Dean outlines his qualities for research VP job

Randy Metcalf Arizona Daily Wildcat Graduate College Dean Thomas Hixon speaks about his candidacy for the position of UA vice president for research and graduate studies. Hixon had several ideas that he focused on, including the importance of undergraduate research, ethics and integrity.

"This is the biggest single problem I've encountered in the graduate college," said Thomas Hixon, one of three candidates for the vice president for research and graduate studies position. "During the past two years, we've had two dozen reports of this (integrity and ethics violations). Some were misunderstandings, but some weren't."

He listed what he said are 12 key aspects of the vice president position, which is being vacated by Michael Cusanovich in December.

Hixon, who has worked at the University of Arizona since 1976, thanked the audience of about 100 for coming to the Memorial Student Union Rincon Room yesterday.

"I want to thank you all for being here," he said. "I thought most faculty would be home watching Oprah by this time."

Hixon went on to list his credentials, which include the positions of associate vice president for research and the research integrity officer.

He said he'd like to emphasize the importance of mentoring within the graduate college.

"Mentoring is a huge problem on campus that I found inside the graduate college," he said.

Hixon also pledged to focus on undergraduate research.

"This campus has made some truly remarkable strides to include undergraduates in the research enterprise," he said.

Hixon said he also wants to make some changes in the office's structure.

"We'd have to have a full-time associate dean," Hixon said. "I think there's a need for reorganization inside the office. The staff who are in there will not be displaced."

Audience members had opportunities to query Hixon, and were given evaluation sheets to send to Michael Gottfredson, the UA vice president for undergraduate education.

Ann Hedlund, a visiting scholar from Arizona State University, said she is concerned about the condition of UA museums.

"The museum is a huge part of the academic enterprise in the university," Hixon said. "It's damn near as important as the library. I know it's terribly underfunded."

Physiology professor Raphael Gruener asked Hixon how he would allocate campus space and better utilize what's available.

Hixon called UA space issues a "critical problem."

"I think you need to keep bringing initiatives forward in logical packages," Hixon said.

Hixon ended his presentation by reminding the audience of the force that motivates him.

"I love creativity," he said. "That's what I see in this position and that's what excites me about it."

Candidate Lynn Nadel, the psychology department head, will speak at a forum today from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Rincon Room. The third candidate, UA Optical Sciences Center Director Richard Powell, spoke at his forum Monday.

David J. Cieslak can be reached via e-mail at David.J.Cieslak@wildcat.arizona.edu.