The search for the next president of the University of
California moved one step forward Friday with the selection of a
special UC Board of Regents committee to find a successor for
current President Richard Atkinson, who recently announced his
plans to retire next October.
The nine-member committee is scheduled to begin work following
the formation of faculty, student, alumni and staff advisory
committees. The selection committee will consult with advisory
groups and other board members; this is unusual because
traditionally, selection discussions are held behind closed
doors.
Regents Chairman John Moores selected five members to the
selection committee, including its chair, Regent John Davies. The
others chosen by Moores are Regents Judith Hopkinson, Sherry
Lansing, Monica Lozano and George Marcus.
“I am pleased that such an experienced and able group of
regents will represent us in this important task,” Moores
said in a statement.
The other four regents on the committee ““ Student Regent
Dexter Ligot-Gordon, Alumni Regent Fred Sainick, Gov. Gray Davis
and Moores ““ hold their seats by virtue of their positions on
the board.
Committee members are mostly people Davis appointed. Aside from
Ligot-Gordon, Sainick and Davis himself, who are not gubernatorial
appointments to the board, the only member not appointed to the
board by Davis is Davies, one of the more conservative members of
the board.
Ligot-Gordon said he does not want the nominating process
“to turn into a liberal versus conservative thing,”
adding that the individual views held by committee members would
help to avoid political bias.
“(The selection committee) looks like it is pretty
balanced by perspective,” he said.
Academic Senate Chairwoman Gayle Binion, who will serve on the
faculty advisory committee by virtue of her office, said at the
Nov. 13 regents meeting that the selection committee would cast a
wide net to find a new president, and the search would be
nationwide, if not international, in scope.
Atkinson’s presidency has been widely praised during his
tenure: the UC restructured admissions policies and negotiated
funding agreements with Governors Pete Wilson and Davis.
The state has not yet provided the full funding laid out under
the Partnership Agreement made between Davis and the UC.
The next president will face major budget challenges, as the
state is projected to suffer a $21 billion deficit in the 2003-2004
fiscal year. The UC expects that over $400 million in requested
Partnership funds will not be provided.
Additionally, the Department of Finance has asked all state
agencies to cut spending.
Even without the shadow of Atkinson’s reputation, or
looming fiscal troubles, Binion said the next leader of the
university will have much to do.
A good university president will not only need to be a skilled
administrator, but also have a strong academic background and
fundraising abilities, Binion said.