Sporting silver and gold, University of Idaho President Chuck Staben participated in Idaho’s premier cycling tour this month, Ride Idaho, where he biked among the state’s farmlands, rivers and rocky landscapes. Being new to Idaho, he said the cycling event was just one of the activities he did over summer break to get his bearings in before beginning his first fall semester as UI president.
“It’s an incredibly beautiful state with lots of geographic diversity from craters of the moon, to Lake Pend Orielle — I’m happy to be here,” Staben said.
Staben said he also spent the summer visiting agricultural research stations, extension offices and education centers across Idaho.
Richard Garber, the director of government and industry relations in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, road alongside Staben in the Ride Idaho event and said his experience with Staben outside of a university capacity shed light on the kind of leader Staben can be for UI.
“There was no need for concern, 83 miles in 105 degree heat and another day in pouring rain made no difference, he was ready for whatever the terrain or weather presented,” Garber said. “We had lots of time to visit along the way and I’m convinced that if he leads the University in the same manner he bikes, strong and steady, we are in very good hands going forward.”
Staben was selected to serve as UI president last November by the Idaho State Board of Education, following a national search. As the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of South Dakota, he was one of five finalists in the running. Staben ultimately came out on top and took helm of UI on March 1.
Since then, Staben has visited with the university community, the Idaho legislature and statewide industry leaders and stakeholders.
However, Staben said this semester is about switching gears.
“I wanted to spend about the first three months sort of listening and learning, and though I don’t intend to stop listening and learning, it’s really time to start leading as well,” he said.
Staben said while there are several tentative items on the agenda for the fall semester, he first wants to actively engage with students, faculty and staff in celebrating the kickoff to the new academic year. He said he plans on attending Convocation, the Integrated Research Innovation Center groundbreaking, among other events.
“I view all of those as important points of communication with the campus,” Staben said.
In lieu of listening, Staben said there are a few priorities already on his radar — increasing student enrollment and the upcoming provost search process.
In May, Staben said the university was looking to increase student enrollment over the next several years with the final goal of increasing UI’s numbers from about 11,000 students to 15,000 students.
“I don’t think it’s my goal, I think it should be a university goal,” Staben said. “It’s something that’s obvious to me that would benefit the university and benefit the students of Idaho.”
Although there’s no timeline attached to the plan, he said the conversation is ongoing.
“We’re still talking about how exactly we can grow enrollment and at what pace,” he said.
Another matter the president will pay close attention to this semester is the upcoming provost search. The university provost is the senior academic administrator tasked with closely communicating with college deans. Currently, Katharine Aiken is the interim provost where she’s led UI through the SBOE program prioritization mandate.
UI Spokeswoman Stefany Bales said the search for a new provost would officially begin after the search committee meets in September, with potential candidates able to apply in early October.
Staben said the president and the provost are an important partnership and work together to advance university-wide goals. He said he’s hopeful the search committee will find a competent pool of applicants and the right person will be chosen to serve alongside him in the coming years.
He said the provost must have a sense of how to move academics forward while building a strong faculty and attracting students.
“So we’re looking for a person with creativity, imagination, experience, ability to work with peers and the ability to work with deans,” Staben said. “It’s a tough position, but I’m confident that we can get somebody who can do well at that.”
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]