Proposed Contract Extension for Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs

February 1, 2006

Dear Colleagues,

Since Christmas, I have been reflecting on the office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at DePaul University.  As you know, last year’s search did not produce an acceptable candidate for this position.  As the university’s senior Dean, Helmut Epp graciously agreed to lead the university’s academic affairs until the fall of 2007.  We anticipated that a new search would begin in the fall of 2006.   

I am now writing to consult you on the possibility of extending Helmut’s appointment to a full five-year term.  This is a change from what I had announced earlier, so I wish to explain my reasons and then invite you to reflect on this proposal with me.

Helmut has now served in the role for six months.  I have observed the following during that time:  

• Helmut advocates productively for the academic sector of the university.  This advocacy is reflected in the 2006-2007 budget, which directs most new dollars toward academics. 
• He has already solved a number of matters of long-standing concern to various colleges and programs and is in the process of working on others.
• His leadership, with Susanne Dumbleton and Gerry Mulderig, of the university’s strategic planning has been effective.  The plan clearly reflects the best thinking of multiple university constituencies. 
• His leadership style has been adroit and respectful.  He listens carefully to people, changes his mind when the information warrants, but then makes a decision so that the institution can move forward.  While not everyone agrees with all his decisions, it appears to me that they understand and respect his reasons. 
• He has given the colleges and deans a great deal of autonomy, but has also held them accountable for meeting clearly established goals. 
• He has gained the respect of the Board of Trustees.  I have watched him lead the board’s conversation and, when needed, challenge the board’s perceptions. 
• He asks a lot of his staff, but respects them and is grateful for their contribution.  He speaks well of them when they are not in the room. 
• He understands DePaul University – its mission, culture and people – to the very core.  He believes in its mission and works hard because of it.
• He believes in data-based decision-making.  I have watched him shape his opinion based on the information others have brought to him. 
• He listens to students and accepts what they tell him about how well DePaul does or does not serve their needs. 
• He’s entrepreneurial and competitive.  He constantly scans the changing world around us and insists that DePaul must stay out in front of its competition.
• He believes in simple, effective operations and is working to improve the university’s internal operations.  
• Personally, I enjoy working with him.  I like his quick sense of humor and his broad range of reading and personal interests. 
• He’s brought helpful balance to discussions that affect both the academic and operations sectors. 
• I believe that keeping Helmut in the EVPAA role will add a measure of stability in an organization that has had a fair bit of administrative turnover in recent years. 
• Helmut and I agree that DePaul will be best served over the long term by turning our full attention and energy to raising the university’s academic profile, the direction contained within our emerging strategic plan.  Given the time it takes to conduct a search, bring aboard, and establish a new executive vice president, I believe that Helmut can get us there faster and more effectively than another candidate might. 

I am making this suggestion now because two of our colleges – Liberal Arts & Sciences and Commerce – are searching for deans.  I am convinced that DePaul will be better positioned to convince high quality candidates to accept these positions if they know for certain who their boss will be.  Since I am pleased with Helmut’s leadership and do not expect that judgment to change, I thought it would benefit the two searches to move this proposal forward. 

I have spoken with Helmut and, while he was a bit surprised by the conversation, he indicated that he was also surprised by how much he is enjoying the job.  He consulted with his wife, and agreed he would be willing to extend his contract.  Both of us have agreed that if his contract is extended, the university will need to search for a new dean for the School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems (CTI).  I have told him that I do not want to open this position until the searches for the other two colleges are successfully completed.  I remain grateful to David Miller for his willingness to lead CTI in the interim.

I am now turning to you, the university community, and asking whether you would support the extension of Helmut’s contract to a full five-year term.  I wish to assure you that this is not a pro forma consultation.  I intend to listen carefully to your reflections and make my decision accordingly.  Helmut is supportive of this process as well, since he rightly believes that it is important to have the university community’s support if he is to be successful. 

To organize this consultation, the Faculty and Staff Council leadership have each suggested a method they believe appropriate for their constituencies, and we have implemented the following:  

• Helmut and I met separately today, Feb. 1, with the Faculty and Staff Councils.  The purpose of the meetings was to discuss my reasons for this proposal at more length with each council’s elected membership and to hear their thoughts and reflections. 

• As with all executive searches, the university has established a Web site that contains a job description and a tool that will enable faculty, staff and students to anonymously submit their thoughts and reflections.  I will share your comments with the presidents of Faculty and Staff Councils so that there is confidence that the university’s opinions have been received and understood.  The feedback also will be shared with the Board of Trustees, although they do not have a formal role in the extension of contracts.  That decision is reserved for the president.
   
• I ask all of you to contribute your thoughts through this Web site by Feb. 15.  Please take the time to share your reasons, as this level of detail will be more useful to me than simply knowing whether or not you support Helmut for this job.     

• Staff Council will be hosting two open forums on February 9th, during which Helmut will be available to answer questions.  The sessions are scheduled on the Loop campus, in Lewis 342, from 10:00 - 11:30 and on the Lincoln Park campus, in SAC 154, from 2:30 - 4:00.  Both sessions will be webcast to allow participation through your desktop.  (If you are interested in participating in either session via the web, please go to http://ntg.depaul.edu/videostream.html and click on the link entitled "Open Forum with Helmut Epp".  You must be on campus and connected to DePaul's network to participate.  If you would like to submit questions from your desktop during the session, you can submit your questions to staffcouncil@depaul.edu.  Your question will be read during the session along with questions from participants in the room.) 

I ask you to take this consultation most seriously.  I need to know the range of the campus’ opinions, both positive and negative.  I would be most grateful if you would take a few minutes to share your thoughts through this Web site: http://secretary.depaul.edu/2005-2006/

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this proposal.  I am very grateful to be a member of the DePaul community and have enjoyed my daily work with you.  I look forward to hearing your comments on this important decision.   

Sincerely,

Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.
President