Provost J. Bernard Machen, the University's second-in-command, told The Michigan Daily yesterday that he would like to leave his post after his contract expires in August.
His departure would mark the most significant shift in the administration since University President Lee Bollinger took office in February.
"President Bollinger has to put his team into place and put in his own group of people," Machen said. "I am willing to help him in any way he needs me to help him, but eventually he needs to put a new person in this job."
Machen, who has served as provost since September 1995, said he would stay for a short time to assist with the transition of the office, but not for an extended period. Details of his departure have not been finalized.
"I've had this job for two years," Machen said. "(Bollinger) needs to put his own person in. The timing is up to him."
Bollinger said yesterday that Machen served as provost during a very unique time as the University looked for a permanent successor to former President James Duderstadt.
"Bernie has been an excellent provost in an extraordinary time in the history of the University," Bollinger said.
Currently, three search committees are working to fill vacant spots in the senior administration, providing Bollinger with the opportunity to construct his own core administrative team.
"The senior administration here is pretty much going to turn over," Machen said. "It is a unique opportunity he had. He saw it as an opportunity to put his own team in place, (his) own group of people in senior places."
Bollinger said discussions about Machen's future have not yet been finalized.
"We are in the process of talking about his future role in the administration," Bollinger said.
History Prof. Nicholas Steneck, who teaches a course on the history of the University, said that in the past the arrival of a new president did not necessarily mean a "house cleaning," but under former University President James Duderstadt, many changes were made in the administration.
"Duderstadt probably did more team building than prior presidents did," Steneck said. "He had a very distinct idea about his team."
Steneck said it is important for a president to appoint his own provost to help ensure a compatible working relationship.
"The two absolutely must get along - there's no question about that," Steneck said. "The provost frees the president from much of the daily administrative affairs and handles the day-to-day runnings of the University."
Provost Emeritus Gilbert Whitaker, who now serves as professor of business and economics, said the provost position is one of great complexity.
"All 19 schools report to the provost, so it is very hard to spend much time on any issue," Whitaker said. "You get to know the University different than anyone else can. You deal with everyone."
Machen served as dean of the School of Dentistry for six years before he was appointed as interim provost in September 1995 by Duderstadt. One month later, after the search for a new provost was halted in order to concentrate on the presidential search, Machen was given a two-year appointment as provost.
During the past year alone, Machen has worked alongside three different presidents, acting as second-in-command to Duderstadt, interim President Homer Neal, and now Bollinger.
"Dr. Machen stepped in at a particularly difficult time, just as I was deciding to step aside," Duderstadt said. "He was absolutely key in providing strong leadership through the transition."
Thomas Dunn, chemistry professor and outgoing chair of the faculty governance board, praised Machen for his relationship with the faculty.
"I think he's done a wonderful job in the interim," Dunn said. "If he has to go now, he will go with the best wishes of a lot of the faculty. He's done a good job."
Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven) said Machen has done a "magnificent" job as provost, but now may be a natural time to leave.
"It doesn't surprise me that he has said he does not wish to continue as provost," Horning said. "With a new president it is logical to see transition and turnover in the senior staff because, quite frankly, the president wants to have his own management team."
Machen said his future remains uncertain. While he said he would not return as dean of the School of Dentistry, he may return to the faculty.
"I will need some time, a sabbatical, to reattach myself to the academic side of the University," he said.
The provost position is often seen as a springboard for a university presidency. Duderstadt served as provost before being named president in 1988 and Bollinger served as provost at Dartmouth College before returning to serve as the University's 12th president. All four final candidates for the University's last presidential search were provosts at various institutions nationwide.
"If you look around the country, most provosts serve for two years," Whitaker said. "Then people want to move on and become president of another university or return to teaching and get back in touch with the academic world."
Machen said he has not allowed his name to be submitted in presidential searches at other institutions because of the instability at the University during the transition.
"I do believe that Provost Machen would make an excellent university president, and I hope that he will consider such possibilities in the years ahead," Duderstadt said.
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
University Provost J. Bernard Machen said he would like to step down when his contract expires in August. Machen, who served as dean of the University School of Dentistry for eight years, took over as provost in September, 1995.