|
UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS
PRESIDENT
The University of Dallas invites nominations and applications for President at one
of the nation’s most dynamic Catholic universities.
THE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1955, the University of Dallas has earned recognition for academic excellence
in undergraduate and graduate liberal arts education through its Constantin College
of Liberal Arts, College of Business, Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts,
and School of Ministry. Grounded in the Christian intellectual tradition of the
Catholic Church, the University is open to faculty, staff, and students of all
faith traditions. The University of Dallas has approximately 3,000 students (1,300
undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students), coming from 47 states and 21 countries,
pursuing degrees in 41 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including three
Ph.D. degree programs. The University’s main campus is located on 632 acres,
just west of the city of Dallas and close to the Dallas/Ft. Worth International
Airport and the Las Colinas urban center, which is home to many of the nation’s
largest corporations.
Among its noteworthy distinctions, the University of Dallas:
• has the third-highest SAT profile for incoming freshmen among colleges and universities
in Texas and has been recognized for the past four consecutive years as the leading
Catholic university in America in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars on
a per capita basis;
• is the youngest institution nationally ever to be granted a Phi Beta Kappa chapter
(1988), is among only ten institutions in Texas to be so honored, and is the
only Catholic institution among these;
• has one of the largest MBA programs of its kind in the southwestern United States,
producing more MBA degree recipients than any other university in the Dallas/Ft.
Worth metropolitan area;
• provides a coherent liberal arts core curriculum emphasizing both ancient and Western
Civilization, and offers the only Ph.D. program in the country with a core curriculum
centered in the great books; and
• has a well-established Rome Program located on its own 12-acre campus, where nearly
80 percent of undergraduates attend for a semester.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The next President of the University of Dallas must provide visionary leadership
to increase growth in financial resources and enrollment, strengthen further
the University’s visibility and prominence as a key contributor to the vitality
of the greater Dallas area and beyond, and promote academic quality. The ideal
candidate will possess a substantial record of academic and professional accomplishment,
an earned doctorate or terminal degree, and a proven record in fund raising,
development and external relations; he or she also should be a practicing Catholic,
conversant with the Catholic intellectual tradition. The new President is expected
to assume office on or about June 1, 2010.
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
The Presidential Search Committee will begin screening applications this summer and
continue until an appointment is made. All nominations and applications will
be held in strict confidence. Applications must include: a letter outlining the
applicant’s background, qualifications and vision for the position; curriculum
vita/resume; and contact information for five professional references. The University
is being assisted in this search by Ferrari and Associates. Please send materials
in electronic PDF format to Dr. Michael R. Ferrari at: m.ferrari@ferrariassociates.com.
Potential candidates are encouraged to access the University’s website at: www.udallas.edu.
The University of Dallas has a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not
discriminate
with respect to age, race, disability, ethnicity, or gender.
Institutional Profile and Position Description for President
Overview and Mission of the University of Dallas
Founded in 1955, the University of Dallas has institutional antecedents that date
to 1910, when the Vincentian Fathers took that name for the Holy Trinity College
they had founded five years earlier. Holy Trinity closed in 1928, and the charter
was placed subsequently with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. The Diocese established
the University as a four-year co-educational institution welcoming students of
all faiths and races, and offering work on the undergraduate level “with a graduate
school to be added as soon as practicable.” The first degree-seeking students
were admitted in September 1956, and since then the University has grown steadily
in stature and recognition. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS) awarded accreditation in 1963 and SACS has reaffirmed accreditation regularly.
In 1996, the University was the first institution accredited by the American
Academy of Liberal Education; and significant honors have been won by University
graduates earning Fulbright and Woodrow Wilson awards for graduate studies.
Over the years, the Holy Trinity Seminary was established (1965), followed by the
Graduate School of Management (1966), the Braniff Graduate School (1966), the
Constantin College of Liberal Arts (1970), the Institute of Philosophic Studies
(1973), the School of Ministry (1987), and the College of Business, incorporating
the Graduate School of Management and undergraduate business (2003).
