Juggling administrative duties

Martha Gilliland, academic vice president for information and human resources, left her position April 2 to become the provost of Tulane University in New Orleans, provoking the reorganization of vice presidential positions at the University of Arizona.

Rather than appoint a new vice president to take Gilliland's place, UA Provost Paul Sypherd decided to reorganize the structure of the university's vice-presidential positions.

Sypherd said the reorganization developed as a result of the search for a replacement for President Manuel Pacheco, who will take over as president of the University of Missouri System in August.

"We are in the process of searching for a new president, so searching for a new vice president just doesn't make good sense," Sypherd said.

He said the new president should be allowed to make decisions about the structure of the administration.

"This (reorganization) will provide flexibility to the new president," Sypherd said. "A new president has a way of wanting things to be a certain way."

In addition to providing that flexibility, Sypherd said the plan will also provide a financial benefit. He said that benefit may be short lived, however, depending on what type of changes the new president will make.

As part of the repositioning, Amelia Tynan, associate vice provost for information and technology, was promoted last month to vice provost for university information technologies.

In her new position, Tynan oversees campus computing activities in the Center for Computing and Information Technology. She also chairs the Information Technology Council and the President's Technology Council.

Gilliland is a strong supporter of Tynan's promotion and said Tynan's new role will benefit the UA.

"I think that it is a real statement by the university that technology is a real part of the campus," Gilliland said.

Gilliland said Tynan is the best individual for the job because she has a strong working knowledge of the technology involved in her job. She said Tynan will be able to explain that technology to users.

"I think that the researchers and everyone involved in campus technology sees this (Tynan's promotion) as a real plus," Gilliland said.

In addition to Tynan's appointment, Saundra Taylor, vice president for student affairs and campus life, was named vice president for student life and human resources.

As a result of her appointment, Taylor will supervise the entire human resources division, Sypherd explained.

He said enrollment services and academic support, which were previously under Taylor's direction, will be transferred to Michael Gottfredson, vice president for undergraduate education.

Career Services and the University Learning Center's minority student services will remain under Taylor's direction, Sypherd said.