Tufts' president-elect, Larry Bacow, will assume the presidency on Sunday with little fanfare but heightened speculation as to his vision for the University. The executive committee of the Board of Trustees selected Bacow last May.
The presidential search committee screened candidates for eight months before selecting Bacow. The committee was comprised of student, faculty, trustee, and alumni representatives, who reviewed more than 100 applications before narrowing the list to four finalists.
Bacow served as chancellor of MIT for three years, overseeing student life, campus development, international initiatives, among other responsibilities.
Bacow instituted unpopular changes to MIT's residential life system in the wake of fraternity pledge Scott Krueger's alcohol-related death in 1997. Among the changes, Bacow prohibited freshmen from living in fraternities. Though critical of Bacow's decisions, MIT Sigma Phi Epsilon brother William Fournier said the former chancellor was always willing to discuss his policies.
"Bacow was more than willing to talk to us and try to pitch his plans," Fournier said. "He tried to work closely with students."
Bacow said that he will not be able to please everyone as president, but he added that Tufts does not need the sweeping changes instituted at MIT, partly because many of the reforms are already in place. "Tufts students have a much stronger sense of community. Our students have a common residential experience," he said.
The president-elect, who moved into Gifford House on August 15, has formulated general priorities to realize the University's full potential and to improve Tufts' finances and national visibility.
Bacow said that University fundraising depends on attracting the best faculty and students - changes he will address in the long-term. He did say, however, that the costs of supporting faculty while offering more competitive salaries presents a financial challenge. "Resources are important," Bacow said. "Raising additional resources will be a large part of my job."
To integrate Tufts' various academic programs, Bacow hopes to make the graduate schools a "powerful reality" for undergraduates. In an interview with the Daily, he said he hopes to increase research opportunities for undergraduates at the graduate schools.
For the first few months, Bacow said he will not make many decisions. Meanwhile, he has plans to speak with faculty, staff, and students to better understand the community he will oversee. "Right now I am heavy on the learning curve... I'm doing a lot of listening," he said. "Some decisions won't wait for you to become educated. For those you look to the people around you."
Following the Bacow appointment, Tufts lost a handful of high-level administrators. But Bacow said the changes were part of the "natural course" and he did not initiate them. Leading the exodus was Mel Bernstein, the former vice president of arts, sciences, and engineering, who left for Brandeis University. The vice provost and associate dean of students were among other administrators to resign.
Whether these positions will be filled is unclear. In a June 29 letter to faculty and staff, Bacow said he is considering a "reorganization." Saying that "uncertainty can be difficult," he promised not to prolong the restructuring period, but added that he wants to address the vacancies cautiously.
"I want to leave sufficient time to consult with the faculty about both the structure of Arts and Sciences and Engineering administration and how best to fill the open leadership positions," the letter reads.
