The Search For Permanent Academic VP Assumes Urgency

Yeshiva University is in the process of searching for a permanent Academic Vice President, an important post whose occupant is the chief academic officer for the entire University. The position has been vacant since the former Academic Vice President Bill Schwartz left last year to return to teaching after five years of service.

The Academic Vice President's role is an extensive one. The Academic Vice President oversees the activities and responsibilities of the deans of all Yeshiva University undergraduate and graduate schools. Associate Dean of Yeshiva College, Dr. Joyce Jesionowski sees the Academic Vice President as "one of the most critical positions in any university".

When the position became vacant, Dr. Sheldon Gelman, Dean of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, was engaged as the interim academic vice president. Many Yeshiva University faculty members have viewed Gelman as a capable candidate for permanent appointment to this position. Nevertheless, a search committee has been formed to consider all available options. Dr. Jeffrey Gurock assistant to the President, is the search committee chair.

The committee consists of about a dozen members including administrators, faculty, members of the board of trustees, and students. Gurock sees it as crucial that an academic vice president be chosen relatively soon because of the impending Middle States accreditation review. Since all issues of accreditation go through the academic vice president, he or she will be very important throughout this process. Every ten years all accredited universities in a certain region go through the Middle States accreditation review. All schools in Yeshiva University, undergraduate and graduate alike, will go through this evaluation of academic standards. The accreditation review will take place during the Fall 1999 semester, making the hiring of a permanent academic vice president a pressing one.

A national search firm engaged by the University has produced a number of candidates for the Academic VP post. Michael Ausubel, a Yeshiva College senior and member of the search committee, has met with two of the candidates. He and another student representative, Shaindy Kahn, the president of Stern College for Women's Student Council (SCWSC), interviewed these candidates. After reviewing the candidates' curricula vitae, they discussed with them issues they felt were important to YU students. The students questioned them about "tenure for professors, the honors program, scholarship among faculty, and the current and future status of the Israel program." YU's president, Dr. Norman Lamm, will make the ultimate decision about the hiring of the Academic VP. Nonetheless, recommendations from students, administrators, and faculty will play a large role.

Gurock feels that the qualities of import that determine the status of an individual's candidacy would be "his or her administrative experience, capacity as an academician, and plans for the future of the University." Dr. Norman Adler, Dean of YC and member of the search committee, adds that since there are "many fine candidates for the position one of them will undoubtedly carry on the fine tradition of this institution."