George Davis provost will take on title of executive vice president

A reorganization of the hierarchy of the University of Arizona's top management was announced Tuesday, reshaping and eliminating positions to tailor to them to the new Focused Excellence plan.

University President Pete Likins outlined the first two conclusions he found from a year-long study of the Focused Excellence plan, which he said better defines the role each executive leadership position will take and gears some staff more toward enrollment management.

The reshaping of these roles has eliminated the position of vice president for undergraduate education, held by Randy Richardson. The memo stated that Richardson would return to the Geosciences Department.

Richardson could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The plan granted by the regents in 2006 will give university administrators more flexibility in increasing the standards for admission called for the appointment of Vice President for Executive Affairs and University Initiatives Patti Ota to vice president for enrollment management, a position similar to one she held at Lehigh University.

"We'd rather be looking at applications of students individually rather than collectively, so we can find out whether the U of A is good for them," Likins said.

Ota's new position would administer that new process.

Created in response to continued state-mandated budget cuts, Focused Excellence was implemented last year and has been met with criticism by some students and faculty. Likins said he understands the trepidation of those close to programs under the microscope, but believes that this course of action is best for the university in the long run.

Randy Richardson vice president for undergraduate education (position eliminated)

"In some ways we're going to have to look back ten years from now," he said. "I do believe that ten years from now, we'll look back on the year just past and say ÎBoy, that was the year when we redirected our trajectory as a university.'"

Although response was tepid when Focused Excellence was first unveiled to the UA community, it has gained support from a growing number of students.

Melanie Rainer, Executive Vice President of Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA) is one who now views the plan in a different light.

"The initial reaction was the same for most people," she said. "After we had a chance to digest what it was about, I think it is a little more clear as to how this will help the school."

Rainer, a student-lobbyist last year for the Arizona Student Association (ASA), said she appreciates the magnitude of the proposed changes as they relate to the university community.

According to Likins, this is the idea behind Focused Excellence. It is, by his admission, a difficult plan for students to embrace because decisions made today will not necessarily show their intended impact until far into the future. Most of the students that will be affected by the plan may never see the benefits.

The restructuring announced Tuesday placed three administrators in a successive order, which is named the senior executive team. Sitting second in command below Likins will be Provost George Davis. Likins said that the restructuring has evolved past an arena beyond academic affairs, warranting the title of Executive Vice President. He will still hold the position of provost.

"He's the same guy doing the same job, working with me just as he has," Likins said.

Third in command is Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Joel Valdez. He'll continue to control the financial side of the university.

Patti Ota position to be changed to vice president for enrollment management

Fourth in command is Saundra Taylor, Senior Vice President for Campus Life. She will be responsible for most student affairs and employee relations assignments on campus.

Appointed to Vice President and Senior Associate to the President is Edith Auslander.

Auslander said Tuesday that her position would be to look into the diversity issues that Focused Excellence has highlighted.

"I'll be able to do my part at diversity at the U of A," Auslander said.

Likins said Auslander would also serve as the president's principal liaison with the Hispanic community throughout Arizona.

One position still left open will be Provost for Academic Affairs, which will be vacated by Elizabeth Ervin in September. Likins said that Davis is redefining the position, with expanded duties to include responsibilities within the Honors College and University School, which shifted with the elimination of the former Vice President for Undergraduate Education position. It will be filled on an interim basis.

Part of the work that the UA administration has done is to educate people on what the future holds as it relates to Focused Excellence. Likins said his staff has been notifying students and faculty through various bulletins in hopes of easing people's fears during a changing time.

"All of that is intended to help people through this process, but there is just a whole lot of learning that is necessary before you can really grasp the long-term significance of Focused Excellence," he said.

At the June Board of Regents meeting, Likins and UA Provost George Davis proposed the first of more than 40 changes involved in Focused Excellence. Only five changes were brought forth, all of which were approved unanimously. Davis and Likins had hoped that all 40 changes would be ready for the Board to hear at the June meeting.

The timetable for future proposals will take an indefinite amount of time, Likins said. Because there is so much time dedicated to gauging UA community response, some decisions take longer to make.

"For example, we talk about the school of planning, we talk about the humanities program, both of which are still scheduled and recommended by our provost and president for elimination," he said. "The faculty has the opportunity to take issue with that recommendation. That will play out over the entire year next year."

Likins said that he is confident that the university is going in the best possible direction for the future. Although there is no end date in sight, the Focused Excellence plan will take time for everyone to appreciate.