Forrest Tyler, a professor emeritus and College Park resident, spoke at the presidential search committee’s listening session.
College Park residents want university President Dan Mote’s successor to commit to a partnership with the surrounding community and create a relationship both sides can benefit from.
At a forum attended by about 20 people last night, the presidential search committee heard officials and residents emphasize the need for the university to recognize the city as a potential partner and prioritize improving the city environment. College Park city council members complained the university often treated them as an afterthought and hope the next president will make more of an effort to reach out.
“The students and the faculty and the staff and the administration here on campus are deeply affected by everything that happens on campus but so are our neighbors in College Park,” said Public Policy Dean and chair of the search committee Don Kettl. “We want to and need to listen carefully to what they have to say.”
Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s) sent a letter to the search committee outlining characteristics the area state legislators see as important and applauded the committee for soliciting comments from city residents. A forum for city residents wasn’t originally scheduled but was added earlier this month.
“You can’t have a great university if it’s not in a great community,” Rosapepe said. “And by having a strong, respectful, cooperative relationship, both the community and the university can thrive.”
He also cautioned the committee not to choose the next president based on public recognition alone.
“My fear is, in the search for that, there’s a danger of not selecting a candidate who has the emotional intelligence and the depth of experience and the proven record to actually work well with the [Board of Regents] and the stakeholders,” he said.
Psychology professor Forrest Tyler, who joined the faculty in 1969 and lives in the city, said he wants a president who embraces the community and what it has to offer to the university, something he believes has been lacking in the past.
Other residents emphasized a need for public outreach from university students, groups and faculty to the schools and businesses in the area.
“The fact is, our fates are entwined,” District 4 Councilman Marcus Afzali said. “Both sides need to understand that, without the other, neither can reach their full potential.”
Overall, city residents wanted to be noticed.
“Don’t plan major economic developments like East Campus without consulting with the community about where it will be,” College Park Mayor Andy Fellows said.
District 3 Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich explained that she wants the next president to be an active member of the College Park community.
“I hope the next president of the university will actually live in College Park,” Stullich said. “I want him to make friends in the College Park community.”
Kettl said he was encouraged by the dialogue.
“It was terrific,” he said. “These listening sessions have just been invaluable for us. “
The committee, which formed in February after Mote announced he would resign effective Aug. 31, held open forums for faculty, staff and students last month. They are also soliciting feedback online at www.umd.edu/presidentialsearch.
“I think that the community gets really fired up when we start talking about the university and the city because there’s a lot of potential,” Fellows said.
rhodes@umdbk.com
