COLLEGE SHORTS

Author: Claire Bourne

Louisiana State's Fogel Named UVM President

Daniel Fogel has been chosen as the 25th president of the University of Vermont (UVM). He was selected in part for his extensive experience in the academic world, the UVM Board of Trustees said. After growing up in Ithaca, N.Y., Fogel spent 26 years at Louisiana State University, moving up the ranks from assistant professor to executive vice chancellor and provost.

Former UVM President Judith Ramaley resigned in February, becoming the third president in a decade to step down. Fogel will assume his presidential role in July, and is poised to help UVM to move on from 10 years of financial problems, low campus morale and a diminished academic reputation.

Ralph Muller, a Chicago hospital executive, and Steven Poskanzer, a lawyer and university executive, were the two other finalists for UVM's top post.

Student response to the decision has not been positive. The Student Government Association said that it was "not impressed" with Fogel after meeting with him last week, adding that he did not listen to them and that he provided inadequate answers to their questions about diversity. Fogel said he intends to meet with students again today during his visit to campus.

Source: The Burlington Free Press

Bates College Appoints First Female President

Elaine Tuttle Hansen, the current provost of Haverford College, has been appointed as the seventh president of Bates College, a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) member school. Hansen will be the first female president since its founding in 1855 when she assumes the position on July 1.

Hansen, the unanimous choice of a 16-member Presidential Search Committee, succeeds Donald W. Harward, who served as president of Bates for 13 years. As provost and chief academic officer at Haverford, she oversaw the faculty, the curriculum, the library and information services, the College's language learning center and other academic support services.

Chair of the Bates Board of Trustees Burton M. Harris said, "Dr. Hansen has the leadership qualities and communication skills that will enable her to lead Bates on its continuing path to greater excellence in fulfilling its mission."

Sources: The New York Times and Bates Now

Hersh to Take Helm at Trinity College

Richard H. Hersh has been named the next president of Trinity College and will assume his new role in April. The former president of Hobart and William and Smith Colleges, Hersh will succeed Evan S. Dobelle, who left the College in July for the presidential position at the University of Hawaii. Dobelle shed the national spotlight on Trinity when he used College resources to improve the condition of Hartford, Conn., where the institution is located.

In choosing Hersh, the Trinity Board of Trustees expressed its desire for the school to focus on matters of curriculum while maintaining a strong relationship with the surrounding community.

Hersh highlighted his passion the liberal arts education, calling it the most practical form of education for the 21st century. He affirmed, "We know that powerful feedback from caring adults is the most powerful form of teaching there is."

Source: The New York Times



Hearing-Impaired Students File Lawsuit Against UC

A handful of hearing-impaired University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Davis students have sued the University of California (UC) system for not providing adequate services. UC maintained that it is in compliance with state regulations.

Lexin Ka, a UC Berkeley student, pointed out that interpreters for hearing-impaired students would leave the classroom if the student was more than 10 minutes late for class. Services for the hearing-impaired student would be suspended until he or she provided an explanation for the tardiness. Another UC Berkeley student said that the policies were belittling and made her feel like a child since none of her hearing classmates were required to explain the reasons for being late to university officials.

Though UC spokeswoman Mary Spletter said UC was planning to reexamine its policies, an attorney for the plaintiffs said that the university has done "little or nothing" to address the complaints. The case will be tried in June.



Source: U-Wire