Provost Sypherd says sabbatical well deserved

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat UA Provost Paul Sypherd

Sypherd said yesterday in an e-mail interview he has anticipated taking a break since his arrival at the University of Arizona in January 1993.

"As part of my hiring agreement with (former) President (Manuel) Pacheco, I was to take a year leave from the provost position after five years," said Sypherd, 62. "This was arranged because the position of provost is a very demanding one, since it is in reality chief operating officer for the academic part of the university."

UA President Peter Likins, who arrived at the UA 13 months ago, announced in a Nov. 5 memo that Sypherd had put off a sabbatical last year, but would take one from March until early fall.

"Paul had graciously agreed to postpone this well-deserved opportunity for study and renewal when I assumed the presidency," Likins wrote. "He presented to me a plan to devote a sabbatical to the study of programmatic, financial and distributed education trends in research universities ... I gave him my consent."

Sypherd said his study will be multifaceted, but did not explain what he intends to do with the results of his research.

He plans "to think and study the future of research universities, and especially the UA, in the light of continuing financial erosion," Sypherd said. "And 'demands' for increased involvement of universities in work-force preparation."

Michael Gottfredson, UA vice president for undergraduate education, will serve as provost during Sypherd's absence. Randall Richardson, associate vice president of undergraduate education, will assume some of Gottfredson's responsibilities.

Sabbaticals usually correspond with semesters. Jerrold Hogle, faculty chairman, said Sypherd's decision to leave mid-semester was peculiar, but made for a reason.

"That time frame is unusual," Hogle said. "He wants to make sure the budget process is done before leaving."

Hogle added that most big administrative decisions are made between September and March, so there was less chance Sypherd would miss anything leaving at that time.

Sypherd credited the completion of the budget in early spring, Gottfredson's administrative capabilities and the appointment of a new vice president for research, which he said would made "within a couple of weeks," as reasons why he is leaving mid semester.

"If I am going to have an interval for study and 'renewal,' March into the fall is the best time to do it," Sypherd said.

Likins wrote he gave consent to Sypherd on the promise of his return in the fall. Sypherd said he would not back from his promise.

"I WILL return," he wrote.

Anthony C. Braza can be reached via e-mail at Anthony.C.Braza@wildcat.arizona.edu.