Wednesday, June 7, 2006
So far, so good.
That’s the initial impression from new provost and executive vice chancellor Richard Lariviere two days into his new job at the University of Kansas.
After 24 years at the University of Texas in Austin, where he served the past seven years as dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Lariviere was selected as provost in February.
“This is a great job. KU is an important institution nationally, and to combine the jobs of provost and executive vice chancellor, this job is a great opportunity,” Lariviere said.
Granted, Lariviere has not had much time to delve into any serious campus business, though he is aware of some of the issues facing the University and has preliminary ideas of what he envisions for it — while still learning about the University.
“KU is at a huge advantage because it’s a very good research institution, yet it has maintained a culture that places a big value on its quality of education,” Lariviere said. “I want to figure out ways to help faculty and staff tell the story of KU, loudly and effectively.”
Lariviere is also aware of what he is inheriting.
Lariviere said he has yet to meet with all the faculty at the University and that he wants to listen to their needs and ideas before he decides on what issues to tackle. He said he wants to understand the priorities of the faculty and students before evaluating what talents he has to address those priorities.
Concerning his decision to leave UT, Lariviere said that after 24 years in Austin, it was the right time for a change, and KU provided that change. Lariviere said he would definitely miss his friends from Austin but that he’d do just fine without the 100-degree heat from early-April to late-November.
Lariviere wouldn’t concede wholly that KU would be his last professional stop, yet affirms that he can’t see himself going anywhere else in the future.
The 56-year-old Lariviere, a self-proclaimed “work-nerd” said that KU students can expect him to “work really hard to give them the best education possible with the resources we have.”
“I was the beneficiary of that type of education, and I know how important and valuable it is.” he said.
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