Kathleen Rountree has informed me that she intends to resign as provost effective May 31, 2010, and take up her tenured position as a full professor in the School of Music.
Provost Rountree will teach and fulfill the other duties of a faculty member on a fifty percent schedule for 2010-2011 – the equivalent of a one semester sabbatical. After next year, she will assume full-time duty as a member of the faculty in Performance Studies, resuming a teaching career that has spanned more than 25 years at several universities.
Provost Rountree has served Ithaca College ably during her three years in administrative leadership. I would point particularly to her recruitment of a new generation of academic leaders, including two associate provosts and the deans who are now leading (or soon to lead) four of our five schools. In addition, Provost Rountree led our successful 2008 Middle States reaccreditation effort, as well as preparing our two year follow-up report on the assessment of student learning outcomes and the development of more rigorous systems for institutional effectiveness. As part of that follow-up activity, she led a transformation of our assessment systems in every department and school in the College.
In her statement to me, Provost Rountree wrote:
"I have decided to return to faculty status at Ithaca College at the conclusion of my current contract as provost. … Joining the faculty of the School of Music is an honor - one that I value deeply. I was first drawn to be interested in Ithaca because of the reputation of the School of Music, and I will be proud to be affiliated with it in a faculty role. I look forward to reconnecting with teaching and to renewing my own personal scholarship and creative activity."
I know you all join me in thanking Kathleen Rountree for her service as provost and offering our best wishes for success and fulfillment as a member of the faculty.
I am currently taking advice and reflecting on arrangements for an interim provost and for the constitution of a search committee that will begin its work this spring. Please expect to see further information as it becomes available.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20100405134411560