Favorite for USC president is returning as a finalist in provost search
The University of South Carolina has announced finalists for its top academic officer.
The three finalists for USC’s next provost are:
- Nancy Rapoport, a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- William Tate, vice provost of graduate education at Washington University in St. Louis
- John Wiencek, executive vice president and provost at the University of Idaho
Tate was a finalist for the USC presidency back in April. During the process, he received 91 percent positive comments from students and faculty who participated in an online survey — more than any other candidate including current President Robert Caslen, according to a previous article from The State.
If Tate is named provost, he will be the first African American in USC history to hold the post, USC spokesman Jeff Stensland said. The interim provost is Tayloe Harding, who is the dean of the School of Music.
Once the candidate forums are completed, Caslen will make a recommendation on who should be hired and the board of trustees will vote on whether to approve that candidate, Stensland said.
The provost is the university’s top academic officer, who is in charge of setting curricula, ensuring accreditation and more. USC’s last provost, Joan Gabel, was named president of the University of Minnesota in December 2018, according to a previous article from The State.
It’s unclear what the provost position will pay, but before Gabel left, her salary was $400,000.
Similar to the presidential search, USC will be holding forums for students, faculty and staff to hear from and speak directly to, the candidates.
The campus forums will be held at the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library Program Room, which is accessible through Thomas Cooper Library. Here is when each candidate will be speaking:
Nancy Rapoport: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2 - 3 p.m.
William Tate: Tuesday, Feb. 18 2 - 3 p.m.
John Wiencek: Thursday, Feb. 20 2 - 3 p.m.
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 8:59 AM.