The institution has grown to be a dynamic Catholic, liberal arts university situated
on 632 acres of rolling hills in Irving, Texas, northwest of the city of Dallas,
and not far from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The University
is adjacent to the Las Colinas urban center, home to many of the nation’s largest
corporations.
Vision Statement
The University of Dallas aspires to be recognized regionally and nationally as a
premier Catholic, liberal arts University and a first-choice institution for
practice-oriented, professional business education.
Mission Statement
The University of Dallas is a Catholic institution that seeks to educate its students
to develop the intellectual and moral virtues, to prepare themselves for life
and work, and to become leaders in the community. Through intensive teaching,
interactive discourse, and critical analysis, the university pursues truth, virtue,
and wisdom in the liberal arts and professional studies. (Complete statement
found in the University of Dallas Catalogue).
Core Values
• The University of Dallas is committed to the study and development of the western
tradition of liberal education, and the Catholic intellectual tradition.
• The University of Dallas understands human nature to be spiritual and physical,
rational and free. It is guided by principles of learning that acknowledge transcendent
standards of truth and excellence that are themselves objects of inquiry and
research.
• The University of Dallas is open to faculty and students of all faiths, and it
supports their academic and religious freedom without discrimination.
• The University of Dallas seeks to maintain the dialogue of faith and reason, while
assuring the proper autonomy of each of the arts, sciences and professions.
• The University of Dallas promotes professional and graduate education that shares
a common spirit with the liberal arts: reflecting critically on the ends governing
the profession, fostering principled moral judgment, and providing the knowledge
and skills requisite for professional excellence.
Academic Components
The University of Dallas enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students
and engages a full-time instructional faculty of 127 teacher-scholars. It is
an integrated, multifaceted institution whose key academic components are the
following:
• The Constantin College of Liberal Arts provides undergraduate education through
a baccalaureate degree program that includes a coherent core curriculum common
to all undergraduates, comprising more than half of course hours required for
graduation. The core curriculum, emphasizing both ancient and modern Western
Civilization, is based on the close study of specific, pivotal texts. The majors,
built upon the core, allow students to acquire skills, knowledge, and habits
of thought and practice specific to each discipline. Underlying these curricula
is a desire to enable students to understand the human condition and to comprehend
the fundamental character of the world in which they are called to live and work.
• The College of Business (COB) consists of the Graduate School of Management (GSM),
an undergraduate BA in Business, and a Center for Professional Development. Its
graduate programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business School
and Programs (ACBSP). The College is seeking accreditation by the Association
to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB-International). Its accreditation
plan was approved by the AACSB Pre-Accreditation Committee and the Initial Accreditation
Committee in April 2008. The Graduate School of Management is a professional
school whose primary purpose is to prepare working professionals to become principled
and moral leaders who are competent and responsible managers. Its professional
programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding
of the theory and practice of management as guided by strategic and ethical considerations.
The school offers the MBA and Master of Science degrees through a curriculum
founded on over forty years of experience. Its MBA offerings in 15 concentrations
are recognized for their academic rigor and corporate relevance. The GSM student
body consists primarily of part-time evening, weekend, and distance learning
students from a diverse population whose average age is 34. The COB undergraduate
program, initiated in 2002, currently enrolls about 11 percent of UD undergraduates.
Like other majors based on the University’s extensive core curriculum, it fosters
an environment where students learn the fundamentals of business in the context
of becoming ethical and effective decision-makers. Its mission is to build a
foundation for life-long develop-ment of the intellectual, moral, and professional
capacity necessary to lead organizations effectively.
• The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts, initiated in 1966, has as its goal
the revival of the Western heritage of liberal education and the recovery of
the Christian intellectual tradition in a constructive dialogue with the modern
world. Master’s programs confer degrees in American Studies, Art, English, Humanities,
Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, and Theology. The Institute of Philosophic
Studies is an interdisciplinary program with a required core curriculum consisting
of classic works in the Western intellectual tradition. It is the only doctoral
program in the country with such a required core curriculum. It confers doctoral
degrees in Philosophy, Literature and Politics.
