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WHAT DOES A
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DO?
Many visitors
to this web site have asked, “Just what does a university
president do?” Dr. DiGiorgio is pleased to provide a brief
overview of the various roles he plays on behalf of Winthrop
University.
What is the official
function of the President?
The President is the chief executive officer of the
University and, as such, is responsible for overall strategic
planning for and the sustained performance of the University.
 What does the President do
on a daily basis?
The President’s job can generally be broken down into three
general areas: Planning, Leadership, and External Relations.
Some days may find the President focused heavily on one
particular aspect or issue but often he is involved in all three
areas and there is significant overlap between them.
Planning: The
President spends a great deal of his time thinking about and
organizing for the future – he leads the visioning, strategic
planning, and implementation of the growth and development of
University programs and facilities to meet the challenges and
needs that lie ahead. He may spend part of the day working with
plans for appropriate construction or renovation of facilities,
or with opportunities to expand or adapt programs and services
offered to students and the community.
Leadership: The
President may spend a significant portion of his time
supervising the daily operations of a University with over one
thousand faculty and staff members and an annual budget of over
$84,000,000. On a given day the President may have a series of
meetings and make dozens of separate decisions related to
budgetary resource issues, personnel, facilities planning,
academic programs and cooperative public-private partnerships.
The President is also responsible for the orderly conduct of the
University's National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I
intercollegiate athletic program.
External Relations:
The President often hosts or travels to meet with national,
regional, state, community, and business leaders as well as
alumni, members of the general public and members of the media.
As the most visible symbol of the University, the President is
expected to maintain and enhance state and private funding for
the institution and public higher education in general, extend
the University’s services and good will to the public, and find
ways for the University to contribute to the social, economic,
and intellectual development of the state as well as the local
community and the region.
To whom is the President
responsible?
The President reports to the Board of Trustees, a group of
individuals elected or selected by different constituencies
including the Governor, the General Assembly, the Superintendent
of Education, and the Winthrop University Alumni Association.
In addition, there are faculty and student representatives who
serve as ex-officio, non-voting Board members. The Board’s
primary role is to establish the broad policy initiatives that
guide the development of the University. The Board delegates
the administrative responsibility for managing and leading the
University on a daily basis to the President.
 What kind of
training do you need to be a President?
Usually a President has earned a doctorate or holds an
equivalent terminal professional degree. Very often a President
has substantial experience in higher education administration
along with proven leadership, management, planning, fund-raising, public speaking, and organizational skills. There
is no one automatic “path” to becoming a President – it often
depends on the particular needs of a given university at a given
time.
A President should have
in-depth knowledge of strengths, weaknesses, threats and
opportunities facing higher education in general now and in the
future. President DiGiorgio has over thirty-five years
experience in higher education as a faculty member and
administrator.
What is the President’s
vision for the University?
The vision is for Winthrop University to be, and to be seen
as, one of the best institutions of its kind in the United
States.
Other Questions
If you have other questions about the President or Winthrop
University please feel free to explore our website or contact
Dr. DiGiorgio at
ideastopres@winthrop.edu
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Vision of Distinction
Opening Address 2007
Education By Design
Third Party Verifications of Winthrop
Excellence
Winthrop University Board of Visitors
President DiGiorgio's Biography
What Does a University President Do?
Office Hours for Students
Send Your Ideas to President
DiGiorgio
Executive Officers
Winthrop's Past Presidents
President's Home
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