Staff Editorial: Bravo President Reveley on a job well done
The Virginia Informer | Editorial Board
Last Updated:4/22/09 Section: Staff Editorials
A little over a year ago W. Taylor Reveley III took over as President of the College on an interim basis. Since he assumed the full presidency last September, we believe that President Reveley has been successful in overseeing some much needed healing in the campus community and served as an effective leader for the College.
It is our opinion that President Reveley has shown a strong understanding and respect for both the College's heritage and the differing views of its diverse community. He has not attempted to make policy decisions based upon any ideological leanings, and for this reason we are grateful. Furthermore, his willingness to hear all sides and challenge many of the College's failed policies is most encouraging.
True leadership requires the ability to entertain multiple options when confronting a problem. That President Reveley has considered privatization of the College and enhanced alumni relations, we believe, demonstrates that he possesses the capacity to think outside of the conventional institutional framework. William and Mary is undoubtedly "great and public" but it will not be for much longer if the state legislature continues to make such drastic financial cuts.
While we are quite satisfied with what has come of President Reveley's tenure so far, we feel it is our responsibility to offer some constructive criticism as the College moves forward. We are somewhat dismayed that less has been done to combat the College's oversized and cumbersome bureaucracy, particularly amidst such drastic financial difficulty. We believe that any feasible strategic plan aiming to improve the College's overall efficiency and effectiveness must include a serious framework for reducing the size of the administration. Such resources are much better spent on our precious faculty or in alleviating drastic annual tuition increases for students. Additionally, we find the recruiting methods for the President's Aide positions somewhat perturbing. Good advice comes from those who are willing to challenge conventional thinking, not those assured of supporting the status quo.
In his short time as President of the College, Taylor Reveley has shown able faculties as leader. Having managed to remain in close touch with the most venerable of our traditions, President Reveley is also moving the College forward through what promises to be one of the more difficult chapters in our long history. Bravo President Reveley, we look forward to your continued leadership next year.
It is our opinion that President Reveley has shown a strong understanding and respect for both the College's heritage and the differing views of its diverse community. He has not attempted to make policy decisions based upon any ideological leanings, and for this reason we are grateful. Furthermore, his willingness to hear all sides and challenge many of the College's failed policies is most encouraging.
True leadership requires the ability to entertain multiple options when confronting a problem. That President Reveley has considered privatization of the College and enhanced alumni relations, we believe, demonstrates that he possesses the capacity to think outside of the conventional institutional framework. William and Mary is undoubtedly "great and public" but it will not be for much longer if the state legislature continues to make such drastic financial cuts.
While we are quite satisfied with what has come of President Reveley's tenure so far, we feel it is our responsibility to offer some constructive criticism as the College moves forward. We are somewhat dismayed that less has been done to combat the College's oversized and cumbersome bureaucracy, particularly amidst such drastic financial difficulty. We believe that any feasible strategic plan aiming to improve the College's overall efficiency and effectiveness must include a serious framework for reducing the size of the administration. Such resources are much better spent on our precious faculty or in alleviating drastic annual tuition increases for students. Additionally, we find the recruiting methods for the President's Aide positions somewhat perturbing. Good advice comes from those who are willing to challenge conventional thinking, not those assured of supporting the status quo.
In his short time as President of the College, Taylor Reveley has shown able faculties as leader. Having managed to remain in close touch with the most venerable of our traditions, President Reveley is also moving the College forward through what promises to be one of the more difficult chapters in our long history. Bravo President Reveley, we look forward to your continued leadership next year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Guess you missed your own lesson
posted 8/25/09 @ 10:51 PM EST
http://media.www.vainformer.com/media/storage/paper1335/news/2009/04/22/Opinion/Students.Must.Stop.Idolizing.Administrators-3720465.shtml
...lol
blaah
posted 8/26/09 @ 11:11 PM EST
"...we feel it is our responsibility to offer some constructive criticism..."
-From this staff editorial.
"We hope to use lessons from the past few years to differentiate between when an administrator is truly acting in our college's best interests or is just crusading in a bad direction. (Continued…)
Alex Kyrios
posted 9/22/09 @ 11:24 PM EST
You wrote an entire editorial praising Taylor Reveley for not being Gene Nichol? Make like a liberal interest group and MoveOn.
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