Butler Searches for New Provost

The University is begining a long interview process to hire two new provost positions. For those of you who have no idea what a provost is, Jaime Comstock is the Provost, also known as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Faculty report to their chairs, chairs report to their deans and deans report to the provost. Such is the academic heirarchy. Associate provosts serve to parce out the work and highlight specific areas of concern. For instance, the new provost for faculty affairs and interdisciplinary programs will keep programs like gender studies or international studies as an important priority.

Though we may not all have helpful input for a search of this type, attending open forums is an excellent way to learn how the university works and what kind of people (and what goals they have) are working to create your educational experience at Butler. You can expect to see Caleb and me, as well as many other concerned students, at many of these forums actively trying to exercise the student voice. If we are to truly dissent and object to the diminished voices at Butler, we must take every opportunity to work through the avenues that are already in place.

Though I'm sure all students have been receiving emails from the Office of the Provost, we will publish the schedule of events here for your convenience and to hammer home the importance of getting involved. I will try to work up something more extensive with links to the candidate's various involvement. The Underground will proudly serve you as a source throughout this search process.

-Jon Irons

The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce the following schedule of candidates for the two Associate Provost positions:

Associate Provost for Student Academic Affairs

March 16 – March 18
Kerry McKeeverAssociate Dean of the College
State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo
Open Forums for faculty, staff, and students will be held:March 17 - 10:45 a.m., Johnson Room; 2:00 p.m., Johnson Room

March 18 – March 20
Mary Ann Rasnak
Director, Academic Achievement and Access Center
University of Kansas
Open Forums for faculty, staff, and students will be held:March 19 - 10:45 a.m., Johnson Room; 3:15 p.m., Johnson Room

March 23 - March 24
Carol Hagans
Director, Counseling and Consultation Services
Butler UniversityOpen Forums for faculty, staff, and students will be held:March 23 – 10:00 a.m., Jordan Hall 083; 2:00 p.m., Jordan Hall 083

Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Interdisciplinary Program

March 23 – March 25
Lynn Maurer
Professor and Chair, Political ScienceSouthern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Open Forums for faculty, staff, and students will be held:
March 24 - 3:30 p.m., Gallahue 108
March 25 - 10:00 a.m., Johnson Room

March 25 – March 27
Laura BehlingDirector, John S. Kendall Center for Engaged Learning
Associate Professor and Chair, English
Gustavus Adolphus College
Open Forums for faculty, staff, and students will be held:
March 26 – 3:30 p.m., Jordan Hall 141
March 27 – 10:45 a.m., Jordan Hall 083

March 30 – April 1
Fahima Aziz Professor, Management and Economics
Alkire Chair in International Business and Economics
Hamline University
Open Forums for faculty, staff, and students will be held:
March 31 - 3:30 p.m., Johnson Room
April 1 – 9:30 a.m., Johnson Room