miller’s replacement at SDSU must balance several priorities

Article Published: 12/26/05, 4:45 am

“It’s been an extraordinary run,” said Harvey Jewett, president of the state Board of Regents.

Yes, Peggy Miller has had an extraordinary nine years as president of South Dakota State University. And her announcement that she’ll retire at the end of next year gives us the opportunity to review those years, as well as look to the challenges that will be faced by her replacement.

It’s true Miller set wheels in motion, but SDSU’s response to the challenges of the next half-dozen years or so will define the university.

That’s not to diminish her accomplishments. They were many:

There will be construction on a wellness center, equestrian practice facility and two buildings in a research park.

SDSU began the Jackrabbit Guarantee scholarship.

There are new Ph.D. programs.

There’s more research at the school.

And SDSU moved to Division I athletics.

That last change is of special significance, because it is through Division I athletics that Miller envisions a degree of national exposure that will bring out-of-state students to SDSU as the pool of college-age South Dakota students declines.

In a similar way, University of Sioux Falls President Mark Benedetto sees his school’s emphasis on NAIA athletic success – and facilities – as the “front porch” to the institution.

The challenge is going to be making this work, boosting athletics to increase university exposure, while also cementing SDSU’s place in research, which has grown in importance under Gov. Mike Rounds’ 2010 Initiative.

No school grows solely through athletics – at least, not in ways we want.

So the new president:

Must understand SDSU’s place in South Dakota higher education, as well as know how to promote it regionally and even nationally.

Must shepherd this infant Division I program, while constantly monitoring it to make sure it’s accomplishing the primary goal.

Must fight aggressively to expand programs and research, which also will help draw students.

Must work to ensure that SDSU pays attention to South Dakota students, even as it hopes to attract out-of-state students.

Must look ahead to building programs, on the assumption that all this will work and the university will grow.

Must have the personality and inclination to be a ceaseless cheerleader for the university.

Must be a top-notch fund-raiser, an ever-more-important role in 21st century higher education.

No university president has an easy job. In some ways, the leaders of South Dakota’s public institutions have even tougher – unique – challenges that others don’t. We’re a small state with a fair number of public universities, as well as competition from some good private schools. Income never has been high. And there’s a disconnect between our universities and public school districts.

So, yes, we’re asking a lot from the new SDSU president – whoever he or she might be.............

[SDSUFAN]

Re: President Miller

This Argus editoral is interesting. They seem to be critical of someone doing things differently and doing so in a progressive manner.

Paying attention to South Dakota Kids, as a for instance. When haven't we paid attention to South Dakota kids? The efforts that are now being geared towards Illinois and Wisconsin will not happen at the expense of not holding a career day for Beadle County high schools. I am just using Beadle as an example here.

I believe the intent is to continue all these efforts as we have in the past. Its the projected decline of traditional students in South Dakota and elsewhere has motivated the drive of student recruitment into new areas. At least years ago, Chicago Suburan students were sometimes lucky to be admitted to Western Illionis as the state assisted schools fill up quickly in Illinois. Not everyone is admitted to U of Illinois at Champaign.

So if we get some of their overflow, it cant be a bad thing.

I think basically the BOR has been strongly behind President Miller so I suspect they will pick a replacement that is much like President Miller who can continue her efforts and add a few more and take SDSU to a new level.

[el_presidente]

Re: President Miller

The search committee was just announced. I don't have the correct spelling of all the names but will get them soon.

[89rabbit]

Re: President Miller

From the Argus:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.../NEWS/60324007


Good group of people, I am sure they will do a fine job.

Go State! ;D