Clearing The Way To Be MU's Next President?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Uh, no. He wouldn't.

I am taking nothing away from this guy but you cannot compare running a staffing cum business services enterprise to leading an Ivy. There are certain...intangibles...that are mandatory in a resume which he in all likelihood simply lacks, beyond not having a terminal degree. 

Harvard would never consider Dr. Bill Gates or Dr. Jack Welch to serve as its President either. Each has a unique personality that is tailored for running their respective corporations (which have markedly different cultures); but those personalities would be venomous at an Ivy.
     

I was just reading an interview with Yale's new President.  They hired from within although it was kind of assumed 2 years when he was promoted from his then current position to basically be the number 2 person at the university.  It was assumed he was "in-training."  The "search committee" eventually named him. 

[keefe]

I was just reading an interview with Yale's new President.  They hired from within although it was kind of assumed 2 years when he was promoted from his then current position to basically be the number 2 person at the university.  It was assumed he was "in-training."  The "search committee" eventually named him. 

Nutmeg

What the hell is a "Yale?"

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

You are young but I have to ask: Why did you choose Marquette if not for its commitment to Jesuit Values?

The short and really main reason, I got direct freshman admission into the Physical Therapy program.

[keefe]

The short and really main reason, I got direct freshman admission into the Physical Therapy program.

Which is a great reason. But do take advantage of the Jesuit education. Remember that college should be much more than simply learning a trade.

[GOO]

Ideally the new president will have a lot of university administrative experience and a terminal degree.  But, in the end it is about who can deliver what is needed, regardless of having obtained a certain degree.  

If we limit the search to only those with terminal degrees, it is a mistake.  Does Pope Francis have a terminal degree?  If he wanted to run some Catholic South American university (or MU) should he be told no, because he doesn't have the proper letters after his name?  Heck, if a degree is required, he doesn't even get considered!  Of course this is an extreme example, but relevant to the discussion, even if it is an absurd example.  

My brother's company used to require at least a bachelor's degree.  Not anymore.  Get the best people and don't limit the pool of prospects with some artificial requirements that have little relation to what you can actually do and who you are... it takes more time to screen applicants if you don't have some artificial qualifiers, but in the end, it is about getting the best people with the best fit.      

If there is a great candidate, a knock it out of the park candidate with Jesuit Values, a leader who succeeds and leads a good values based life, you don't pass this person by because they didn't spend enough time getting a doctorate.  

If that person is a lawyer, is a J.D. a terminal degree or is it a LL.M or more?  Or do they also need a Ph.D.?

If some professors don't respect a leader because he/she doesn't have a Ph.D. after his/her name, well, that says more about the lack of Jesuit Values and probably Catholic values of the professor.  It is after all, what you do (in a broad sense, but action and your action and values that matter), not some degree that matters.

[GGGG]

If that person is a lawyer, is a J.D. a terminal degree or is it a LL.M or more?  Or do they also need a Ph.D.?

A JD is considered a terminal degree.

[Aughnanure]

I'm offended that his company is named Manpower.   Does he not care about women?  Is he that insensitive?  What about transgender temporary employees that work there? 

To be considered, he would have to lead change and put the name of his company as PeoplePower or PersonPower.

/sarc   (unfortunately, there are lunatics out there that will say this without the sarcasm).

Good job building that strawman just in case you need it.

[keefe]

A JD is considered a terminal degree.

Great straight man set up. But I won't touch it. Lawyers are just too easy!

[GOO]

A JD is considered a terminal degree.

So, for those who say a terminal degree is required.  Is a J.D. enough of a degree to run MU?

If so, then why not an MBA?  There are a heck of a lot of great, great people and candidates with an MBA that would not be considered because it is not a terminal degree?

Makes little sense to me to require a certain degree, over what really matters!  Seems artificial to me!

[ChicosBailBonds]

No kidding.  This is what Chico's does.  He simply craves the attention this gives him because he wants to make (yet another) political point on a forum where he knows it isn't allowed.

The sarcastic part of my post I could see playing out with the nutballs that like to go down that path, just as they have done in the past with MU Presidents on various issues.  After all we're talking about a position that is overtly political in its very nature, whether people want to admit it or not.  Whether it is gay marriage, abortion, Catholic dogma, FFP, etc, etc.  You can bet there will be people with this type of nominee (I assume he isn't a candidate) who would want to know how many women he had in positions of leadership, how many minorities, what kind of areas of "social blah blah" did his company participate in, what was his company's view on X,Y, Z, why is it called ManPower and not PeoplePower (you're kidding yourself if you don't think some won't ask this question), etc, etc.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Ultimately I think the suggestion of this guy as a candidate is silly, but that's just my two cents. 

