Amelia Eramya: You led the creation of the CMU Promise and, since, you said you that you wanted to focus on students in this economic situation that we’re currently going through. Do you have any hopes of returning the CMU Promise or creating another project similar to it?

George Ross: I can’t speak specifically to the Promise or whether it will be back. It was something that we did because we saw a need to try and bring some financial stability to households. The economy itself, not only in this state, but across the country, just made it financially difficult to continue it, but I think it was a great thing to do while we had it.
We started the Promise in 2005, so there will be students here paying that 2005 tuition rate. With all of that said, yes, we’re going to look at innovative ways to mitigate tuition costs to our students. But at the same time, we’re under the reality that two major financial sources are tuition and state appropriation.
There’s going to be pressure, frankly, on tuition because state appropriations are not going to increase. Within my administration, we’re going to look at innovative ideas and approach to control tuition costs and to increase our student aid.

AE: Former President Michael Rao and interim President Kathy Wilbur have held student forums where students can ask questions and raise concerns about issues on campus. Are you planning on holding open forums for students as well?

GR: I will make myself available to students, staff, alumni, community leaders, business leaders, and legislators. I will make myself available to deal with all the major constituents of the university. And my number one constituents are the students, so yes.

Amy Robinson, (CMU Public Radio): Could you give us a sense of some of your top priorities, your first hundred days kind of thing? What are some of the priorities that you will be looking at when you take over as president in March?

GR: Well, there are some procedural things that develop with the priorities that are on my mind right now that I’m working through, but there are a number of opportunities here at Central right now … I think it’s critically important that we solidify the provost position. Dr. Shapiro has done an excellent job as interim, but we need to solidify the permanent provost position. There are several dean spots that will be high on my list to fill, too.
As we look at positions and build a team, I have to be tested that I am conscious of the fact that we’re still dealing with difficult time in Michigan. Currently, the budget advisory group on campus is in the process of reviewing the budget. They’re looking at budget efficiencies and brand new alternatives. I hope to receive those recommendations soon after I arrive here next March, so that will be high on the list.
I’d also like to mention that the student planning committee at Central Michigan basically has suspended its operation sometime in the summer, maybe early fall, pending the naming of a new president. And we have to get that started up again.

AR: At the board meeting yesterday, they made the comment that in all of your administrative posts so far, you also have carved out the time to teach. Are you planning to continue that here at Central?

GR: I think initially, the first couple years given all of the other pressure, it’s not practical that I would be teaching. I would love to have the opportunity to give lectures the first couple years. If I do it right, and do what I’m supposed to do as President here, I can hope and vision some years down the road to be in a classroom at Central again and have a class but not initially. I love teaching, I love the power, more importantly, I love students learning, I love the power of what that does. That will be a personal goal of mine to get back in the classroom one day. It will be a while.

The search for a new university president is under way, as are the searches for several other administrators. The CMU tailgating policy is causing controversy among students and university leaders. The planned medical school continues to make progress, setting a budget not to exceed $24 million.

There are a plethora of other topics and issues worth discussing as well. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Students, and even faculty and staff, need to get involved and make their voices heard.

Starting today, Central Michigan Life is giving you that forum. And all you have to do is get on your computer.

At 8:30 p.m. today on cm-life.com, we will host Student Government Association President Jason Nichol and Vice President Brittany Mouzourakis on live chat to discuss campus issues with anybody on or off campus willing to join us for about one hour.

It will be the first of several live chat discussions we hope to host on our Web site with students leaders and CMU administrators this semester. One goal is to give you the opportunity to talk with them about campus issues that concern you.

It is understandable if many students cannot attend Academic Senate or SGA meetings because of homework and other responsibilities, but almost every student has easy access to a computer. This way, you don’t have to leave your residence hall or apartment.

Want to talk tailgating policy, presidential search or even parking on campus? Just log on. Let’s talk about it.

No college campus is perfect. But having forums of discussion such as these that address issues at CMU could go a long way toward making it better. The administration’s job is to make sure students are happy and treated fairly.

I highly encourage you to join us tonight and in future discussions. Our goal is to keep you communicating.

Thursday’s deadline is considered a soft deadline, however, said Trustee Stephanie Comai, meaning the screening committee will still accept applications in the near future.

“We anticipate we have a vast majority of people who will complete the process,” said Comai, the presidential search screening committee chairwoman. “But we will still consider candidates.”

Thus far, 70 people were nominated to the university’s search firm, Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LLC.

The next step in the process is for the screening committee to start reviewing resumes, select the candidates to interview and present semifinalists to the full Board of Trustees. Comai said she hopes to begin Oct. 12.

“Right now, we’re doing a paper review to select the best candidates based on resumes,” she said.

Comai wants to conduct interviews by the end of October and present two to six semifinalists to the Board of Trustees in November. The Board then will select which of the candidates to interview for the position.

New Year’s Day

Comai’s goal is to have a new university president named by Jan. 1, 2010.

As for when the new administration will take office, Comai said she does not have a firm date.

“It’s hard to predict when people will make announcements, if you get a sitting university president and they have commitments to their current university,” she said.

Former University President Michael Rao announced he was leaving for Virginia Commonwealth University on Feb. 20, but stayed on as university president until June 30. Interim Kathy Wilbur stepped in July 1 and still holds the position.

Student Government Association President and screening committee member Jason Nichol said going into the screening process with an open mind is a must.

“In my experience on search committees, I’ve found that pre-conceived notions are often shattered,” the Mount Pleasant senior said.

Nichol, the only student on the committee, said the committee has been crafting a leadership profile to find the right person to lead CMU.

“I’m looking for a president who will be able to best serve CMU,” he said. “Someone who recognizes the unique point we are at as a university and who is a visionary leader.”