As the search for a new provost continues, University Council members voted to give the Council a larger say in the hiring decision, but the move was met with hesitation by University President Michael Adams.

Adams told the Council Thursday he will have to give the vote “some pretty significant thought” about whether he should veto an item giving the Council more say in the decision.

“Let me say to you in a spirit of candor, that I think [that decision is] very ill-advised,” Adams told the Council. “And I think it will substantially detract from the number of people in the pool that will meet those kinds of requirements.”

When the floor was opened for new business, one council member asked for an item to be put on the agenda that would further the requirements of the provost selection process to include more input from the University Council. The new item, approved by a majority of the Council, has four requirements for the provost selection process:

 At each University Council meeting, beginning April 23 and continuing until the provost position is filled, the chair of the provost search committee will provide an updated report of the provost search. Questions and discussion will take place after the report and any identifying details of the applicant may be left out if necessary, for the sake of anonymity.

 The search committee will draw a short list of finalists and announce them to the University Council.

 Finalists will make a short presentation in front of University Council. Special meetings will be scheduled if necessary.

 University Council will vote on a final candidate. The vote will be recorded and placed under advisement of the provost search committee.

Before the vote, Adams outlined the process of selecting a new provost, saying he hoped for the process to be similar to the previous two selections.

A committee will find three to five candidates for the position, who will be brought to campus for full interviews. The interview process will include meetings with faculty leadership, open forums for all faculty, staff and students, meetings with deans, president, student leaders and University Council leadership.

The position should be filled in the fall, Adams said.

“Athens is an attractive place to work. UGA is an outstanding institution,” Adams said. “We will attract a great group of both internal and external candidates.”

Also during the meeting, Adams told the Council that the University is continuing efforts to explore both a child care and a women’s center on campus.

“From a priority standpoint, child care comes first,” Adams said.

There is a plan for a child care facility on currently owned University property, but it cannot be enacted until resources are available, he said.

“At the present time there are not the funds to continue with that,” Adams told the Council.

He said he will be pleased to support a women’s center, an issue he said was of legitimate and significant importance, when the proper time comes.

“I would be pleased to support [a women's center], just as I was pleased to support the establishment of the women’s studies program, their move into a building which later proved to be unsatisfactory after several years of successful use and to move now to better quarters,” he said.

Adams also addressed the issue of a living wage for University workers. Last month at a rally that took place outside Tate Plaza and the Administration Building, living wage supporters spoke with Adams to address creating a living wage, in which low wage University employees’ salaries would be increased to achieve a higher living standard.

“We’ve already met a total that was requested of us five years ago, but this is one of those issues that legitimately continues,” he said.

Since wages have increased for the lowest wage earners of the University, from $12,000 to $21,000, Adams said faculty wages have increased by 12 percent, whereas other wages have increased by 64 percent.

“We have done, for this year, all that I’m afraid we’re going to be able to do on the living wage issue,” Adams said. “I believe the University has responded effectively.”

Several items were approved during the meeting, including increased student and faculty representation for the Council.

Other approvals:
- Labs can test on last instruction day, take-home exams can’t be due before final exam day
- Students can make up graded work if they miss class for jury duty or voting