Roger W. Bowen, president of the State University of New York at New Paltz, was the first of three finalists interviewing for the presidential position at The U of M this week.
Bowen arrived in Memphis Sunday to meet with alumni and to have a private dinner with interim president Ralph Faudree.
Shirley Raines, dean and vice chancellor at the University of Kentucky, will be interviewed for the position today, while Richard Ringeisen, vice chancellor of academic affairs at East Carolina University, will interview Wednesday. The Tennessee Board of Regents will meet Jan. 31 to select a president, who will take over the job by Fall 2001.
During a faculty question-and-answer session Monday, Bowen said he is
excited about The U of M's academic structure and the number of students seeking doctorates.
"I am committed to teaching and scholarship," Bowen said. "I am excited about this University's professional schools and law school. I am also excited about students pursuing doctorate degrees."
Bowen, 53, has been president of SUNY-New Paltz since 1996. New Paltz is the 99th oldest collegiate institution in the country. It was founded in 1828 and is a state assisted, regional liberal arts university with an enrollment of around 7,725 students.
If selected to be The University's next president, Bowen said his short-term visions would include building trust with the entire community.
"I would get to know the members of the college community first," Bowen said. "I would become familiar with the faculty, staff and students as quickly as possible. This would establish a relationship with everyone and this would build trust."
Bowen said building trust within the college community would help "heal the scars" inflicted on U of M faculty and staff during the past eight months. The most recent "scar" -- a petition signed by 260 tenured faculty members to have Faudree listed as a finalist in the presidential search.
"It is admirable that there are loyal members of the faculty and staff that work with the current interim president, Dr. Faudree," Bowen said. "I hope to earn their loyalty and establish a relationship with all staff members and the community. I want to build confidence and earn the faculty and staff's confidence."
Bowen said along with building confidence, his first contribution would be to bring unification to The U of M.
"I am sure it is already a strong community surrounding the college," Bowen said. "Universities are extremely complex organizations -- like small cities. For them to work well, they need to have a sense of pride. Students, faculty and staff need to feel a sense of pride in their college and community. To achieve this pride is the greatest achievement awarded."
Bowen said the sense of pride can't be achieved without questions from community.
"I feel that all members of the faculty and staff and the community need to ask questions," Bowen said. "With me, questions are encouraged. I, for one, ask a lot of questions, and I would ask that the entire community, faculty, staff and students give me good answers to my questions so that I can learn all I can about the college, students and the community."
On the issue of methods of revenue, Bowen said he has experience with low state funding due to being in New York, which ranked 49th in state funding for its institutions of higher education.
"The current situation in Tennessee will not be anything new to me," he said. "Education is the key -- higher education is an added value. It makes better cities, gives cultural advantages and generates a sense of community pride. Colleges are supported by the people -- taxpayers. Universities add value to societies, and if we educate individuals and do it right, revenue will come. But we need to give society skilled people and the revenue will come, as will outside donations."
Bowen said students should not limit their learning just to issues in the United States, but should learn about issues affecting the entire global community.
"I see education in the next five years as being more and more on an international front," Bowen said. "Students will be receiving a global education that will prepare them for a major role in the global economy and society -- very important."
Bowen said students and educators need to prepare themselves for a global society.
"Students need to study a second language, study abroad and learn about other cultures," he said. "They need to learn good global skills and knowledge. We, as educators, need to educate more students as well as prepare them for their global and technological experience."
Bowen also said he encourages freedom of the student press.
"Freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment, and I encourage student writers to go on and pursue careers at major newspapers and do well in their lives. College newspapers are excellent training grounds for student writers. Freedom of speech needs to be supported in all sectors -- student press and national press."
Bowen said the physical enhancement of The U of M, including its new plazas and theater, is an excellent way of attracting new students.
"Being from over 1,000 miles away, I cannot second-guess what past administrators decided," he said, "but students are attracted to campuses with new facilities and grounds. New enhancements can increase enrollment, and students (can) expect new programs and facilities. The University of Memphis is competing with other universities for students and this can only help (enrollment)."