Casteen talks about changing leadership at the University

By Anne Bromley

Stephanie Gross

U.Va. President John T. Casteen III (right) talks with Darden faculty member Greg Fairchild (center) and his wife, Tierney, at the annual new faculty reception, held at Carr's Hill Sept. 7.

Along with announcing that Vice President and Provost Peter W. Low would be leaving that post at the end of the school year [See University provost to step down], President John T. Casteen III updated the Faculty Senate Sept. 8 on the status of other senior-level positions that need to be filled soon, and on other University priorities.

"A change in leadership is always difficult in an institution such as ours," Casteen said, because U.Va. is relatively small and decentralized.

Law professor George Rutherglen is chairing the search committee to look for Robert Scott's replacement as dean of the Law School. Scott, dean for almost 10 years, plans to step down at the end of his term, as of June 30.

Before replacing Arts & Sciences Dean Melvyn Leffler, who also will step down next year, the University will look carefully at the structure of the school, Casteen said. "I'm told we operate the largest arts and sciences college" of our peer group, he said, adding that it may be time to consider separating those two large areas and carving different groups. Some schools cluster the humanities and social sciences, arts and architecture, and basic and medical sciences, for example.

He said he welcomed advice and suggestions from the faculty on whether there is an advantage in keeping the organization the way it is, what would be lost if it was changed, and whether students are being well-served in such a large structure.

"We don't want to compromise the quality of already-established centers of excellence," he said.

A search committee also has been appointed to fill the new position of vice president of finance, and other searches -- for the vice president and chief information officer and the chief executive officer of the Medical Center -- are well under way.

The University is going to have an outside consultant study the academic leadership structure of the Health System, Casteen said. Both Dr. Robert Cantrell, vice president and provost of the Health System, and Dr. Robert Carey, dean of the Medical School, are approaching the ends of their terms, which may be a good time to reconsider the span of responsibility of those positions.

"Dr. Cantrell and Dr. Carey are widely recognized as effective leaders who have different functions," Casteen noted.

The Board of Visitors, he said, is concerned about post-campaign internal leadership. "We need to look two or three candidates deep in each unit for those who could assume leadership positions." Individuals should not just be focused on fund-raising for their area but have a University-wide perspective, solid experience and the capacity to make plans and carry them out, Casteen said.

Other priorities the University must take on include expanding present fund-raising efforts into a major campaign for Arts & Sciences; considering the need for new buildings, such as replacing University Hall; and renovating the two Stanford White-designed buildings, Rouss and Cocke halls, which are occupied by Arts & Sciences departments. To be competitive in its peer group, the goal for Arts & Sciences should be an endowment of $200 million to $250 million, he said, but if its size is taken into account, the amount would skyrocket to $600 million.