This morning, the Washington College community was greeted with the news that Kurt Landgraf, who became the 31st president of the 239 year old school, would be leaving his position by September.
In his statement, Landgraf outlined his decision to resign:
“My three year contract as President will expire at the end of June and I will move on to the next phase of my career. The past three years have been extraordinary and I am indebted to each of you for your support of my leadership. My immense respect for all faculty and staff has no limit. I will treasure the relationship I have established with each of you!
I have agreed to stay as College President long enough to allow the Board of Visitors and Governors to transition to new leadership and to facilitate the beginning of the new Academic year in this very difficult and challenging environment. I am prepared to stay through the end of September, if needed. I believe each of you will play an important role in helping to effect a smooth transition. I have a lot of confidence in each of you and the important roles you have in the mission of Washington College.”
Steve Golding, chair of the Board of Visitors and Governors, noted, “the Board and I are extremely appreciative of the leadership Kurt has shown these past three years, restoring stability to our campus and building bridges with our local, state, and philanthropic partners, in addition to the broader Washington College community.”
Gren Whitman says
What’s with the frequent presidential turnovers at WC?
Lynn McLain says
This is a terrible loss for Washinton College and the entire community, as President Landgraf has done an outstanding job during very challenging times. I had regained confidence in the College’s future, and now that confidence is shaken.
Philip Rosenberg says
When was the last time the college hired an educator to fill the position of President? I understand the need for a knowledgeable financial person as part of the leadership of the college but for many decades businessman have had to show immediate, though short term results. These people rarely stay for the long term. Perhaps it is time to create two separate positions and not make believe that the financial wizard will be committed to a lengthy tenure at the college.
Vic Pfeiffer says
I urge the Search Committee to consider choosing a man or woman of color as the next WC President. Now is the time.
Gerry Levin says
It’s been obvious that the college needs new leadership from the President to the senior management. Hopefully this transition will bring the people to the college who can turn things around financially and bring back the college to what it use to be.
Stephan Klingelhofer says
Sounds like lousy timing, given all the stress the college and the community are experiencing. If the president is leaving for family or health reason, understandable. But he didn’t say that.
Good luck.
Stephan Klingelhofer says
Sad. I said what I said. What was wrong with that?
Stephan Klingelhofer says
Pls let me know.
Jamie Kirkpatrick says
A little stability of leadership would do the college a world of good. I’ve been in town for 8 years; this is the 4th president to move on.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Wonderful man who cared for our community it’s. He will be missed! God speed.
Janice Dickson says
Given the unknowns, if I were the CEO of WC, it would make sense to leave while the sun is shining on me. Come September recent high school graduates may choose to take a year off; their parents may believe money is better held due to the prospect of a depression. The less attractive likelihood of on line teaching is up in the air. COVID19 isn’t over; the past 7 days watching thousands and thousands of unmasked students across the country could bring another spike in infection. Best to smile and go home.
Karen O'Connor says
I have thought long and hard about the wisdom of saying this publicly but feel it is important. This is a reflection on the ability ( or lack thereof) of the Board of Visitors and Governors to perform their duties to the institution. There appears to be no substantive plan to address the issues that have lead to a revolving door of administrators. This is a pattern, and it is sobering.
Skip Middleton says
The executive search committee needs to be a new cast of characters, their performance on this search has been weak. The Board needs to own the troubles of the college these past 10 years, and the local, and regional community needs to be engaged. Using the same search committee time and time again, expecting different results is the definition of insanity – The new president needs support of the board, without direction, and needs to change the way the game is played – in order to save dwindling enrollment, sky high tuition, and fiscal responsibility. I agree with your point 100% Karen – status quo and complacency needs to disappear.
WC’s future needs to groom these grads for jobs, enlighten the kids to ensure their self-sufficiency, and foster cooperation within the community, between students, admin, and regional residents. Host an incubator program for seniors in the summer to encourage entrepreneurism, engage alum to interact with the students to show them the value of liberal arts, focus on core tenets that will carry these kids into their senior years as stewards with a sense of community and understanding. WC needs to interact with regional grad schools to groom our grads where acceptance is almost guaranteed. The new admin needs to highlight the faculty, the students, the alum and the Shore to the outside world to help make the college a destination rather than a fallback, and they need to do it without a $65k/year price tag. The expense of the turnover, the encapsulation and editing of The Arts, and the falling enrollment, need to stop – by harnessing the group think of all the interested parties that want nothing more than see the school not just restored, but leading the way of higher education in the future.
This next administration represents the last chance to fix the school – otherwise it is likely doomed to the same fate as many small colleges have been these past few years – due to lower and lower enrollment. To quote a recent Forbes article, highlighting the declining population of college age students: “All to say that it’s not that hard to paint a picture of how 25% of existing institutions—be it 550 nonprofit and public four-year institutions or 1,100 degree-granting institutions—close, merge or declare bankruptcy in the years ahead. Yes, the 200 most selective schools in the country are likely to be unaffected by these failures. Many institutions will find ways to innovate in the years ahead—although some of that innovation will likely be through clever mergers. Many will close individual programs (such as full-time MBA programs and law schools) and campus locations, while the institution remains open. Many colleges will likely even grow at the expense of those that fail. And yes, there will be some disruptors that grow significantly.”
Now is the time to act, to disrupt, to change the status quo – the board was advised before Landgraf started that more of the same meant more of the same – and chose poorly. Its time for less board members to be more accountable and make better decisions. Change the board and change the direction, and force transparency. That’s my 2 cents.
Skip Middleton
Kent County native
WC Class of 87
Christopher Doherty says
Completely agree, Skip. What’s the old saying about the definition of insanity?
Janice Dickson says
Good 2 cent’s worth, Skip.
If one searches for and carefully reads the WC Facebook page regarding the President and the Provost, it becomes clear to me that they were fired. (I believe the title “Provost” came into being when Elizabeth Baer, helped by Mrs. Casey, negotiated hard to be both: Dean AND Provost.). She didn’t last long either. Poor WC.