Likins appoints Taylor to put campus together

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Saundra Taylor

Beginning July 1, Student Life and Human Resources Vice President Saundra Taylor will become the UA's vice president for campus life.

In her new role, Taylor will report to Likins instead of the provost, making her one of six people who deal directly with the president on his "first team."

In his letter to the campus community, Likins expressed several concerns about the current state of the University of Arizona's sense of unity.

"I've struggled to understand why the campus community seems discouraged and somewhat fragmented," Likins wrote in the letter.

He said yesterday that since Taylor will report to him on campus life issues, more attention will be drawn to the topic.

"If this president is going to attach a priority to building community, I should ask Saundra Taylor to change her reporting role," Likins said.

Although Taylor will no longer report to the provost and will change her title, she said her role at the UA will not change dramatically.

She said her responsibility as vice president for human resources is to "bring together student life and faculty and staff life."

But Taylor said a sense of harmony between those groups is missing.

"A lot of people felt individually that this is a great university, but they didn't feel it collectively," she said.

Taylor praised Likins for actively participating in the solution.

"It sends a message that President Likins really values the campus community," she said.

In the statement, Likins also announced he is postponing a search to fill the vice president for advancement seat, a new position that would handle public relations outside the UA.

"I realize that we cannot enjoy excellent external relations until our internal relations are equally fine," he wrote.

Likins referred to his "Discussion Paper on University Priorities," stating that he feels improving campus life for everyone at the UA should be a top priority.

Likins said UA community members need to "develop a stronger sense" of themselves.

"We need to do more to build the cohesiveness of this community," he said.

Without elaborating, Likins wrote that he will involve himself in the drive to improve the way the UA functions internally.

"I will also take a personal role in the campaign to build a stronger sense of community in this university," he wrote.

For Taylor, conjoining UA groups is a top priority, specifically the formation of alliances between campus organizations.

"The challenge for me is how to work with various groups on campus," she said. "We need to tap the creativity of partnerships."

Taylor said all is not lost for the UA, but there is room for improvement.

"I think community around students is really there but we still have work to do," she said.