The largest university in Washington will have a new head by 2017. Current President Steven Knapp announced last week his resignation from George Washington University a year before it officially takes place.
Steven Knapp took the presidential post in 2007 with a 10-year contract that is set to expire on July 2017. As per The Washington Post, Steven Knapp decided to not renew his contract and resign right after it ends so that the board of George Washington University would have ample time to look for a replacement.
His administrative run was remarkable, albeit not perfect. He was able to diversify the student population of George Washington University, one of the most expensive American schools, costing $50,435 a year per student. What Steven Knapp did is to increase the budget for offered scholarships and provide need-based federal Pell grants (via The Washington Post).
Moreover, George Washington University was one of the first schools to remove SAT and ACT scores from admission requirements (via The Washington Post). Parent Herald reported that requiring exam scores indirectly give an edge to rich students who have the money and opportunity to take advanced classes in preparation for the exams while poor students cannot afford the same training.
Under Steven Knapp's direction, new facilities were also built at George Washington University. A $275 million science and engineering hall was opened to provide space for more research to be produced. It also bought the Beaux Arts building, the home of the Corcoran Gallery of Art (via The Washington Post).
Of course, Steven Knapp's administration did not pass by without any criticisms. In 2012, George Washington University mistakenly announced that 78 percent of its freshmen graduated as Top 10 from their high schools when the correct figure is only 58 percent.Even with the apology from the board, the overall ranking of the university in U.S. News and World Report's list of schools dropped to number 57 from 51 (via The Washington Post).
As per George Washington University's official site, Steven Knapp is the 16th president of the institution. When he assumed the post, his goal was to "enhance the university’s partnerships with neighboring institutions, expand the scope of its research, strengthen its worldwide community of alumni, enlarge its students’ opportunities for public service, and lead its transformation into a model of urban sustainability."
With only a year left before the president post becomes vacant, the search for George Washington University's new president will kick off in the coming months. As for now, Steven Knapp promises that his final year would be fruitful (via GW Today).
“The work of my final year as president is clearly defined. I will concentrate on supporting the deans as we rapidly approach the conclusion of our $1 billion ‘Making History’ campaign. I will continue to focus on building our worldwide and lifelong community of GW alumni. And I will seek new ways to make good on the university’s promise to ensure that every student we enroll has the fullest possible opportunity to succeed so that he or she can go forth from the university fully prepared to change the world,” he said in a message published by GW Today.
What do you think are the qualifications that George Washington University should look for in its new president? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