[Coleman]

So, for those who say a terminal degree is required.  Is a J.D. enough of a degree to run MU?

If so, then why not an MBA?  There are a heck of a lot of great, great people and candidates with an MBA that would not be considered because it is not a terminal degree?

Makes little sense to me to require a certain degree, over what really matters!  Seems artificial to me!

You can get PhDs in business fields. Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think you can't get a PhD in Law. Juris Doctor is as high as it goes.

Although you only need a bachelor's degree to get into each, an MBA is a master's degree. Masters degrees are not terminal. A JD is a doctorate.

[Aughnanure]

keefe can correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think he means literally a Jesuit priest.  But a leader "in the Jesuit tradition," which could mean a lay person who is dedicated to cura personalis, caring for the whole person, academic rigor, a strong ethical base, etc.  Philosophies and standards that MU and other Jesuit schools have traditionally stood for.

These are just words.

[Aughnanure]

The sarcastic part of my post I could see playing out with the nutballs that like to go down that path, just as they have done in the past with MU Presidents on various issues.  After all we're talking about a position that is overtly political in its very nature, whether people want to admit it or not.  Whether it is gay marriage, abortion, Catholic dogma, FFP, etc, etc.  You can bet there will be people with this type of nominee (I assume he isn't a candidate) who would want to know how many women he had in positions of leadership, how many minorities, what kind of areas of "social blah blah" did his company participate in, what was his company's view on X,Y, Z, why is it called ManPower and not PeoplePower (you're kidding yourself if you don't think some won't ask this question), etc, etc.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Ultimately I think the suggestion of this guy as a candidate is silly, but that's just my two cents. 

Looks like someone's still a little peeved about those binders.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Good job building that strawman just in case you need it.

Strawman....in today's world of everyone having a cause, a grain of sand irritating their every sensibilities...please....its no strawman at all.  It's the world in which we live today.

Check your brown paper bag at the door. 

[keefe]

Leadership is a strange beast. We studied many models of leadership at the Air War College and it is always crucial to recognize mission first rather than resume.

George Patton was a stellar field general - the best ground commander in the US Army in WW II. He wanted overall command of Overlord, seeing it as his due for success in North Africa and Sicily and the natural career progression. But Ike knew that he was wrong for a role that required equal parts diplomat and warrior and held him in reserve until he was given command of the 3rd Army. In that position he excelled far beyond expectation. I believe he would have been a disaster in the job that was given to Omar Bradley.

Hap Arnold was the right man to guide the strategic development of the USAF. Under his stewardship beginning in WW II the Air Force developed the technological base and scientific orientation that dominates its culture to this day. Arnold would have been a terrible field commander - a role that Curt Lemay flourished in. Lemay was a brilliant field commander in both the ETO and the Pacific. His vision in both the tactical and strategic application of air power saved American lives, possibly millions. The Pacific War ended not with an invasion but through Air Power. The atomic bombings were the exclamation point on the 5th AF paragraph that destroyed Japan from within.

I could offer up other examples - Adm King vs Adm Halsey, etc... but the point is to begin with mission then select from the pedigrees that best deliver that mission. Running Manpower or a plumbing business is a different mission than leading a national University with a specific purpose.

[GGGG]

The sarcastic part of my post I could see playing out with the nutballs that like to go down that path, just as they have done in the past with MU Presidents on various issues.  After all we're talking about a position that is overtly political in its very nature, whether people want to admit it or not.  Whether it is gay marriage, abortion, Catholic dogma, FFP, etc, etc.  You can bet there will be people with this type of nominee (I assume he isn't a candidate) who would want to know how many women he had in positions of leadership, how many minorities, what kind of areas of "social blah blah" did his company participate in, what was his company's view on X,Y, Z, why is it called ManPower and not PeoplePower (you're kidding yourself if you don't think some won't ask this question), etc, etc.

I think you might be feeling a bit over-persecuted.

[GGGG]

So, for those who say a terminal degree is required.  Is a J.D. enough of a degree to run MU?

If so, then why not an MBA?  There are a heck of a lot of great, great people and candidates with an MBA that would not be considered because it is not a terminal degree?

Makes little sense to me to require a certain degree, over what really matters!  Seems artificial to me!

I'm not saying you're wrong.  MBA is a masters...and yes of course you can get a PhD in business fields.  JD means "Juris Doctor."

[Aughnanure]

I think you might be feeling a bit over-persecuted.

Ya think?

[keefe]

Check your brown paper bag at the door. 

In Seattle retails no longer give bags at check out. You must buy them. Or bring your own. This has given rise to people making multiple trips since they usually have just one or two reusables. Someone on our team calculated the increase environmental cost of people not aggregating shopping trips and breaking them into modules because of the bag law and it far outweighs the impact of saving paper which is a renewable resource.

