The IU Board of Trustees approved two new university leadership positions Friday during the second and final day of the board’s summer meeting. IU President Pamela Whitten will reinstate a chancellor position to the president’s cabinet and add a faculty fellow position to the Office of the President.
Whitten stated in an email the Bloomington campus needs a chancellor again due to the “the challenges of higher education paired with the size and complexity” of the campus.
“Every other IU campus, from Indianapolis to all regionals, are well-served by both a chancellor and an academic affairs vice chancellor,” Whitten wrote. “As the university’s flagship campus, Bloomington deserves this same level of resource and attention.”
Kenneth Gros Louis was IU Bloomington’s last chancellor from 2004 to January 2006. His title was then changed to University Chancellor Emeritus. Before Gros Louis, Louis Sharon Brehm served as chancellor from 2001-2003, according to IU Executive Director of Media Relations Mark Bode.
In the years without a chancellor, the IU president took the responsibilities of president and chancellor, Whitten wrote.
The chancellor’s role will focus on collaborating with the campus community to increase faculty participation in decision-making. Additionally, the chancellor will make communication on campus initiatives, challenges and higher education a priority, according to Whitten’s statement.
The chancellor will also oversee Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, student life and campus finances.
“In the end, the chancellor’s impact will be felt in stronger relationships, a more harmonious campus and successful attainment of the IU 2030 strategic plan,” Whitten wrote.
The chancellor will report to Whitten and oversee the Office of the Provost. According to Whitten’s statement, a search committee, including her and the Bloomington Faculty Council, will be formed immediately to find the upcoming chancellor.
“I am confident that faculty insights will help us find a leader whose professional achievements and familiarity with our unique campus culture will inform a desire for a rich understanding of the prevailing issues and a commitment to collaborative resolutions,“ Whitten wrote.
The search for the faculty fellow will also begin immediately. The role of the faculty fellow will involve working with Whitten, her cabinet and faculty leaders to see they “engage fully to ensure the principles of shared governance are embraced and maintained,” according to Whitten’s statement.
According to the statement, the fellow will develop relationships with faculty leadership across all IU campuses and create “organizational opportunities.”
“I sincerely believe that these two vital additions will begin the process of unlocking the unlimited potential of our campus and securing its flagship status,” Whitten wrote.
The Board of Trustees also released a press release Friday, in which chair Quinn Buckner said they “applaud” Whitten’s “bold initiative” to reestablish the chancellor position at IU and add the faculty fellow position. The release said the chancellor position would “ideally” be filled by someone familiar with IU-Bloomington.
Although the motion to allow Whitten to appoint a chancellor was unanimous, trustee Vivian Winston said during the meeting she was only in favor if the person appointed has “strong Bloomington ties.”
Whitten’s statement also shared how the Cooley Law Firm, has been selected to “conduct the assessment” of the events at Dunn Meadow. The Cooley Law Firm is located in California and practices in corporate, litigation, regulatory and intellectual property law.
According to her statement, Whitten and her leadership team are “committed to acting on the study’s findings when presented.”
In a May 15 Board of Trustees statement affirming their support for Whitten, the board said Whitten agreed to administer an independent review of the “campus climate.”
It has been seven weeks since the pro-Palestine encampment at Dunn Meadow started April 25. On April 25 and 27, Indiana State Police and IU Police arrested 57 protesters. Since then, most of the arrested protesters’ criminal charges have been dropped.
On April 24, an ad hoc committee approved a new policy to prohibit the use of temporary structures in Dunn Meadow without prior approval. It came one day before the start of the encampment. Previous recommendations held the ad hoc committee, convened to “give continuing advice on changes to policy,” should consist of the IU Student Government president, the Bloomington Faculty Council president pro tem and a member designated by the provost.
“My intention with this new plan for Bloomington is to ensure we have strong and dedicated leadership to guarantee that all voices play a part in our path forward,” Whitten wrote.