• The School of Ministry offers masters-level programs in theological, pastoral,
religious education, Catholic school teaching, and Catholic school leadership
that prepare graduates to serve the Catholic Church in a variety of capacities.
Its growing national reputation and its expanded areas of service, e.g., Catholic
Biblical School certificate program, are focused on meeting the theological education
needs of the Catholic Church.
• In addition, the Rome Program of the University of Dallas, initiated in 1970, dedicated
its own 12-acre campus in 1994; this beautiful campus, Due Santi, is located
15 kilometers south of the city. The Rome campus forms part of the University’s
regular undergraduate curriculum, with each qualified sophomore having the opportunity
to study for one semester in Italy. Approximately 80 percent of sophomores attend
the Rome Program and benefit from their proximity to a center of classic and
Christian civilization.
_____________________________________________________
Distinctive Dimensions of the University
Over the years, the University of Dallas has achieved national recognition for the
quality of its programs and the achievements of its students, for example:
• The University is widely known for its undergraduate core curriculum of approximately
23 courses based on the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, foreign
languages. mathematics and the fine arts.
• The University has the third highest SAT scores in Texas for incoming freshmen.
• The University has been recognized for the past four consecutive years as the leading
Catholic university in America in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars on
a per capita basis.
• The University attracts a national as well as a local student body, with approximately
45 percent of undergraduates coming from states other than Texas.
• At least 58 percent of first time freshmen last fall that reported class rank graduated
in the top 20 percent of their high school class. The fall 2008 freshman class
included 10 National Merit Scholars.
• The University values the professional success of its faculty, and it consistently
attracts and retains faculty members from the best universities in the U.S. and
Europe. Ninety-one percent of full time instructional faculty hold the Ph.D.
or other terminal degree.
• The University emphasizes the centrality of the classroom experience in the education
of students. The undergraduate student-faculty ratio is currently 13:1 and the
average class size is 20.
• The University requires a comprehensive project or examination in all majors for
graduation; many departments also require a major research project.
• The University was the youngest university in the 20th century to be granted a
chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
• The Catholic Biblical School in the School of Ministry is the largest program of
its kind among all Catholic universities in the United States and offers studies
online and face-to-face in English and Spanish.
• UD was named a “Best Western College” by The Princeton Review in 2008.
• An impressive 18 UD students and alumni have earned Fulbright awards since 1994.
• About 40 percent of undergraduates enter graduate programs at many of the leading
universities in the country, and more than 80 percent of pre-med graduates are
admitted to medical school and more than 90 percent of pre-law graduates are
accepted by their first-choice professional school.
• Around 80% of the annual spring graduating class participates in a Rome semester.
• The University of Dallas High School Summer Programs have exposed almost 700 high
school students directly to the fine quality of the undergraduate teaching which
is the hallmark of the University.
• Since 2003, the Graduate School of Management has been designated by National Security
Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of
Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. UD is one of only seven universities
in the world (and the only university in Texas) designated by NSA and DHS to
meet all six NSTISSI/ CNSS standards 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4015 and 4016.
______________________________________________
Governance of the University
The governance of the University is vested in the Board of Trustees of the University.
The Board meets in regular session at least four times a year and at other times,
as needed. It elects the President, manages the property of the University and
determines general policy. University bylaws provide that the Board shall consist
of at least 5 and not more than 36 voting members. The Board currently consists
of 33 voting members and 3 voting ex-officio members. Trustees are elected for
terms of one, two or three years, as determined at the time of election to the
Board. Trustees may not serve for more than three successive 3-year terms. University
bylaws provide ex-officio membership to the Board for the Bishop of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Dallas, for the President of the University, and for the
President of the National Alumni Board. While the University is a Catholic university,
the Catholic Church is not responsible for financial support of the University.
