Ivany delivers compelling thoughts to confront Acadia's challenges

BY JENNIFER HOEGG

NovaNewsNow.com

Ray Ivany conveyed his intelligence, energy and commitment to post-secondary education in a talk at Festival Theatre in Wolfville Dec. 2. The Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board and former President and CEO of the Nova Scotia Community College is one of two candidates short-listed for the job of Acadia University president and vice-chancellor.

Well-read and versed in Acadia’s storied past, academic reputation and its current difficulties, Ivany delivered a compelling speech to members of the Acadia community. The talk addressed current challenges and opportunities the university faces and how he might gauge success at the end of a six-year presidential term.

Revering Acadia’s reputation of scholarly excellence, collegial environment, personalized liberal education and rich alumni relations, Ivany stated the school’s core values would not change if he were president.

‘Difficult period’

However, with Acadia facing enrolment and budgetary shortfalls, change is necessary. Ivany outlined how he might lead the university through this “admittedly difficult period.” Short-term goals would be to increase enrolment by 200-300 students and to balance the budget. This, Ivany said, would put Acadia in the position to move forward.

The school needs time to consider its future, he said, including its best size, best academic programs, and a new enrolment management strategy. It is also necessary to generate budget surpluses to address the university’s $10 million accumulated operating deficit.

Ivany would enhance Acadia’s networking and relationship-building with community organizations, development agencies, other post-secondary institutions and government. “The institution is enriched by these types of partnerships… and it gives us an opportunity to tell our story.”



Questions address on-campus dysfunction

Questions from faculty, staff, students and community members addressed problems of dysfunctional relationships between faculty, administration, staff and students; the role of the library; employment equity; the appropriate relationship between the President and the board of governors; graduate programs; and the dismissal of Dr. Colin Wightman.

Throughout the hour-long session, Ivany reiterated the importance of improving the campus community’s low morale and of emphasizing members’ shared values and beliefs.

New role of president

In response to a question from Biology professor Dr. Soren Bondrup-Nielsen asking what Ivany, as someone who has not followed a traditional academic career path (Ivany does not hold a Ph.D.), would bring to the presidency, Ivany replied that the role of the modern university president is changing, with fundraising, external relations and leadership playing larger parts. His role as president, he said, would be to “create the space for others to do their work.”

Previous success propelling the province’s community college system and UCCB through similar difficult times has prepared him to lead Acadia through its current troubles, he added.

Warm reception

Ivany’s confident presentation and thoughtful responses were met with frequent applause and positive comments from the audience. Former faculty association president and English professor Dr. Richard Cunningham called it a “very inspiring speech.”

The Cape Bretoner holds several diplomas, a BA from University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton University), a Masters in Environmental Health and Industrial Hygiene from East Tennessee State and a Research Fellowship at Harvard’s School of Public Health. Before his position at NSCC, he held a number of positions at UCCB, including Executive Vice-President.

Acadia’s next president will replace Acting President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tom Herman, who took over the post after Dr. Gail Dinter-Gottlieb’s resignation in February.

The talk concluded the candidate’s two-day campus visit. Comments on candidates can be submitted to the presidential search committee before noon Dec. 12. For more information, including an open letter from Ivany to the Acadia community, see www.acadiau.ca