Brandeis has commenced the search for the next university president after President Arthur Levine in 2027. This marks the second time in three years that Brandeis looks to replace the person in charge of all of its most important functions. We at The Hoot would like to offer our advice to those conducting the search to provide a student perspective into the most important decision that the university will make for years to come.
First and foremost, a new president should be at Brandeis for several years. In order to both progress into the future and increase our academic quality, we must have a consistent vision. President Arthur Levine has had a lot of visions for Brandeis, but with him leaving, who knows if those goals will last? A leader who stays for a long time can maintain a consistent vision and execute it. Brandeis has a lot of unique characteristics that, if leaned into, would make the school really stand out. Brandeis heavily publicizes its status as an R1 research institution, but so are many other universities in the area. What makes Brandeis unique among the R1 universities is its robust opportunities for undergrads, a tight knit community, and a welcoming culture. A new president should emphasize these strengths and highlight Brandeis’ uniqueness.
Another goal for our next president ought to be implementing a better set of career-preparedness requirements. Whether that be through more micro-credentials, macro-credentials, maxi-credentials, or the addition of a co-op program, Brandeis students should be highly competitive upon entering the workforce. As hands-on requirements and microcredential programs already exist at Brandeis, these would not be totally foreign concepts—just an improvement of an already existing one. Under the stewardship of Arthur Levine, Brandeis has adopted the mantra: “One foot in the classroom and one foot in the street.” For our next president, it would be nice to have a figure that advances this principle.
Overall, we at The Hoot hope for the new president to bring some much needed stability to Brandeis, paired with a unique vision to navigate what has turned into a highly tumultuous era for higher education. Ultimately, we are excited to see what’s in store for Brandeis’ future.