The Board selects all Trustees subject to the confirmation of the Bishop of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas.
Administration
The senior administrative officers of the University include the President, the Executive
Vice President, the Provost/ Executive Vice President, and the Vice President
for Advancement. The persons currently holding these offices are Dr. Francis
M. Lazarus (until September 1, 2009); Robert M. Galecke, Executive Vice President;
Dr. J. William Berry, Provost/ Executive Vice President; and Mr. George Engdahl,
Vice President for Advancement.
Effective September 1, 2009, President Francis M. Lazarus, who has served the University
with distinction since July 2004, will have a pre-retirement sabbatical through
December 31, 2009. Effective September 1, Mr. Galecke and Dr. Berry will share
major leadership roles with Mr. Galecke serving as Interim President.
__________________________________________
Faculty and Staff
The University employs approximately 127 instructional full-time faculty, 100 part-time
faculty and 220 full-time staff and administrative faculty. Approximately 60%
of full-time faculty are tenured.
As is the case at most colleges and universities, approximately two-thirds of the
University’s operating expenses consist of salaries and benefits. There are no
unions representing University employees. The faculty, through the aegis of the
Faculty Senate and University committees, provides important input to the administration
on a variety of matters. The University has a defined contribution plan for full-time
employees. The plan is a qualified section 403(b) plan administered by TIAA-CREF.
The University makes matching contributions ranging from 2 to 6% of earnings
of participating employees. For the year ended May 31, 2008 the University made
contributions of $765,000.
_____________________________________________
Alumni
While more than 41% (10,457) of UD’s alumni live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan
area, every state in the United States and many countries are influenced by UD
graduates. University of Dallas graduates are part of a network of more than
25,500 alumni.
_________________________________________
Land Holdings, Physical Plant, and Libraries
Founded on approximately 1,000 acres in Irving, Texas, the University of Dallas has
sold some portions of the real estate over the past years. The core campus is
now located on approximately 228 acres and the University currently holds title
to an additional 436 acres. The campus land holdings are recorded on the balance
sheet at $7,089,000. According to the City of Irving Master Plan, the land owned
by the University is classified as a regional activity district, allowing for
hotel, retail, office, and entertainment developments. Centrally located in the
DFW Metroplex, the campus is 10 miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International
Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Dallas. The properties are traversed by
two major freeway systems. The adjacent Las Colinas urban development is home
to more than 1,000 businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, such as Exxon
Mobil, Kimberly-Clark, and Fluor. Twenty-five Fortune 500 companies are headquartered
in North Texas according to the April 19, 2009 issue of Fortune Magazine.
The University campus includes 18 academic, athletic, administration and student
services buildings, eight residence halls, and a campus apartment complex. The
University’s residential buildings have a capacity of 650 persons. A 300 bed
suite-style residence hall for upper classmen is expected to be completed January
2010. The average age of the University’s buildings is 30 years. The Rome, Italy
campus includes 3 buildings.
The William A. Blakley Library is well known for its commitment to the ideals of
learning at the University. Students and faculty have access to a collection
of over 300,000 volumes, including circulating books, serials, special collections,
and 132 databases that provide full-text searching of over 12,000 titles in various
disciplines. In addition to these collections, the library has access to more
than 31,000 volumes of electronic books. Among the noted holdings are Political
Philosophy, Texana, and limited editions. Reference services are available on-line,
as well as Inter-Library Loan services for requesting materials not owned by
the library. TexShare cards allow students and faculty to use other libraries
in the area and throughout Texas. The collections of materials for general reading,
serious study, and research reflect the University’s interest and emphasis on
academic excellence.
____________________________________________
Admissions and Enrollment
The University actively recruits students for both its undergraduate and graduate
programs, using advanced marketing methods to attract highly promising students.
These efforts include targeting of appropriate high schools and college fairs
to receive University representatives each year. In addition, the University
distributes several hundred thousand pieces of targeted direct mail, hosts a
number of "open house" visit programs, and coordinates recruiting with
qualified alumni volunteers. A new integrated marketing system is anticipated
for launching in the fall 2009.
