Herbert asks Gros Louis to fill list of key appointments

IU President Adam Herbert gave interim IU-Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis a list of important issues to consider in the wake of his announcement to continue the search for a chancellor last week.\nOn the top of the list were appointments for three high-level University positions, including a new vice chancellor for enrollment services, a new graduate school dean and associate vice president for academic affairs, and a new director of the IU Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching.\nHerbert said in an Oct. 31 press release that he wants to maintain organizational momentum by continuing appointments and program evaluations, and that Gros Louis has handled the chancellor's responsibilities very capably.\nHerbert also said Gros Louis has done such a good job as interim chancellor that continuing the chancellor search would not interfere with University organization.\nAssuming Herbert and the IUB chancellor search committee find a candidate for chancellor by the Jan. 1 deadline set by the IU board of trustees Nov. 4, Gros Louis will have only a short amount of time to complete the searches.\n"I've always assumed that the appointments would be made by my successor," Gros Louis said in an e-mail Wednesday.\nGros Louis appointed search committees for each position after conferring with student groups and faculty members. These search committees will review candidates and make a recommendation to Gros Louis after the searches are complete.\n"The process is similar to most searches in that most are typically national in scope," he said.\nGros Louis noted, however, that the new director of FACET will most likely be appointed from within IU "because of the unique nature of that group."\nIU has been without a permanent vice chancellor for enrollment services since Donald Hossler resigned July 1. The vice chancellor for enrollment services is responsible for managing and overseeing student enrollment.\nA new graduate school dean would be charged with coordinating graduate programs at IUB.\nA new FACET director would be in charge of the group that promotes teaching excellence for all IU campuses.\nHerbert also charged Gros Louis with "enhancing admissions requirements for the Bloomington campus" and initiating "a more aggressive student recruiting program nationally, internationally and within Indiana."\nThe raising of academic standards is an issue that has been hotly debated by University leadership.\nGros Louis told the Indiana Daily Student last week that he wants to make sure IU "remains accessible" for students. He listed accessibility as one of three main goals for the University, along with quality and diversity, and said balancing all three is a difficult task.\nSome faculty members say IU's job is to be a university "for Indiana," and access should not be sacrificed for the sake of a more competitive admissions process.