Presidential briefing updates campus issues
Faculty searches, logo and strategic plan discussed Tuesday
By Sherri Richards
Dakota Student Staff Writer
The Presidential Briefing on Tuesday included a collection of updates, as
new information on faculty searches, the Fighting Sioux logo issue and
strategic planning was presented.
Currently, search committees are receiving and reviewing applications for
the positions of vice president of Finance and Operations, registrar,
director of libraries and dean of the College of Education and Human
Development.
With the exception of the registrar position, each search has received a
desired number of applications and is planning telephone interviews, which
will be followed by campus visits by the prospective employees. The
registrar position has only received two applications, but the deadline
date is not until March 1.
President Kupchella updated the audience on the logo issue, saying that
the commission designed to gather information about the Fighting Sioux
nickname was almost completed. Kupchella said on Tuesday that a list of
the 15 or so members, who will make a recommendation as to alternative
courses the university can take with the issue, could be published late
this week or early next.
Also, a work in progress of the history of the issue is currently
available on the UND web site, through the "statements" link on the
President's Forum page. To go along with the research of the commission,
Kupchella has begun scheduled visits to reservations and alumni groups
througout the nation to become more informed about various opinions of the
logo.
Information was also the focus of discussion on strategic planning, as
Kupchella said the committee received lots of input -- over 250
questionnaires were returned Ñ in determining what the six priority areas
for strategic planning should be.
According to senior committee member Liz Hanson, the committee met Tuesday
night to determine this. Although no final decision was made to what the
areas should be, Hanson said the meeting went well and there was some
consensus to the ideas. Another meeting will be held before spring break
to make the final decision.
"I think all the ideas are on paper," Hanson said, "but now we need to
decide."