By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The next president of the University of Cincinnati faces uncertain state funding, increasing competition for students from private schools and the burgeoning cost of staying technologically competitive.

So UC's Board of Trustees, which is assembling a committee to select Joseph Steger's successor, will cast a wide net to find the right person to lead the second largest university in Ohio and the largest employer in Cincinnati, with 14,274 employees. "What you're looking for is someone who can handle very complex constituencies and all the different funding sources," board chairman George Schaefer said. "You can't just stick a straight business guy in if he doesn't understand the academic world."

The board has eight months to choose a replacement for Dr. Steger, who announced his decision to retire Friday. Though his contract ends June 30, 2003, he has agreed to stay on as interim if a successor has not been chosen by then.

Neither a woman nor a minority has ever held the presidential post, but both will be strongly considered in the search.

"We would be foolish not to," Mr. Schaefer said. "Look at major universities like Ohio State and Michigan."

Both schools recently selected women to lead their institutions. Karen Holbrook took the helm at OSU in October after serving as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost as well as a professor of cell biology at the University of Georgia.

Mary Sue Coleman was named president of the University of Michigan in August. Before that, she served as president of the University of Iowa and as a professor of biochemistry in Iowa's College of Medicine.

Whoever is selected must continue Dr. Steger's lead in both fund raising and shared governance with the faculty, said Richard Karp, chairman of the faculty senate.

"Our sister institutions don't necessarily enjoy this," he said. "At this institution, I, as chair, sit on his cabinet. He has fostered a real atmosphere of cooperation. We have enjoyed a lot of progress because of that."

Dr. Karp's top priority is to find someone who will increase the status of academics and who will push for new programs.

"It's easy to get money for buildings," he said. "But when it comes to academics, that's tougher."

Dr. Steger, who after 18 years holds the second longest presidential tenure in the history of the institution, said his successor must have plenty of energy and "a hide like an elephant."

"They have to be straightforward and honest," he said. "They have to relate to all different kinds of people - students, CEOs.

The new president must focus on budget stability and enhance streams of revenue through fund raising and enrollment management, said Anthony Perzigian, senior vice president and provost for baccalaureate and graduate education.

"This new president is going to have to continue to be a strong advocate and lobbyist for higher education both in Columbus and elsewhere," Mr. Perzigian said.

He or she also will oversee increased security measures mandated by the federal government because of the war on terrorism.

"Security measures surrounding the work we do is going to require renovations and it's going to hurt our foreign students," Dr. Steger said. "If we don't keep the supply of students from foreign countries we're going to be in trouble. This country can't afford it."

No meeting date has been set for the search committee, but it will be composed of board of trustee members, faculty, students, college deans, a member of the community as well as someone from the UC Foundation.

E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com

Recent stories
• Steger announces retirement Nov. 1
• Office director to follow Steger Nov. 1
• UC considers new leader Nov. 2