In recognition of the extreme importance of continued excellence at the UA and the necessity of addressing the growing cost of education in this state, the Arizona Daily Wildcat demands that the next president adhere to the following agenda:

Graduate students sooner

In the coming semesters, there must be a concerted effort to push students through the UA faster. In short, this means either adding more faculty members across the board to address class shortages or abandoning the university's low student-to-teacher ratio.

It's unlikely millions of dollars will be found to hire the droves of new faculty necessary, so the next UA president must sacrifice low student-to-teacher ratios in the short term to get students out of here on time. A low ratio, long touted by the UA, is a noble and lofty goal, but the sheer volume of students unable to graduate because of class shortages speaks for itself.

Many accrediting bodies require the low student-to-teacher ratio, which is one reason that the UA sticks so stringently to its standard. A return to that model should be a long-term goal for the next president, but the present needs precipitate action.

Stick to Focused Excellence

The path to academic excellence and financial success forged by President Peter Likins is a smart and strong plan. For the good of the UA community, it must be followed.

There were difficult decisions made for the better of the university in the belief that the UA could become Arizona's elite institution.

The projections and administrative posturing of the past four years have become reality, and allowing the UA to do what it does best is the only way to ensure prosperity for our posterity.

The next president must not abandon this plan. Rather, he or she must extend or augment it in the face of change, remembering always that excellence is what defines the UA.

Keep the state's best coming to UA

The UA tries every year to lure the state's top students to campus by offering them generous scholarships and other perks. For many students, the decision to stay in Arizona and emerge with an undergraduate degree debt-free is an easy one to make.

There is currently talk of making tuition waivers into cash awards. While this policy may be better for the UA's bottom line, the next president must recognize that cash awards - which may not cover future tuition increases - will only push students away to other institutions. More than that, the cash awards mock the basic tenets of Focused Excellence, which rewards academic excellence.

The next UA president must be committed to recruiting the state's best and brightest, and making sure that they're covered from staggering tuition increases, which have lately been the rule, not the exception.

Biotechnology is the UA's cash cow

The secret to the success of the entire UA campus lies to the north of East Speedway Boulevard, where research facilities are being constructed that will one day prove a boon to the university.

Biotechnology is the elusive silver bullet that will transform the UA into a more financially independent university. In addition to supporting the growth of the field and its research, the next UA president must lobby for increased technology transfer and look at ways for the UA to maximize profit from discoveries made on campus.

Remember who you serve

With the UA situated in a region comprising a vibrant Hispanic community, the next UA president must further Likins' goal of becoming the state and Southwest's largest Hispanic-serving institution.

But more than making the UA the best option for Hispanics - through active recruiting and boosted financial aid - the next president must make sure that every Hispanic student entering this campus stays here for four years.

Every effort must be made to retain these students. More than the future of the university, these students will one day determine the future of this state.

Opinions Board

Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Lori Foley, Caitlin Hall, Michael Huston, Ryan Johnson, Aaron Mackey, and Tim Runestad.