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Third provost candidate wants to renew YSU purpose
SEE ALSO: YSU's fall enrollment declines by 844 students
YOUNGSTOWN
The third of four provost finalists to visit Youngstown State University emphasized his journey to become the person he is today.
Nathan Ritchey, founding dean of the College of Science and Health Professions at Edinoboro (Pa.) University, served at YSU from 1989 to 2013. He started as an assistant professor and eventually served as chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 2000 to 2013.
“Youngstown State has changed me,” Ritchey said.
YSU is having four open-forum sessions this week to introduce faculty, staff, administration, students and the community to the candidates. A provost is the university’s senior academic administrator.
Ritchey said colleges and universities cannot cut their way to financial security. He talked about his experience at Edinboro where he was expected to cut $2 million from his college’s budget as part of an attempt to reduce the university’s budget deficit.
Instead of laying off nearly 21 faculty members, Ritchey said he went with the alternative of increasing student enrollment by adjusting program requirements. Ritchey said enrollment at his college increased by 200 students and that saved the college more than $2.8 million.
During that time, Ritchey said he decided what kind of dean he wanted to be — “ a cutter or a grower.” He noted that cutting and shrinking programs would lead to more revenue loss with students leaving the college.
“That’s the wacky thing about budgeting,” he said. Ritchey said cutting away programs too much leads students away and is not the solution.
“We are servants to our students,” Ritchey said. “I know we can handle the very brightest students here.”
Ritchey met with the provost’s office team, administrative leaders, union leadership, deans and department heads, the board of trustees and President Jim Tressel. The interview schedule is the same for all four candidates.
After the forum, Ritchey said he hoped to change the purpose of YSU if he became provost.
“I want to help faculty renew their purpose,” he said. “I hope to convey that I’m alive and have a purpose.”
Just one month ago, the university had more than 150 applicants for the provost position. That number has been narrowed to four, all of whom are interviewing and meeting at open forums on campus. The forums are taking place from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and 3 to 3:45 p.m.
Cheryl Torsney of the University of Texas at El Paso, the fourth finalist, will visit today. The open-forum sessions allow anyone interested to question and comment on the candidates.
Also finalists are Graham Glynn of Mercy College in New York and David Starrett of Southeast Missouri State University.