A President For a New Century
Posted on Nov. 12, 1996When Wyndham Robertson stepped down as vice president of the UNC System this year, her parting remarks to the Board of Governors underscored 10 years of observations about the University and the UNC System’s president, C.D. Spangler ’54. “The University and this board,” she stated, “are served by a president who has the courage of his convictions.”
As President Spangler, who began serving in 1986, prepares to step down next year, the importance of the choice of his successor cannot be understated. North Carolina has been fortunate that, during the UNC System’s 64-year history, it has enjoyed strong leadership from men who shared President Spangler’s courage and conviction: Frank Porter Graham ’09 (1932-49), William D. Carmichael (acting president, 1949-50), Gordon Gray ’30 (1950-55) and William C. Friday’48 (1956-86).
The next president will lead higher education into the 21st century. There are growing expectations that our University System and its 16 campuses — with a budget totaling $2 billion and with the responsibility for educating an estimated 153,445 students — will face greater competition for limited resources. Additionally, the public, as expressed through our elected leaders, expect education to address a growing list of social and economic concerns. How will the UNC System accommodate an explosion of new students seeking further education? How will the UNC System respond to growing legislative demand for greater accountability? How will the UNC System reconcile the desire of the Charlotte campus to become a third research University within the System and the limited resources available for such a costly undertaking? These and other questions will shape North Carolina, and particularly our campus, in the new millennium.
The Presidential Search Committee should reflect upon the challenges that will face the new president to ensure it identifies the qualities and qualifications necessary to be effective in these complex and sometimes difficult times. A clear consensus on qualities and qualifications is important prior to any serious discussion on any individual candidates. Too often searches immediately focus on those who have expressed an interest or those whom others have identified before fully studying the requirements of the job and the qualities that should be sought.
The next president must be a superb communicator, one who is able to earn the trust and support of diverse constituencies, including — but not limited to — members of the General Assembly, faculties on each of the campuses, his or her own administrative colleagues at General Administration, students, University staff, state officials, alumni and others. This ability to earn trust and communicate will be essential in the team-building needed to efficiently and effectively deploy the limited resources available. With limited resources, the UNC System must expand the already impressive collaboration among campuses. Communication skills are not only important to project an image, but to forge individual relationships, for it is through the personal persuasion, not brute exercise of power that lasting change and partnerships are built. An effective communicator who has earned the trust of the many constituencies and individuals must work with the UNC Board of Governors, chancellors, alumni, students and staff to persuade the General Assembly to continue its generous appropriations.
In addition, the next president of the UNC System must recruit, retain and motivate talented leadership both in the senior administration of the UNC System General Administration as well as in the chancellors for the 16 campuses. President Spangler has appointed new chancellors at each of the 16 campuses except N.C. A&T State University. While the chancellor search committees are appointed by local campus trustees, and include faculty, trustees, students and alumni, ultimately the two or three names recommended to the president for his or her selection, represent different leadership styles and even different visions for the institution.
The ability to select and to work with others in helping to shape the focus and priorities of these chancellors is critical. Less obvious, but still important, is that many of the senior administrative leaders of the UNC System General Administration will be retiring, and this offers another opportunity for the new president to form a team that will work with the campuses and with state officials, particularly those in the departments of community colleges and public instruction, to ensure that North Carolina’s long-respected system of public higher education continues to address effectively the critical needs of North Carolina.
Clearly, the 21st century will require education at all levels to contribute in a rapidly changing environment. The choice of who will be the senior leader and spokesperson for higher education and, thus, help to shape this future, has implications for all of us. It is vital for this First State University to continue to enjoy the benefits of a strong president of the University System.
Yours at Carolina,
Douglas S. Dibbert ’70
