Memorandum - June 28, 2006

TO: The Campus Community
FROM: I. King Jordan
SUBJECT: Presidential Transition

As you know, recently, Dr. Brenda Brueggemann, acting board chair, Dr. Jane Fernandes, president designate, Ms. Patricia Kunkle, board liaison, and I met to discuss issues related to the presidential transition process.  We are committed to ensuring a continuity of leadership and services while the transition takes place and a new provost is chosen.  This memorandum will share decisions designed to assist in making a smooth transition.

Effective today, Dr. Fernandes will hold the title/position president designate.  She will have a temporary office within the Provost’s suite and Ms. Judy Berglund will be assigned to provide primary staff support.  Among her most important responsibilities will be to oversee the process for selecting a new provost.  She will initiate conversations with campus leaders and consult with them on her plans to move forward with the search.

In addition to performing this vitally important search, Dr. Fernandes and I will be working to ensure her smooth transition into the presidency.  I have asked her, as president designate, to continue leadership of and involvement in several major projects which she will also oversee as president.  These include the following: 

• Managing the University strategic plan, including the development of an action plan for each University strategic goal.  Ongoing efforts will focus on strategic goal #3 and the University’s reaffirmation that our educational mission and work is founded in the liberal education tradition.
   
• Addressing issues of diversity, particularly white privilege and hearing privilege, and implementing action plans to address the University strategic goals related to diversity.
   
• Overseeing all aspects of the new Sorenson Language and Communication Center and the further development and refinement of the Deaf Aesthetic Principles and the concept of Deaf Space.   She will oversee the development of campus design guidelines for use in future facilities renovation or construction.
   
• Sitting on the Crisis Management Team, now co-chaired by Vice President Paul Kelly and Dean Carl Pramuk.
   
• Attending institutes for presidents and meeting with other university presidents.
   
• Working with me and the Board on presidential transition.

As the search for interim provost continues, I will serve as both president and provost until I have identified an interim provost. Issues and communications involving the provost should be sent to the attention of Ms. Sharon Hauptman in the Provost’s Office.  She will organize them for my review and follow-up. 

The Board of Trustees, Dr. Fernandes, Ms. Kunkle and I will all participate in a summer retreat at which we will address governance issues and other issues raised by the community in recent weeks and formulate plans for addressing them.  A communication will be sent to the community following the retreat.  Please refer to the Gallaudet Homepage link, Transition Planning Update, for official communications regarding our plans to move the University forward.

I hope this clarifies steps being taken to begin plans for a smooth presidential transition as well as the roles Dr. Fernandes and I will fill in the coming months.  I look forward to soon welcoming you back for another successful academic year.