2008 Woodie Awards
Q & A with DePauw presidential finalist Michael Fischer
By: Courtney Hime
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News
The DePauw spoke with Michael Fischer, Trinity University's vice president for academic affairs and one of the two finalists for DePauw's next presidency, over the phone Thursday. Fischer spoke from his office at Trinity following his visit to campus Tuesday.
The DePauw: What are your first impressions of DePauw after your visit?
Michael Fischer: They are very positive. I came away impressed with the campus and people and the questions that everyone asked. I came in with a high regard and that continues.
TDP: What did you know about DePauw going into the search process?
MF: I had visited DePauw, the campus, briefly a few years ago to look at, what was then, the new art center, because here at Trinity, we were building a new art building and taking a tour of the country to look at similar buildings. I also knew of DePauw because we are in the same athletic conference.
TDP: Where does DePauw excel?
MF: I think that the facilities are first-rate as well as the quality of students and faculty. It has a very strong curriculum and the residential campus is also, I think, very attractive. All those things.
TDP: Where do you see room for improvement at DePauw?
MF: The University's strategic plan has outlined areas where more progress can be made. These include strengthening the academic reputation to make sure that its reputation across the country matches its quality.
TDP: How do you specifically qualify to put through these improvements?
MF: I think it would be because I've been working on similar goals here at Trinity. At Trinity I've been working on some of these same objectives with some success.
TDP: Some people feel as though the DePauw president is not available to the common student. How do you envision your role in relation to the student body?
MF: I think that my relationship with the students would be very important to me. I am interested in continuing with students the kind of conversations I had this week.
TDP: Any advice from Bottoms?
MF: Not really. He did talk to me about the history of DePauw and very graciously answered some of my questions.
TDP: How does your current position prepare you for this job?
MF: It covers some of the same areas that are of importance to DePauw. I oversee admissions, academics, international students and intercollegiate athletics. I think all of those areas are important to DePauw too.
TDP: President Bottoms has stressed diversity on this campus. How do you plan to continue DePauw's commitment to diversity?
MF: I'm sure that part of the overall commitment will be to continue many initiatives already in place. I would need to know more about the specifics of the current initiatives. It's at this point that it is easier to comment on things that have been done at my own University, but with the caution that you have to be careful when you transfer from one to another, because the universities are different in many ways.
The DePauw: What are your first impressions of DePauw after your visit?
Michael Fischer: They are very positive. I came away impressed with the campus and people and the questions that everyone asked. I came in with a high regard and that continues.
TDP: What did you know about DePauw going into the search process?
MF: I had visited DePauw, the campus, briefly a few years ago to look at, what was then, the new art center, because here at Trinity, we were building a new art building and taking a tour of the country to look at similar buildings. I also knew of DePauw because we are in the same athletic conference.
TDP: Where does DePauw excel?
MF: I think that the facilities are first-rate as well as the quality of students and faculty. It has a very strong curriculum and the residential campus is also, I think, very attractive. All those things.
TDP: Where do you see room for improvement at DePauw?
MF: The University's strategic plan has outlined areas where more progress can be made. These include strengthening the academic reputation to make sure that its reputation across the country matches its quality.
TDP: How do you specifically qualify to put through these improvements?
MF: I think it would be because I've been working on similar goals here at Trinity. At Trinity I've been working on some of these same objectives with some success.
TDP: Some people feel as though the DePauw president is not available to the common student. How do you envision your role in relation to the student body?
MF: I think that my relationship with the students would be very important to me. I am interested in continuing with students the kind of conversations I had this week.
TDP: Any advice from Bottoms?
MF: Not really. He did talk to me about the history of DePauw and very graciously answered some of my questions.
TDP: How does your current position prepare you for this job?
MF: It covers some of the same areas that are of importance to DePauw. I oversee admissions, academics, international students and intercollegiate athletics. I think all of those areas are important to DePauw too.
TDP: President Bottoms has stressed diversity on this campus. How do you plan to continue DePauw's commitment to diversity?
MF: I'm sure that part of the overall commitment will be to continue many initiatives already in place. I would need to know more about the specifics of the current initiatives. It's at this point that it is easier to comment on things that have been done at my own University, but with the caution that you have to be careful when you transfer from one to another, because the universities are different in many ways.
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