The two UW-Madison students named to the search committee to replace Chancellor John Wiley said Wednesday additional student involvement will be needed. The report was posted on a student blog.
UW-Madison graduate student Erik Paulson and senior Suchita Shah were selected to serve on the committee by Associated Students of Madison’s Shared Governance Committee Chair Jeff Wright and ASM Chair Gestina Sewell Tuesday.
Wright said Shah and Paulson were chosen because they both have a firm grasp of the issues facing students.
“They both talked about engaging students through listening sessions and forums and I think that’s a great start,” Wright said.
“Obviously, they have to reach out to student organizations and faculty-student committees and they’ll have to engage their peers.”
Paulson said the goal is to select a great chancellor, stressing that student involvement was very important in the process.
“One of my goals will be to start talking to as many students as we can about what they see as qualities they want to find in the next chancellor and get feedback to help us guide our process,” he said Tuesday after being named to the committee.
Shah said she plans to hold listening sessions with student organizations as well as open forums where interested students can voice opinions.
“It’s very important that any student that has a voice can be heard,” Shah said Tuesday.
According to Wright, ASM received 43 applications from students interested in a position on the committee.
All applicants were required to write essays regarding what qualities make the best chancellor and why the individual applicant would be a good student representative on the committee.
Wright and Sewell conducted interviews with 12 finalists Tuesday.
“I’m very happy with Suchita and Erik,” Wright said. “I think they are going to represent the student body very well.”
Wright said ASM would provide more information about open forums to students after the first search committee meeting on Jan. 25.
For a list of groups the two students are interested in meeting with log on to www.asmsharedgovernance.blogspot.com.
