University President Lawrence Bacow will leave an impressive legacy when he steps down in 2011. Bacow has since joining Tufts in September 2001 dedicated himself to increasing aid to ensure that Tufts is financially accessible. He has also worked extensively to strengthen the alumni network and to raise the funds needed to ensure that Tufts continues to be an international leader in both education and research. Bacow's level-headed leadership helped Tufts navigate the recent global economic crisis without being drastically impacted by the difficult financial situation. On a more personal level, Bacow and his wife Adele Fleet Bacow's hospitality and openness to the Tufts community are worthy of thanks and celebration.
As the Board of Trustees searches for a new president, it must weigh the relative importance of a number of qualifications in a candidate. What are the major challenges facing the next president? How are the different candidates equipped to address these challenges? How is Tufts changing, and what kinds of skills and experience will be necessary for the next president to lead the university to successfully emerge from these changes thriving?
Tufts' presence in the media is growing, and it is gaining more attention and press as it continues to be ranked among the top colleges and universities in the country. This attention can be both positive and negative, and the administration will have to manage the university's reputation in the face of growing public interest. The next president will have to be savvy in public relations to ensure that Tufts' increased visibility works to the university's advantage.
Another major challenge moving forward is to ensure that Tufts maintains its competitive edge relative to its peer institutions. Rankings admittedly do not capture the full value of a Tufts education, but regardless, Tufts faces the challenge of continuing to attract the best and brightest students considering admission into top-tier colleges and universities. The next president will have to be able to gauge where Tufts stands relative to other schools and what needs to be done to ensure that it remains one of the best educational institutions in the country.
While Tufts is one of the foremost universities in the United States, it is also one of the most expensive. Tuition costs are not unjustifiably high, as students are paying for a top-quality education. However, it is in the university's interest to keep costs manageable so that all talented students can afford to study at Tufts. This means working to increase the financial aid budget, a challenge to which Bacow has dedicated much of his time. Given that the economic recovery is still ongoing, however, this is no small task. The next president needs to have the financial acumen to carefully balance the university's priorities of controlling costs, increasing financial aid and continuing to provide a top-quality education.
In addition to his other more quantitative accomplishments as university president, Bacow has been a charismatic, engaged presence on campus. Students refer to him as "Larry," make T-shirts that say "Bacow is my homeboy" and chant his name at graduation. It is not trivial that Bacow is such a beloved personality on campus; his popularity speaks to his commitment to the undergraduate student body and his concern with students' educational experience. His dedication to the student body also means that students put a human face on "the administration" and view it as much more than a bureaucratic structure, but rather a group of individuals personally invested in students. It is important that the next president continues in his or her own way to personally engaging with students.
A number of students have signed a letter calling for diversity to be made a priority in the search for the next president. As an institution, Tufts is dedicated to the principle of equal opportunity and maintaining a diverse community. There are likely to be many excellent candidates for the presidency who identify with a minority background, and diversity should be taken into consideration in the search. Ultimately, however, the search committee's decision should be based on which candidate will best be able to address the challenges that face Tufts.
Bacow will be a hard act to follow, but we do not doubt that there are many qualified candidates out there who are more than capable of succeeding him. It is important that the search committee keeps in mind the evolving challenges that Tufts faces when making its decision instead of looking for a new Bacow. Tufts will hopefully continue to grow in prominence as one of the best universities in the country with a new face at the helm.
