Although it may be a bit premature, retiring North Dakota University System Chancellor Eddie Dunn is sending Dickinson State's president off to retirement with well wishes.
The chancellor drafted DSU's Dr. Lee Vickers' annual performance assessment at the end of May, which was submitted to the NDUS on June 8. The president announced in May he would retire effective Jan. 1, 2008, or as soon thereafter as possible to ensure a smooth transition.
In a letter to Vickers, Dunn commends the president's measures in meeting or partially meeting all of the university's five goals for 2007.
"President Vickers, you have had a great run at Dickinson State University," Dunn said in the letter to Vickers. "You certainly can be proud of your accomplishments in a number of areas."
Dunn specifically cited the university's exchange program with Krasnoyarsk State Medical Academy in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, as well as hosting the inaugural Theodore Roosevelt Symposium.
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Both of those accomplishments were outlined in the university's goals for the year. The university also accomplished the goals of addressing the legislative roundtable's concerns regarding exit testing for all majors and utilizing the Travers Scholarship endowment to provide financial aid for certain qualified students.
DSU also partially accomplished its goal of establishing a partnership with the Three Affiliated Tribes.
"This accomplishment is impressive, and it is clear to me that the one objective not achieved was the result of factors beyond your control," Dunn said in the letter.
Some of the specified objectives under the goal were not met due to the fact Tribal Chairman Tex Hall, with whom Vickers had worked to establish the objectives, was not re-elected.
Dunn also touted other achievements, such as the $500,000 Bush Foundation community development grant and a $250,000 grant from Stark Development Corp., to address attraction and retention issues.
Praise for leadership
More generally, Dunn lauded the president for his "unassuming, but very effective" leadership skills.
"I especially appreciate how supportive you have been of the university system staff and as a solid advocate of the unified system of higher education," Dunn said.
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Dunn said Vickers has epitomized all of the university system's core values during his eight-year tenure as president.
"You brought great creativity and vision to DSU, the Dickinson area and the university system. We are all indebted to you for that," Dunn said. "You have been a model president."
In the letter, Dunn stressed the importance of focusing on all 12 of the key principles of the legislative roundtable, not only focusing on flexibility and accountability.
"As a statewide system of higher education, the 11 colleges and universities all share the same enrollment challenges and financial issues related to enrollment," Dunn said. "Other than that challenge, I do not have specific concerns to draw to your attention."
Dunn recommended to the North Dakota Board of Higher Education to continue Vickers' contract for the 2007-08 year, with the understanding he may retire before the contract term expires.
As a response to the letter, Vickers said, "Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the opportunity to work for and with you."
