Spring Break
Shared governance will prevail
Texas A&M must make a world-class education affordable.
By: Morris Foster
Issue date: 6/18/09 Section: Opinion
What can be performed by one entity on behalf of both the University and System will be shared and coordinated, saving millions of dollars and controlling the cost of education for our families. There is not a large corporation or leading institution in the world today that doesn't integrate services and implement the best practices from around the globe. We must do the same.
When it comes to the direction of Texas A&M, I want to emphasize my commitment to the concept of shared governance. Students, faculty and administration have a great stake in the success of this world-class institution, and their opinions will be listened to by the Board of Regents. This applies, of course, to the selection of a new president over the course of the next several months.
I do think it is important to clear up a common misconception about the last search process. It has been alleged as fact that the search committee made a recommendation for three viable candidates to the board in 2007.
This is simply not true. Though I am not at liberty to discuss those candidates for obvious confidentiality reasons, it should be pointed out that one candidate had withdrawn from the selection process, and a second didn't even meet the search criteria.
In essence, the board was given the choice of one candidate, which is not a choice. If the board is confined to choosing one candidate based on stakeholder input, it is the equivalent of conceding its governing authority. That we will not do.
The search process for the next president of Texas A&M will be carried out with a continuing commitment to shared governance. We will actively engage key members of the faculty, student body and former students, among others, in the process.
Regents will consider that input and make a choice based on what we independently believe is best for the future of Texas A&M. Ultimately, that's what this discussion needs to be about: pursuing excellence in the classroom through research and through service.
Whatever wounds have been created by recent acrimony over the resignation of the previous president, Dr. Elsa Murano, can only be healed if we unite together in charting the best future for the school we all dearly love - a school that gave a chance to a poor kid from Salado like me, and must continue to be open to Texans from all walks of life.
When it comes to the direction of Texas A&M, I want to emphasize my commitment to the concept of shared governance. Students, faculty and administration have a great stake in the success of this world-class institution, and their opinions will be listened to by the Board of Regents. This applies, of course, to the selection of a new president over the course of the next several months.
I do think it is important to clear up a common misconception about the last search process. It has been alleged as fact that the search committee made a recommendation for three viable candidates to the board in 2007.
This is simply not true. Though I am not at liberty to discuss those candidates for obvious confidentiality reasons, it should be pointed out that one candidate had withdrawn from the selection process, and a second didn't even meet the search criteria.
In essence, the board was given the choice of one candidate, which is not a choice. If the board is confined to choosing one candidate based on stakeholder input, it is the equivalent of conceding its governing authority. That we will not do.
The search process for the next president of Texas A&M will be carried out with a continuing commitment to shared governance. We will actively engage key members of the faculty, student body and former students, among others, in the process.
Regents will consider that input and make a choice based on what we independently believe is best for the future of Texas A&M. Ultimately, that's what this discussion needs to be about: pursuing excellence in the classroom through research and through service.
Whatever wounds have been created by recent acrimony over the resignation of the previous president, Dr. Elsa Murano, can only be healed if we unite together in charting the best future for the school we all dearly love - a school that gave a chance to a poor kid from Salado like me, and must continue to be open to Texans from all walks of life.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com