President Hall plans for USU’s future
President Kermit L. Hall has a vision for Utah State University. But before he talks about that vision, he is going to listen.
“It behooves me to know as much as I can about the institution,” Hall said. “You can’t make good decisions unless you know the basis upon which you’re making them.”
Since he arrived at USU in January, Hall has been on a “fact-finding mission,” spending his time learning as much as he can about the university. Gathering information as he visits every academic and administrative unit on campus is part of his preparation to be the “political, administrative and symbolic representative” of USU.
Hall is also spending time engaging with the state Legislature in an effort to develop a meaningful legislative agenda for the university. He is emphasizing the point that USU is “an institution whose responsibilities extend throughout the state.”
“We have the opportunity to provide benefit to every individual in the state,” he said.
Hall himself plans to visit all of the USU extension offices and each of the counties in Utah. He said he wants to meet the “movers and shakers” of Utah, including political leaders and alumni and supporters of USU.
Hall said it is important that these people know he feels “deeply obligated to them.”
But Hall certainly won’t dedicate all of his time to people outside of USU. He said he enjoys being with students and faculty and wants to be as approachable and visible as possible.
“If I spend an inordinate amount of time in my office, I will fail as president,” he said.
Students shouldn’t be afraid to come to him with problems, Hall said.
“I’m interested in civil discourse,” he said.
Hall said he has been impressed with students so far. As he walks across campus and says hello to students, almost all of them say hello back. That’s not something you find everywhere, he said.
“USU ought to be a place where people can say hello to each other,” he said.
Hall said a change in leadership is an opportunity for USU to reassess its goals. His goal is not to reinvent USU, but to make sure it is directed in the best way.
His role as president is threefold, he said.
First, a university president must make sure all the small things that add up to large outcomes are done well, he said. For example, people should get paid, rules should be enforced and all the lights should turn on, he said.
His second role is to be the symbolic and political representative of USU and to “deliver a consistent message about what it is the university does,” he said. He said he will remind people of the pride, commitment, excellence and success of USU. Hall said he likes “short, upbeat messages.”
“I tell the truth, but remind people they have the capacity to do even better,” he said.
Third, his role is to serve as the strongest advocate for increasing the resources of the university. He said he will work with the legislature and donors to do this. He wants to “create an intellectually rich environment in which student success is taken as the most important measure of the university’s success.”
So far, Hall has seen some things he likes at USU and some things that need a little work.
“I’m very impressed with the quality of faculty and their commitment to teaching and to the institution,” he said.
Hall said he is also impressed with students and staff, as well as the community. He said the community has been very welcoming.
“I sense a lot of authenticity,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of it painted on.”
One weak area is resources at USU, Hall said. He also plans to work on getting better retention and graduation rates.
The advising problem is another area he plans to focus on.
Hall said USU doesn’t have “an image appropriate to its stature.” He plans to bring some national people in to help with long-term planning, and this will help the university’s reputation, he said.
Hall will implement a program called compact planning at USU. Departments and administrative units will write compacts – agreements between academic or administrative units and their supervisors. The compacts will identify high-priority initiatives, actions, schedule, outcomes and performance expectations.
Hall said compact planning links strategic planning with the allocation of resources and will be an iterative process – one that will be repeated as necessary. It will allow for an assessment of the plan and enable people to change the plan if it’s not feasible after a time.
In March, the Kellogg Foundation will hold a symposium on the future of land grant universities and some of Hall’s colleagues will come to USU to talk about compact planning.
At the end of the semester, a group of academics and administrators will “take a once-over” of USU and present a brief report on the major issues.
Hall will then take deans, department heads and some administrators on a retreat to talk about issues that will impact the university. The actual compact planning process will start in the summer or fall, he said.
Hall said it is important for students to realize they will be involved at every stage of the planning process.
“Student voice will always be part of this process,” he said.
Hall said he will work to get the football team a conference to play in, and that he plans to continue the diversity forums President George H. Emert started.
“The topic is of deep interest to me,” he said. “I went to the candlelight vigil to drive home that point.”
His goal, he said, is to create “an incredibly diverse work force and student body.”