Yeah, Im curious what entrance requirement he lowered.
None. OP is reading too many Hawkeye sports forums.
Yeah, Im curious what entrance requirement he lowered.
This is so so true! The only wild card here is the Iowa Board of Regents. Forgot about that...I think Wickert will be a serious contender at least for the job. He is a thoughtful person who would lead Iowa State well. In an age where Bruce Harreld can get a president job we should hope for someone like Wickert.
I was just talking about this with my father in law, last night. How, in the past, the public never likely would have known about the plane incident. The "perks" of the job would probably just be understood. And maybe at Auburn, that's still the way it works. But things have changed, at least they have here. Any perceived impropriety is going to be noted, and people will seize on it. It's bad optics all around, and that matters nowadays.
This is so so true! The only wild card here is the Iowa Board of Regents. Forgot about that...
A plus is that the BoR has fairly recently hired Wickert for his current position. However, we haven't seen a lot of internal promotions in recent years for the presidential positions at the Regents institutions.
That's the "message" that was relayed to the Regents when he was up for VP/Provost: Wickert's goal is to be a univ president, so you'd be wise to name him Provost now before we lose him...If Wickert does not get the job this time, he will be president of another university in the next couple years. Seems ready for that next step and if he is passed over it will be time to look elsewhere.
I don't disagree the damage was his fault and potential misuse but why is that such big news for as long as it was with media... It over ruled anything positive he did during his tenure.
I'm really surprised to hear this. I wouldn't think Auburn would be a step up in that world. But I'm sure that's not all that factored into this decision.
I wasn't a huge fan of his, but we've seen much worse Presidents in our time.
It'll be an interesting next few months, for sure.
Don't know if this really helps qualify him for being ISU president, but it's a fun fact!Tremendous academic credentials (he was dean of the engineering college prior to provost), very well respected among faculty, very ambitious in furthering Iowa State University, engaging and charming while still being intense and hard-working. A Cyclone thru and thru also. Sports fan. Very good road race runner for his age group.
His goal is to be a large research university president. ISU will not want to lose him.
Fairly typical statement, but the statement about leading one of the nation's great land grant universities seems off to me. He already is at a land grant school so, to me anyway, this comes off as a slam to ISU.March 20, 2017
Dear Cyclones:
I write today to inform the Iowa State Community that I have resigned my position as President of Iowa State University in order to pursue an outstanding opportunity at Auburn University. When first called about this opportunity, I responded truthfully, as I always had done since my arrival in Iowa, by saying, “I love Iowa State, and the Iowa State students, faculty, staff and Cyclone family are wonderful; I am not looking to leave.” However, after much thought, Janet and I decided to look at the opportunity at Auburn and realized the opportunity was one we could not pass up. When we arrived in Ames, we had no idea how much we would fall in love with Iowa and the Cyclone family. In fact, it was not long ago we bought a farm here and expected to retire here. However, we now realize our destiny is in Alabama and leading one of the nation’s great Land-grant universities to even greater prominence.
I leave with a promise fulfilled, and that was to leave the university better than I inherited it. I leave with Iowa State achieving record enrollment, retention rates, graduation rates, job placement rates as well as records in fundraising and research funding, and numerous other metrics. I am proud of the many accomplishments that we achieved in economic development and community engagement.
I have volunteered to work closely with the Regents to identify an interim President and start a search for a permanent President. In addition, I will keep you updated during this time of change.
Janet and I have made lifelong friends here in Iowa and have had many great experiences. We will always consider ourselves Cyclones and have great affection for this university and its beautiful campus; it is a very special place. Our appreciation for the Cyclone family is beyond words, and we found this extended family of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to be the greatest joy of our time at Iowa State.
Sincerely,
Steven and Janet A. Leath
President and First Lady
Fairly typical statement, but the statement about leading one of the nation's great land grant universities seems off to me. He already is at a land grant school so, to me anyway, this comes off as a slam to ISU.