Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 1, 1994 TAG: 9411010079
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Although the search to replace Carlisle reportedly is moving along on schedule, Tech officials do not expect to have the university's new chief academic officer on campus until July 1,1995.
That's because a new provost can't be named sooner than December, and "if you're looking for someone from the outside, you can't ask that person to show up Monday," Tech President Paul Torgersen.
Torgersen also said the university has some fine internal candidates for the job.
It was late April when Carlisle, brought in under the administration of the late James McComas, announced that he would return to teaching. He is scheduled to take a leave during the second semester of this school year, then return to the endowed William E. Lavery Professorship in August. Carlisle is the author of two books on American literature.
The committee to name his replacement first met in late May, and 151 people first were nominated or showed interest in the job. A total of 108 actually applied, although some applications still are coming in.
A May-to-December turnaround time for applicants "is about as short as you can do," said Robert Bates, the dean of arts and sciences who is heading up the search.
Carlisle is leaving just as the restructuring plan he engineered takes effect. The plan, a sweeping proposal for reforms designed to tighten overlapping programs and save money in this post-budget-cut era, is expected to be approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia next week.
The new provost will be expected to take the university through the transition period.
As for the interim provost, "what you won't get is new initiatives," Torgersen said.
by CNB