Both the undergraduate and College of Business MBA offices employ highly qualified
full-time admissions staff. Competition for students in the north Texas market
comes primarily from the University of Texas at Dallas, Southern Methodist University
(in Dallas), Baylor University (in Waco), Texas Christian University (in Fort
Worth), Austin College (in Sherman, Texas), and Southwestern University (in Georgetown,
Texas). Out-of-state competition comes from a variety of schools including Notre
Dame, and Loyola University Chicago. As is the case with other undergraduate
programs based in Texas, the biggest competition is from Texas A&M University,
University of Texas, and Rice University.
Prospective undergraduate students indicate they are attracted to the University
of Dallas for various reasons, principally influenced by the semester in Rome
program, challenging courses, accessibility of and personal attention from faculty,
a concern for development of the whole person, small class size, Catholic affiliation,
the Core Curriculum, and the opportunity to gain a high quality liberal arts
education.
Undergraduate applicants generally rank in the upper third of their high school graduating
classes and have above average profiles on the SAT or ACT college admission tests.
Applicants to the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts are required to have
a bachelor’s degree before matriculating in any program, and must demonstrate
through undergraduate major or otherwise a suitable background in the liberal
arts. Applicants for the Graduate School of Management must have a bachelor’s
degree and must satisfy any two of the following criteria: (i) a grade point
average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 undergraduate credit hours,
(ii) a satisfactory score on the GMAT, (iii) a grade point average of at least
3.2 in 12 or more graduate credit hours, (iv) four years or more of effective
managerial, professional work experience, (v) satisfactory completion of the
University of Dallas PreMBA program.
Among first-time freshmen, an average of 45 percent are from Texas, at least 75 percent
are Catholic, about 30 percent are in the first decile of their high school class,
and 70 percent are in the first three deciles. The current average SAT scores
are 1219. In the fall of 2008 the enrollment headcount in Constantin College
was 1,299, including 342 first-time freshmen; the Braniff Graduate School was
295; the School of Ministry was 97; and the Graduate School of Management was
1286, including 242 new students. The University is experiencing increasing demand
for its Ph.D. programs with 74 applicants for the 14 openings available for fall
2009.
_______________________________________
Tuition, Room and Board and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition for 2008/09 was $23,250 and room and board charges were $7,885.
Graduate tuition was $630 per credit hour (Braniff and School of Ministry) and
$541 per credit hour (Graduate School of Management). The University attempts
to keep the costs for sophomores to attend the Rome program in line with the
costs on the main campus. The tuition and room and board costs are essentially
the same on both campuses, with the exception of additional travel, personal
expenses, and program fees. The net tuition and fees revenue for Constantin,
Braniff and School of Ministry (2008/09) was approximately $18,350,000 and for
GSM, $11,748,000. The net tuition and fees revenue for Constantin, Braniff and
School of Ministry reflects unfunded financial aid costs of $17,417,000. The
undergraduate tuition discount rate is about 51%. Over 90% of the University’s
undergraduate students receive financial aid assistance.
____________________________________
Endowments
A substantial part of the University’s total assets consists of endowments and similar
funds. As of March 31, 2009 the total value of the endowments was $36,770,000,
excluding land holdings. While endowments funds were negatively impacted by the
economic challenges of the past year, UD’s percentage decline was not as severe
as the overall decline in the stock market or the drop experienced at many other
private universities. The University’s endowment funds are subject to the restrictions
of gift instruments requiring fund principal to be invested in perpetuity thereby
leaving only the income and capital gains thereof for expenditure. The Board
of Trustees’ Endowment Committee supervises the investment of the endowments.
The University engages independent investment managers to manage the endowment
funds. The investment policies currently include a target of 65% traditional
equities, 20% alternative investments, and 15% fixed income.