[Aughnanure]

In Seattle retails no longer give bags at check out. You must buy them. Or bring your own. This has given rise to people making multiple trips since they usually have just one or two reusables. Someone on our team calculated the increase environmental cost of people not aggregating shopping trips and breaking them into modules because of the bag law and it far outweighs the impact of saving paper which is a renewable resource.

Never heard of no paper bag rule. But how do people only have 1 or 2 reusable bags? They hand that out like candy. I've thrown many away cause they're everywhere.

We have the plastic bag tax here in DC and so many people now bring their own to the grocery store and places like Target. Virginians complain about it all the time which is hilarious. If you freakout over 5 cents, maybe you don't deserve it in the first place.

[keefe]

Never heard of no paper bag rule. But how do people only have 1 or 2 reusable bags? They hand that out like candy. I've thrown many away cause they're everywhere.

We have the plastic bag tax here in DC and so many people now bring their own to the grocery store and places like Target. Virginians complain about it all the time which is hilarious. If you freakout over 5 cents, maybe you don't deserve it in the first place.

In Seattle you have to buy the reusables. They cost more than $10 each. I don't mind paying the dime for a paper bag but a lot of folks here won't. So when they hit Whole Foods or PCC they carefully measure their purchase by bag capacity then return the next day to purchase overflow. There is this shuffling game at the register as people get refunds for overflow. Madness.

[Aughnanure]

In Seattle you have to buy the reusables. They cost more than $10 each. I don't mind paying the dime for a paper bag but a lot of folks here won't. So when they hit Whole Foods or PCC they carefully measure their purchase by bag capacity then return the next day to purchase overflow. There is this shuffling game at the register as people get refunds for overflow. Madness.

Yeah, usually $5 here or something, but I swear I've ran into so many free ones all over the place. That's just odd.

[Archies Bat]

Yeah, usually $5 here or something, but I swear I've ran into so many free ones all over the place. That's just odd.

This conversation sounds like the beginning of a Kramer/Newman style road trip to take reusable bags to Seattle.

[chapman]

I swear it's mandated that they treat customers differently at Trader Joe's based on whether they bring their own bag.  Everytime I go there they're all gushing with happiness to ring up the hippies with their own bags, then me or some other dude comes and makes them use a paper bag and they practically ignore you.     

[Tugg Speedman]

Honestly, why is this so important? I know Marquette is Jesuit affiliated but I dont want to say MU is leaving those Jesuit traditions but it is not as big of a focal point as it once was. Times are changing whether you like it or not and the current landscape of MU is completely different then when you were here.

Remember that MU adopted a new vision last May.  

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=38621.0

Now stop rolling your eyes because this matters.  They (the BoT) are trying to take the University in a new direction.  This is risky and if they fail, it can set the school back decades.

MU's new vision is to raise its profile is not shared by all.    It means a different type of student will enroll in MU if successful.  It means many of us here (who were accepted) might not have been accepted, or might not have picked MU to enroll in as it will be a different school.


Dr. Blackheart summarized the opposition to MU raising its profile here (75 range refers to US News ranking):

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=38621.msg493629#msg493629

Fact: The largest demographic group of college aged kids will be Hispanic in a few years.  They are very Catholic, many of their parents will not have attended college, and yes, many are from Chicago.  And yes, Chicago/Illinois now represents a majority, for the first time, of MU's enrollment as it is.  And no, Milwaukee doesn't have the medical research campuses like Boston, nor is it the seat of power like DC. It is not a banking center.  It is a reality, not an inferiority complex.

Yes, MU can raise their standards.  They will be competing with many endowed schools for fewer students. Is MU willing to shrink enrollment to be like many of the speciality schools you mentioned?  I say no, which makes the whole vision commercially flawed.  MU is just fine in that 75 range.  Why?  Because that segment is bigger and more achievable and can be sustained for the long-term viable health of the university and is consistent with what Marquette has always been about.  Wild had it right, Pilarz doesn't.

Sultan of Serenity adds:

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=38621.msg493645#msg493645

When schools become substantially different than the institutions that their alumni remember them, it can oftentimes alienate them.   For instance, at a school I worked for prior to this one, our wealthiest alumnus wouldn't give much to us because he stated "that I wouldn't even be able to get into the school now."  It wasn't the school that took the chance on him...gave him the education that helped him to succeed...and took him places he never thought he would go.

And the BOT may or may not be the top donors to the school.  They may be a slice of those donors, but they are not all of them.


This is why it matters and this is why the new President hire is more important that than any other in our life-time.  The University is trying to do something different and risky, not maintain the status quo,