The third of four provost candidates visited with faculty and Student Senate last Thursday. The candidate, Kathleen Conlin, is currently the Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois.
“A very persuasive search committee chair got me into this,” Conlin told the senators when asked how she found out about the opening.
Conlin began with compliments for President Turner, saying that she was very impressed with the job he had done.
“I’ve worked with good presidents and ones that aren’t so good, and you are very lucky to have a good one.”
Conlin’s background was questioned by senators, who wondered if her time spent as a theatre director and professor would qualify her to be a serious candidate for provost.
“I’m not concerned with fit, I’m at a time when I want to do something different in my life and I feel positive about making a difference if I get the job.”Senators also discussed the General Education Curriculum, and wondered how the classes could be modified to become more relevant. Conlin said that she would work on revitalizing the undergraduate core classes so they would be more rigorous. She mentioned the need at the University of Illinois to reevaluate their core curriculum, and said such a process at SMU would strengthen the undergraduate experience.Conlin stated a desire to attract a more diverse professorship in all of the schools. She said that if the university created programs that attract a diverse faculty then no mechanism would be necessary for hiring.
Conlin also mentioned a desire to link SMU to the surrounding community. She discussed a partnership her school had with a community in east St. Louis that was a sustained effort, not a one-time event. Students working on degrees in architecture and urban planning worked with residents of the community to create public gathering places and buildings.
“The partnership not only helps the residents, but gives our undergraduates real life experience that you can’t get in a class or studio. I think such a link with an area in Dallas would be wonderful for SMU.”
At the faculty session later in the day, Conlin gave a more thorough answer to her qualifications as a provost.
“I believe deeply in a liberal arts education. It doesn’t matter the discipline as long as the ability to view or evaluate success is present. I believe that my background, while unique, can be applied towards the provost position.”
Conlin mentioned ‘Three T’s’ that would describe her goals for SMU.
“Talent, technology and tolerance are a way of leading the university into the future.”
The possibility of the George W. Bush Presidential Library was heavily discussed, with Conlin voicing concerns about the revenue stream that would need to exist to fund and support the library and any new school that would accompany it. She said the library should come into the university system without damaging existing schools or other parts of the campus.
Professors brought up the current tenure system, and Conlin told them tenure is necessary to keep the level of education strong and that the university must search for creative ways to retain faculty. She also discussed what to do once professors have attained tenure.
“As a professor, after I got tenure I wondered what was next for me. As faculty stay on longer we need to look at what it means to have a career at a university, especially what happens after tenure.”
The issue of SMU maintaining its Division I status was brought up towards the end of the session. Conlin said the issue had been brought to her attention during her tour and that there have been ongoing discussions regarding the topic for the past year and a half. She said that it would be a conversation that will continue over the next few years as the university evaluates its academic mission.
Conlin completed her undergraduate work at Youngstown State University and received her Master’s from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her doctoral work at the University of Michigan.