The University utilizes the total return concept in its budgeting process to determine
the amount that may be spent from the Endowment Fund. The target for the annual
amount distributed from the Endowment Fund is 5.5% or less of the Fund balance.
(The Fund balance is based on a 3-year moving average of market values, adjusted
for contributions and distributions).
_____________________________________________
Annual Operating Budget (2009/10 fiscal year)
Tuition and Fees $ 51,503,126
Less Financial Aid (19,483,588)
Net Tuition and Fees 32,019,538
Grants and Contracts 1,493,904
Investment Income 1,537,521
Gifts (Annual Campaign) 1,500,000
Other Sources 544,929
Auxiliary Activities (e.g. housing, food services) 5,616,802
Total Revenues $ 42,712,694
Operating Expense 13,663,118
Faculty Salaries 10,166,789
Staff Salaries 9,867,661
Student Salaries 1,179,711
Benefits 6,216,107
Transfers 209,870
Debt Service (paid from operating budget) 1,360,431
Capital Expenditures 46,641
Total Expenditures $ 42,710,328
Budgeting and Financial Obligations
The University operates under an annual budget system and two committees of the Board
of Trustees – the Finance/Facilities Committee and the Endowment Committee –
oversee budget and investment matters of the University. The budget for each
fiscal year (June 1 – May 31) is prepared by staff and conditionally approved
by the Board at the May meeting. Final budget, adjusted to reflect actual enrollment
and other factors, is approved at the October Board meeting.
The University is obligated under a number of long-term loan agreements. The total
amount of borrowing in notes, bonds and leases is $19,980,998 as of May 31, 2008.
The total amount of interest payments in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2008
was $962,675. The loan agreements contain certain covenants of the University
which include, among others, the total value of unrestricted cash and investments
are not to be less than 37% of debt.
The aggregate maturities of notes, bonds, and leases payable as of May 31, 2008 are
as follows:
2009 $ 1,481,408
2010 2,129,533
2011 2,413,349
2012 743,629
2013 768,079
Thereafter 12,445,000
$19,980,998
In August 2008, the University borrowed an additional $16,000,000 of tax-exempt debt
issued by the Metropolitan Higher Education Authority, Inc for construction of
new student housing, related furnishings, and replacement of athletic facilities
that are being displaced by the construction of the residence hall. These variable-rate
higher education revenue bonds, issued August 14, 2008, will mature August 1,
2038. Principal payments are due annually starting August 1, 2010. Payments of
interest are due monthly, collateralized by a letter of credit bearing interest
at 0.625%. The debt was synthetically fixed with a 20 year forward interest rate
swap contract. The all-in interest rate is 3.95%.
University of Dallas: Presidential Prospectus
Position Description
Consistent with the institution’s governance documents, the President of the University
of Dallas, reporting to and serving as an ex officio member of an independent,
self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, shall:
• Provide visionary leadership to increase growth in financial resources and enrollment,
strengthen further the University’s visibility and performance as a key contributor
to the vitality of the greater Dallas area and beyond and promote academic quality.
• Provide strong and effective leadership for fund-raising, resource development,
and alumni relations and maintain effective relationships with the cultural,
civic and community leadership of the greater Dallas area;
• Oversee the comprehensive functioning (i.e., the educational activities, business
operations, development, and other affairs) of the University consistent with
policies established by the Board of Trustees and in fulfillment of the University’s
stated primary institutional responsibilities: teaching, research and service;
• Assure that the University carries out all its activities in harmony with its identification
as a Catholic university and its motivation by the moral, spiritual and religious
inspiration and values of its founding constituency;
• Serve as the channel for communications to and from the Board of Trustees in intra-University
matters;
• Formulate and recommend to the Board a comprehensive, ongoing, institutional strategic
plan and monitor and manage institutional performance and practice consistent
with the Board-approved plan;
• Maintain an effective administrative organization, including appointment of the
senior administrative personnel reporting to the president;
• Present an annual operating and capital budget to the Board and, based on Board
approval, assure institutional performance consistent with this budget;
• Participate actively in the internal life of the University community, the external
life of the surrounding local, civic and corporate community and the local, regional
and broader Catholic community.
