The Fleming Administration Building, which houses the offices of the University's top officials, has witnessed a major turnover in its tenants during the past year.
University President Lee Bollinger, who officially stepped into office on Feb. 1, will begin his first full schoolyear as the University's top official this fall.
With the installation of a new university president comes the natural flux of leading administrators.
Several search committees have been formed to fill the vacancies, including one for the University's second-in-command - the postion of provost. Current Provost J. Bernard Machen will step down when his contract expires in August.
The position of chief financial office is also in the process of being filled. The post was vacated when Farris Womack stepped down in December of 1996.
Earlier this year former interim University President Homer Neal created a new University position - executive vice president for medical affairs to oversee business in both the Medical Center and the Medical School. A search committe is conducting a nation-wide search to fill this position.
Under Bollinger's guidance, a group of eight elected University officials declare the final word on many pressing campus issues - unknowingly to many University students.
The University Board of Regents are elected by Michigan state citizens in rotating eight-year terms.
Regent Philip Power (D-Ann Arbor) said the regents play a significant role in the decision making process of the University.
"I think the role of a regent is not to govern the University well, but to make sure the University is well-governed," Power said. "That means selecting a president, as we did last year, working with the president and administrators and enacting policy."
In recent years, many people claimed that working relations between the the board and top administrators were strained. Power said under Bollinger, relations seem to be improving.
"I think the mood is very much more relaxed and trusting and supportive, both between the president and other components of the University and between the president and the Board of Regents," Power said.
Besides forging through stacks of paper work and overseeing the operation of the University's 19 schools, administrators are directly involved in touching base with average students on campus.
Acting Vice President for Research Fred Neidhardt said the majority of students don't realize the assistance that administrators can give to students.
"We are here for students to help them participate in the knowledge game and scholarship work of the University that goes beyond just taking courses," Neidhardt said.
Also among the executive officers is the Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford and Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison.
FILE PHOTO
University President Lee Bollinger stepped into office and moved into the President's House at 815 South University Avenue on Feb. 1.