PRESIDENTIAL PROFILE
Synopsis: Adoption of the Presidential Profile is recommended.
WHEREAS the Board of Trustees’ charge to the Search Committee included development of a profile of the qualities, skills and characteristics desired in the next President of the University; and
WHEREAS the Search Committee, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, has sought and received input from various community and University constituencies in developing a profile statement; and
WHEREAS the profile statement will be an important element in attracting the very best candidates to seek the Presidency of The Ohio State University; and
WHEREAS the Search Committee has recommended to the Board of Trustees the adoption of the Profile of the President of The Ohio State University, in the form accompanying this Resolution:
NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Profile of the President of The Ohio State University dated February 2, 2007, be formally adopted as the embodiment of the essential qualities, skills and characteristics desired in the next President; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Profile so adopted be widely distributed and utilized by the Search Committee in fulfilling its responsibility of ultimately recommending to the Board of Trustees one or more candidates for the Presidency of the University.
PROFILE OF THE PRESIDENT OF
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Ohio State takes great pride in being among the top public teaching and research land-grant institutions in the nation. For the past six years, we have operated successfully in support of a strategic academic plan that has taken clearly into account where we were in the year 2000 and where we are committed to being by 2010. We established a set of institutional goals and a matrix for evaluation that, over the course of implementing this plan, have made us confident, not only about our institutional distinctiveness as a world-class university, but also about the brilliance of the paths ahead with regard to: the outstanding academic preparation of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students; cutting-edge research; our remarkable capacity to help build an impressive future for the state of Ohio; and an equally remarkable capacity through teaching, research, and community engagement to provide truly distinctive leadership in addressing pressing issues and critical challenges for the state, the nation, and the world.
Personal Attributes
The Ohio State University requires a President with exceptional personal qualities. Distinctive among them are the following:
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Clear and inspirational vision for higher education in the 21st century – The President must be a scholar-administrator who can envision a university that serves its students, state, and nation, as well as the world community; who is actively committed to creating and sustaining a diverse community in which all members can thrive; who can eagerly, enthusiastically, and effectively communicate a compelling vision to a wide variety of publics; who can lead the institution in differentiating itself from its peers; and who is willing and able to confront the complex forces that inhibit change. Such a vision is, by necessity, well-grounded in the goals and aspirations of the university and also in an astute understanding of the contemporary complexities of top tier academic institutions within a national and global context.
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Exemplary integrity, trustworthiness, and wisdom – The President must inspire trust, respect, and credibility; embody and convey self-confidence and personal comfort with authority, responsibility, and leadership; and demonstrate a capacity to garner advocacy and support and to influence others to accomplish goals.
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Breadth and depth of intellect and a distinctive record of innovation and scholarly achievement – The President must understand research and scholarship from various points of view and have a personal record of scholarly achievement; demonstrate a capacity to think beyond just the articulation of problems to a strategic understanding of solutions; and demonstrate as well a dynamic understanding of the impact of strategic decision-making in the lives of those who will be affected by those decisions.
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Superb interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills – The President must value diversity with a demonstrated capacity to recognize talents, envision how a diverse community thrives, and envision how a broad range of strengths can be directed toward collective excellence. The President must be articulate, persuasive, diplomatic, and extraordinarily engaging as the key and most visible enthusiast of an exciting top ranking university. The President must also be
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highly skilled communicator who is eager to solicit, listen to and respond to the perspectives and concerns of others and greatly energized to engage a broad range of individuals and groups in accomplishing university goals;
- highly accomplished in setting and leading an ambitious fundraising agenda;
- a consensus builder who is inclusive, fair, and decisive;
- able to think creatively and innovatively yet decisively;
- capable of working effectively and productively in various settings (academic, governmental, profit, non-profit) in establishing critical relationships;
- capable of envisioning what needs to be done and why; accomplishing well-articulated goals; leading by example rather than fiat; and conveying both vision and operational processes with transparency to various internal and external constituencies; and
- astute in the management of fiscal and business ffairs and capable of managing dynamic change.
- High level of energy – The President must be endowed with great energy, enthusiasm, and an intensely positive attitude that will inspire others to work at similar levels of commitment.
Areas of Demonstrated Leadership
The Ohio State University requires a President who has a demonstrated record of experience and success in a number of areas, most notably in:
- Establishing and articulating for both internal and external audiences the mission and value of an academic research university, including experience in conveying a clear understanding of:
- the mission of a comprehensive teaching and research university that is simultaneously a public land-grant institution;
- the roles, responsibilities, and relationships of a metropolitan university that is intricately connected to its immediate community, the city, and the state;
- the necessity of integrating highly innovative research vibrantly into highly successful teaching and outreach missions; and
- the university (in its being a highly successful and highly visible public institution with national and international influence) as a key site of investment for the health and prosperity of the state.
- Generating substantial investment in the university from both private and public sectors and leading a world-class development effort.
- Attracting and retaining highly talented people -- outstanding faculty and staff, as well as high achieving undergraduate, graduate and professional students.
- Fostering intellectual vibrancy and excellence through diversity in all of its forms and manifestations.
- Creating, leading, and sustaining an effective operational system, including building highly productive teams and leading strong partnerships in the successful accomplishment of goals.
- Acknowledging the voices and viewpoints of students at all levels and setting a model for others in actively engaging students.
- Working effectively with various internal and external constituencies.
- Managing governance within an academic environment and creating transparent processes that are inclusive of university constituencies.
- Leading and fostering innovation and engaging and aligning a large complex organization with a broad array of stakeholders in order to effect change.
