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Chancellor's Update - April 30, 2004
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EMAIL
I have met with the Provost Search Committee members regarding the two candidates who recently visited our campus and the status of our search. Based on feedback received about the candidates, it is felt that it would be best for the campus if we continue the search for Provost. The committee and the search consultant will spend the summer recruiting and reviewing additional applicants for the position, and anticipate bringing candidates to campus early fall semester.
I commend the committee for their hard work. They did a good job and developed a good pool of candidates. However, due to the excellent work of our faculty and staff, we have grown as an institution so that a very special individual is needed for a successful match.
Dr. Bob Vartabedian has agreed to continue to act in his capacity as Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs until a Provost is named. I am confident that we will move forward under his leadership.
Thank you for your participation in the search and for the feedback that you provided to the committee members.
Please share this with your colleagues who do not have access to email.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all members of the campus community for the way you responded to the Phelps protestors last weekend. The character and integrity of this campus has not been tested to this level in recent memory and all parties handled themselves well.
For Western Carolina to be successful, we must support the free exchange of ideas—even ideas that many members of the campus community may find repugnant. This weekend showed that Western is a mature institution that can tolerate stark differences of opinion and respond both appropriately and professionally.
I had set three goals for last weekend: 1) protect academic freedom and responsibility; 2) provide for the reasonable exercise of First Amendment rights; and 3) protect the health and safety of all concerned. These three goals were met because of the people of this campus community and the professionalism of our law enforcement and public safety officers. I would like to publicly commend the campus police, Cullowhee Fire Department, WCU EMS, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police, and all others concerned with assuring that the campus could stay true to its most basic educational and community values.
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