The dean of LSU’s College of Basic Sciences and fourth provost candidate interviewed with the Provost Search Committee on Monday and Tuesday.
Harold Silverman said as an insider applying for the provost position, he can see things more clearly than other outside candidates.
“I have experience within the system, experience at the Legislature and at the Board of Regents,” Silverman said. “Others can do it, but it will take longer to understand the environment in which we operate.”
Silverman did say outsiders can bring in new ideas.
Silverman has been at the University since 1981. During his time, he has been a faculty member in the Departments of Zoology and Physiology, interim dean of biological sciences and assistant dean of research and chair of biological sciences.
Several questions by faculty members Tuesday concerned Silverman’s ideas on Policy Statement 36, the policy mandating how faculty and staff are evaluated and promoted based on service, teaching and research.
Silverman said promotion and tenure is about instruction excellence and national recognition. He said he feels for service to be a major factor in promotion, it has to be extraordinary.
“Faculty must show extreme potential to be a national leader in their field and excel in the class,” Silverman said. “Service comes from these two pieces.”
In addition to PS-36, faculty were concerned with Silverman’s vision for the future of LSU.
Silverman said his goal for the University is to be as competitive a research university as LSU can be throughout the campus.
“When we train students, we need to shoot for excellence,” Silverman said. “We need to be teaching them skills they need throughout their lifetime.”
As provost, Silverman said he would like to understand all areas of the University.
The most important jobs of the institution are instruction and research activities, Silverman said.
“We have to start thinking of what is the best way to make service options of the University better,” Silverman said.
The planning process of the University is coordinated through the provost office, and Silverman said the Flagship Agenda also should be included with the planning process.
Silverman said to compete nationally on a research level, the University must increase its graduate student enrollment.
“Research is driven by the graduate student level with undergraduates at a lower level,” Silverman said.
Though Silverman did not get a chance to meet with students at the open forum Tuesday, one faculty member did ask his feelings on student life programs.
“I have stood back and watched student life and programs develop very well, in terms of residential colleges and sports facilities,” Silverman said. “I do not have a ton of expertise, but I would have to learn.”
Silverman said he thought the main goal of the University is the education of students.
Faculty, staff and students will have a chance to meet with the final provost candidate, Risa Palm, on Feb. 25.