Finalists for chancellor post
Many College of Eastern Utah students are eagerly anticipating their graduation day in order to move out and move on with their scholastic ambitions. However, for the two finalists to be CEU’s first ever chancellor, moving in would be the means of moving on with their career.
Both finalists are influentially and administratively qualified to be CEU’s chancellor.
This archived article was written by: Devin Bybee
Many College of Eastern Utah students are eagerly anticipating their graduation day in order to move out and move on with their scholastic ambitions. However, for the two finalists to be CEU’s first ever chancellor, moving in would be the means of moving on with their career.
Both finalists are influentially and administratively qualified to be CEU’s chancellor.
Cory L. Duckworth is equipped with an impressive resume when it comes to administering in high-profile positions. His experience includes: vice president of university advancement and marketing at Ferris State University, transition director of the merger with Utah State University and CEU and currently serves as vice president of student affairs at Utah Valley University.
Joe Peterson’s resume, on the other hand, is equally impressive and his experience is dynamic. His resume includes: dean of arts, letters and science and later vice president of student service at Dixie State and currently serves as Salt Lake Community College’s vice president for instruction.
In their quest to be CEU’s chancellor, both have visited CEU’s campus to introduce themselves and advocate their qualities in a day circumscribed by meetings. Duckworth visited April 7, while Peterson visited April 13.
Duckworth presented five-specific areas which outlined his presentation for “Strategic Vision and Leadership.” The five areas comprise of: developing the “New USU-CEU Culture,” protecting and strengthening the bottom-line, building strong and stable enrollments, establishing new resource-rich partnerships and stimulating regional economic development.
Much of his presentation dealt with strengthening the academic and student life as well as a greater focus and implementation of an efficient marketing program. Being personally involved in order to accentuate strong and stable enrollments is a major goal. He mentioned that this marketing program should be a college-wide responsibility.
Peterson focused on similar issues in his presentation. A distinct characteristic that he emphasized was the fact that he has lineage to Price. Peterson grew up in Price and had many ties to CEU.
Regional economic development was among Peterson’s top priorities and an element that received ample amount of time during his presentation. He discussed the key role a community college plays in a rural-community’s economic identity.
Other issues of concern for Peterson include: capitalizing on resources, emphasizing enrollment, implementing alternate resources of revenue and developing efficiency within the faculty’s work load. As a considerable part of his marketing emphasis, he pointed out that the college is not taking advantage of the variety of marketing options. One option that he stated is to allude to Eastern Utah’s beauty as a way to encourage students to choose CEU as their primary education.
Both chancellor finalists focused their campaigning presentations in a similar fashion. Marketing, economic development and strengthening the infrastructure of the institution were all aspects of the merger that each candidate acknowledged as a vital component of a successful transition. Experience is not the issue in who will be chosen for the job. The real issue will be the task that is at hand for whoever receives the responsibility of chancellor.