Position Qualifications
Consistent with the duties enumerated above and in consideration of the University’s
current and anticipated operating environment, the Presidential Search Committee
has established the following desired qualifications for the University of Dallas’s
next President:
A practicing Catholic who will embrace and enhance the University’s long-standing
commitment to the study and preservation of Western Civilization embodied in
our liberal education and the Catholic intellectual tradition;
• A person whose vision and approach has challenged the status quo and who has demonstrated
repeated accomplishments in the development and execution of successful fund-raising,
development, and advancement programs;
• A person whose recent career includes the active and successful engagement within
the cultural, civic, church, economic, and educational community of the greater
geographical area where his/her institution is located;
• A person with distinguished academic achievements whose depth and breadth of accomplishments
in the pursuit of wisdom and truth in a serious university environment will reflect
well on the University and its constituents, including faculty, staff, alumni
and donors;
• A person whose achievements include transformative change as evidenced by substantially
broader recognition of the institution, accompanied by significant advances in
its financial well-being;
• A person whose self image allows him/her to be comfortable and supportive of highly
talented colleagues and who, as a matter of style, can and does delegate;
• A person of stature with an earned reputation of collegial leadership in a highly
regarded college or university;
• An effective and sensitive administrator who will intentionally foster an institutional
culture characterized by mutual respect, collegial / collaborative process and
team-building, high academic achievement, appreciation for diversity, and fiscal
accountability;
• An earned doctorate or terminal degree;
• Comfortable and engaging personal presence, a good listener and artful communicator
with a generous sense of humor;
• Understanding of and appreciation for the role of technology in a 21st century
academic community.
Presidential Opportunities and Challenges
The University of Dallas’s new President will find institutional circumstances characterized
by both opportunities and challenges.
Among the strengths and opportunities are the following:
• An institutional mission anchored in a distinguished, liberal arts, faith-based,
higher educational tradition;
• A highly personal, collegial learning community characterized by gifted students
and talented faculty and staff committed to the University and to each other;
• Recent enrollment gains (e.g., fall 2008 undergraduate entering class of first-year
and transfer students was one of the largest in institutional history);
• Recognition as a key contributor to the metropolitan Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,
one of the nation’s most attractive and vibrant metropolitan areas, with potential
for even greater institutional presence and civic engagement in the future;
• Long-standing and developing collaboration with significant academic, corporate,
community and cultural partners;
• Recent fund-raising success (i.e., $5.2 million in restricted gifts and $1.9 million
in unrestricted annual fund gifts raised in 2007-08) and the potential for additional
funding from major donors;
• Favorable alumni potential in increased involvement and financial support.
The needs and challenges include:
• Working toward the development of a major fund raising effort to address major
academic, facility improvement, and endowment needs;
• Working with the Board of Trustees, the faculty and administrative colleagues to
sustain academic quality and the University’s system of shared governance;
• Strengthening a collaborative process for strategic planning and management that
incorporates realistic institutional budgeting, identification of new sources
of revenue (e.g., new program revenue, net tuition improvement, annual giving,
endowment growth), benchmarking and “right-sizing” of operations, and accountable
budget management;
• Gaining consensus around an institutional identity that incorporates appropriate
emphases on and balance in the liberal arts and professional curricula as well
as undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education;
• Crafting a campus master plan that addresses current academic and student life
needs and explores the creative and productive uses of real estate holdings,
sensitive to the ambiance of the campus environment;
• Strengthening the delivery of programs and services, both on-campus and in the
surrounding community, reflecting the University’s core values and mission;
• Providing support for continuing emphasis on appropriate accreditation status for
major professional degree programs, such as obtaining AACSB accreditation for
the College of Business;
• Preserving the University’s historic institutional autonomy and commitment to academic
freedom while also maintaining a mutually supportive relationship between the
University and its Church constituency.
|