KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Latest on the introduction of the new chancellor of the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus (all times local):
3 p.m.
The new chancellor of the University of Missouri’s flagship campus in Columbia says he’ll press for partnerships and “strive for inclusive excellence” at the school that has grappled in recent years with racial acrimony.
Alexander Cartwright was introduced Wednesday as the Columbia campus’ new overseer. He has served since September 2014 as the State University of New York’s provost and executive vice chancellor.
Cartwright becomes the Columbia school’ first permanent chancellor since R. Bowen Loftin resigned under pressure in November 2015.
Cartwright will face other formidable challenges in Columbia, ranging from looming budget cuts to slumping enrollment that administrators have attributed at least partly to late 2015 racial protests on campus.
Cartwright, who is white, says furthering diversity and inclusion in Columbia will be “a top priority.”
1:30 p.m.
The University of Missouri System’s president says the new chancellor of the flagship campus in Columbia is the right person to lead the school as it faces challenges that are “very urgent and compelling.”
System President Mun Choi made his comments Wednesday while introducing State University of New York provost and executive vice chancellor Alexander Cartwright as the next chancellor of the Columbia campus.
Cartwright is the first permanent replacement for R. Bowen Loftin, who resigned under pressure in November 2015 amid protests over the school’s handling of racial issues.
Cartwright will be tasked with addressing the school’s lingering racial discord, which administrators have partly blamed for slumping enrollment and revenue.
10:10 a.m.
A top New York state university administrator hired to oversee the University of Missouri in Columbia faces weighty challenges that include addressing the campus’ lingering racial discord that is partly blamed for slumping enrollment.
State University of New York provost and executive vice chancellor Alexander Cartwright will be introduced Wednesday as the Columbia campus’ first permanent chancellor since R. Bowen Loftin resigned in November 2015.
A person familiar with the search for Loftin’s replacement confirmed Cartwright’s hiring to The Associated Press, on the condition of anonymity because that person wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter before Cartwright’s Columbia introduction.
Loftin and the Missouri system’s president resigned amid protests over the administration’s handling of racial issues.
Enrollment and revenue at Columbia have dropped since the protests.
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