Presidential candidate: Good days ahead for YSU

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Dr. C. Jack Maynard, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Indiana State University, and candidate for President of Youngstown State University.

By Harold Gwin

The major indicators bode well for the future, C. Jack Maynard said.

YOUNGSTOWN — A candidate for Youngstown State University president believes YSU is well prepared for a leadership role over the next decade.

C. Jack Maynard, current provost and vice president for academic affairs at Indiana State University, said he becomes more impressed with YSU the more he learns about the institution.

In addition to a great history, strong academic reputation and being student- centered, YSU enjoys strong support from the community, he said.

The four “Centers of Excellence” proposed by YSU as a part of the Ohio strategic plan for higher education build on existing strengths and can play a role in economic development, he said.

It’s designation as an urban research university in that plan is a reaffirmation of the importance of the institution’s connection with that community, Maynard told a group of about 90 people in an open public forum Tuesday on the YSU campus.

Some effort may be required to determine the definition and clarity of the university’s identification as an urban research university as the nature of the work being done on campus could change for some people, he said. But he added that all of those factors indicate that “Good days are ahead.”

He is one of four finalists for the job being vacated by David C. Sweet, who retires June 30 after 10 years as YSU’s president.

Scott Schulick, chairman of the YSU board of trustees and the university’s presidential-search committee, said the public forums each candidate will address will assist the trustees in making their selection of the university’s seventh president, a process that should be completed by mid-February.

Maynard answered a number of questions posed by his audience. Some of the issues were:

UYSU labor unrest: “That doesn’t create a lot of fear in me,” Maynard said, noting that when he was hired as provost at Indiana State, he was coming in at a time when the faculty had twice passed resolutions of no-confidence in the former president and provost. Maynard said he was successful at rebuilding a relationship of communication and trust between the administration and faculty, and he is confident that after taking time to understand the issues at YSU, he can do the same here.

UEmerging technology in higher education: Technology affects our lives daily, he said, and Indiana State has embraced it as a means of education on campus. All freshmen must buy a laptop computer, and efforts are being made to supply all of the faculty with them as well, Maynard said. All of Indiana State’s classrooms are “smart” classrooms, equipped with technology, he said.

UDiversity: Indiana State has been successful in attracting a diverse student body, he said, noting that 14 percent of the student body is black. Despite ongoing efforts, Indiana State hasn’t had the same level of success with its minority faculty, which is only 3 percent to 4 percent black, he said.

UInternational education: Indiana State has between 500 and 700 international students on campus at any given time, and they bring great diversity to the campus, Maynard said. Indiana State is also expanding its study abroad program and now sends “a couple hundred” students overseas annually. The university has developed relationships with institutions in China and Morocco, he noted.

ULack of state funds for an urban research component: “Yes, there is a mismatch,” Maynard said, pointing out that isn’t uncommon. Doctoral programs associated with research can be both a blessing and a drain in terms of drawing and draining resources, he said. The university needs to be sure new doctoral programs are in line with its objectives, he said. That’s a decision that should not be made by the president alone, he added. “That’s got to be a campus decision,” he said. Priorities are determined and decisions made after thorough vetting, he said.

UEastern Gateway Community College: Maynard said he saw enrollment at the University of Toledo drop while he was there after a community college opened on the other side of that city. The university had to make arrangements for students to be able to transfer credits from the two-year school, but a community college “is the right thing to do,” he said. It provides new opportunities and pathways to education and work-force training that traditional colleges don’t have, he said. Toledo put specific program links into place to encourage community college graduates to continue their education and enrollment began to grow again, he said. Hopefully, YSU will be able to work with Eastern Gateway toward the success of both institutions, Maynard said.

gwin@vindy.com