Regent candidates: Here's why we want to serve
Newsletter invited potential board members to address faculty, staff
Editor's note: The Faculty and Staff Newsletter invited each of the candidates on the Nov. 2 ballot for Board of Regents to respond, in up to 250 words, to this request:
Please tell the faculty and staff of the University of Colorado system why you wish to serve on the Board of Regents.
Responses received on or before Oct. 20 appeared in last week's issue; responses received since then appear below:
AT LARGE
Libertarian, Denver
Jesse WallaceLibertarian, Denver
I wish to volunteer as regent for the University of Colorado because I wish to give back to the school, which gave me so much. I see an opportunity to refine the budgets, and to remove barriers to entrance for students throughout the university system. I also believe through tightening budgets in the administrative area, and through the renegotiating of outside vendor contracts, we can free up room to get tuition rates lowered, and have a sustainable budget. I also would like to fight for the campus on the state level to have more money dedicated to the university system from the existing budget.
I am of the opinion that there should be more input from the faculty and staff as well as students and parents and the residents of Colorado funding these campuses and less from the upper level administration/leadership.
I believe there are many opportunities available to make the University of Colorado more effective and more affordable without sacrificing the quality of the education delivered on the campus. Often we allow shell games to dictate policy, leaving those charged with the day-to-day responsibilities left fighting over scraps. I want to challenge these decisions rather than participating within the given system.
DISTRICT 1
Republican, Denver
Alex MallerRepublican, Denver
To enhance CU's excellence in a forthcoming era of austerity, academic content, academic delivery and some current managerial concepts should be reformed.
As a retired professor of architecture and urban design, with a combined academic and consulting experience of over 30 years, I can bring to the board an additional in-depth understanding of issues affecting CU's development.
I am convinced that public higher education should be viewed as an economical enterprise, rather than an entitlement; a significant investment made by students and parents, to be rewarded by the graduates' improved standard of living. In recent years, "affordable" education has been grossly abused, creating an educational "bubble" with dire consequences on the students' finances and performance. To reform and adjust undergraduate programs for the 21st century, I will advocate rigorous, focused and effective academic delivery and efficient administration which reward entrepreneurship and innovation, not conformity and compliance.
To achieve these objectives, students should be encouraged to enroll in undergraduate studies only when fully aware of their academic aptitudes. Otherwise, candidates should be advised to find a job, volunteer, save money, mature and take time off until they can determine their individual orientations. Students who are more focused and motivated will achieve effective, exciting and rewarding results for both themselves and the faculty.
Graduate education, research and outreach are key to preserve CU's high standards of excellence and resourcefulness. I join all those who expect advanced performance to be rigorous, verifiable and unbiased by religious convictions or political trends.
DISTRICT 4
Republican, Windsor
Sue SharkeyRepublican, Windsor
As a mother who has sent two children to CU, I understand Coloradoans' concerns about rising tuition and the health and welfare of students at CU.
Over the past year I have traveled the 18 counties of the 4th Congressional District listening to families' concerns about the rising cost of education at CU. I've experienced firsthand the financial burden this places on families.
I have been involved with and had a strong connection to CU since my husband was a graduate student there more than 25 years ago. I serve on the CU Parents Association Board and have attended the Board of Regents meetings; met with faculty and administrators; attended the student government meeting and toured the campuses since becoming a candidate a year ago. I have a passion to see CU succeed, the energy and time to commit myself and the preparation to begin making a difference on Day One.
I will promote a university budget that leverages the school's assets to control costs. As a business professional, I support taking greater advantage of CU's leadership role in research to gain additional grant funding and to develop more of its research findings into commercial products. I also support introducing targeted spending cuts that address inefficient programs and bureaucratic mandates that add no value to higher education.
As a CU regent I will be an advocate for Colorado students and families who, like mine, want to make sure they can balance educational goals and their checkbook.