Daniels has lofty aspirations for Purdue by Eric Weddle, Journal And Courier
Questions, anyone?
With just a microphone and binder, Gov. Mitch Daniels faced Purdue University colleges Tuesday to field queries on public education, how to cut campus spending, the ethics of his hire, and many topics in between.
Daniels, who described himself as a future Purdue employee, focused on several central ideas about how the university should operate when he becomes president in January but spoke mostly in general terms. Yet a goal, Daniels said, is pre-eminence in five years.
“I hope we will be seen, in that time frame, as the best value in higher education anywhere,” he said.
To get there Purdue needs to leverage resources, raise more money and focus on its mission — discovering knowledge and teaching it. That means finding a way to cut down on administrative overhead and rethinking internal procedures that increase costs.
“There are a lot of people working hard but maybe not working hard on what they should,” Daniels said about seeking efficiencies. “Remember, each dollar comes from taxpayer or family.”
Daniels will hold question-and-answer sessions today at Loeb Playhouse with faculty in some of the university colleges and additional meetings with students, administrators and staff. He returns next month for more meetings.
He was selected Purdue’s 12th president in June and will start after completing his second term as governor. Tim Sands, provost, is acting president until then.
Faculty weren’t shy putting Daniels on the spot regarding policy decisions as governor, especially decisions to cut public education funding.
Melanie Shoffner, English education associate professor, pushed Daniels on how he would support educators at the state level. Daniels instead focused on saying students in Purdue’s College of Education should have the reputation for being best in the state. He suggested the college even focus on science and technology teaching to create a niche.
“Within education, the negativity around him is large,” she said about education and liberal arts. “So hopefully, as president, he will be our biggest cheerleader to talk about what we do well and why we do it well.”
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