University of Toledo presidential candidate Sharon Gaber touted her record as University of Arkansas provost to grow enrollment, boost graduation rates, raise money, and work with faculty during a forum held today at UT’s main campus.
Ms. Gaber, who earned her doctorate in city and regional planning from Cornell University and became the Arkansas provost and vice-chancellor for academic affairs in 2009, addressed about 200 people during her first forum with faculty, students, staff, and community members.
She is the last of three finalists for the job to visit campus.
UT serves as an economic engine for northwest Ohio, Ms. Gaber said, and as its president she would be highly visible in the community and on campus.
“This university bears the name of the city. This is the University of Toledo,” she said. “We are going to work together to enhance Toledo even further.”
At Arkansas, Ms. Gaber said she helped to recruit high school students, and the university hired additional recruiters to attract out-of-state students to the university.
To increase graduation rates, she formed a task force made up of faculty, staff, and students who examined impediments students face to completing degrees. She said the university has added academic advisers and she’s begun conversations with the faculty about instituting a class attendance policy.
Ms. Gaber also discussed her close work with university fund-raising and athletics and said she created a maternity and paternity policy because she viewed it as critical to help recruit young faculty.
She spoke for about 35 minutes, briefly mentioning she is a breast cancer survivor who is now “absolutely clear,” before turning the forum over to audience questions.
Asked about her views on open enrollment, Ms. Gaber said she’s generally supportive of UT’s admissions philosophy. The university currently admits about 95 percent of undergraduate applicants.
The university’s goal is to educate as many students as possible, she said, though if UT’s enrollment were to increase dramatically she would consider looking at instituting a minimum test score for admission or other criteria.
In response to a question about how she would advocate for higher education and faculty with state legislators, Ms. Gaber said she would focus on the practical benefits that a university provides, highlighting to elected officials the value of specific programs and their tangible results.
She joins Michele Wheatly, the former West Virginia University provost, and Christopher Howard, president of Hampden-Sydney College, as the three finalists for the UT presidency. The other two candidates have already visited campus.
Ms. Gaber will participate in a second and final forum at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Collier Building on the Health Science Campus.
First Published February 26, 2015, 9:51 p.m.
