VP search finalists begin forums

Dan Kampner Arizona Daily Wildcat Richard C. Powell, current director of the Optical Sciences Center and candidate for vice president of research and graduate studies participated in an open forum at the Kiva Auditorium yesterday. This setting allowed Powell to talk about his plans if elected and gave the opportunity for concerned voters to ask questions and raise issues.

"If we are going to succeed in the future we need to develop unique programs," said Richard Powell, one of three finalists for the vice president for research and graduate studies position, which will open up Jan.1.

Powell told about 50 faculty, staff, administrators and selection committee members yesterday in the Education building's Kiva Auditorium that achieving those goals are not easy.

"We need to look for where partnerships are and use that to sell us to society," he said.

The position, now held by Michael Cusanovich, who announced his resignation in April, includes overseeing University of Arizona research and enhancing graduate education.

The other finalists - Thomas Hixon, dean of the UA Graduate College and Lynn Nadel, the psychology department head - will give presentations to the 16-member selection committee in separate open forums this week.

Powell, who has been a researcher for more than 35 years, said he wants to make interdisciplinary programs the university's "hallmark." By creating ties between UA departments, the university would be more attractive to constituents and society, he said.

When asked by an audience member about problems facing UA's graduate program, Powell said he thinks it is doing well and is unaware of any student or faculty concerns.

The UA needs to improve its communication with colleagues, the media and society as a whole, Powell said.

The change, he said, has to come from deans and department heads because there is "no way to do it from the top down."

Powell, who would not comment on which college or department needs to step up its research, said he is more worried about "competition from the outside."

"I'm worried about losing ground without doing some proactive things," he said.

It is important for students to conduct research, said Powell, who has published more than 250 books and articles.

"The final part of education if finding creativity," he said. "It needs to be an integral part of education."

Powell was also asked how the UA can keep its libraries as valuable research tools.

One problem is the high cost of obtaining journal articles and there is no quick solution, he said.

"I think the library is the single most research entity for all of us," Powell said.

Although the finalists' performance at the forums will be important, Michael Gottfredson, vice president for undergraduate studies, would not "quantify" how much they will count.

Hixon's forum will be tomorrow in the Memorial Student Union Rincon Room from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Nadel's forum will be Thursday at the same time and place.

Rachael Myer can be reached via e-mail at Rachael.Myer@wildcat.arizona.edu.