Until a national search yields a permanent replacement, George E. Culbertson will serve as interim chancellor of the University of Virginia's College at Wise, University President John T. Casteen III announced yesterday.
Culbertson now is the provost and senior vice chancellor at Wise, a small, Southwest Virginia liberal arts college that shares the University's Board of Visitors.
Wise will lose its current chancellor, L. Jay Lemons, early in 2001 when he assumes the presidency of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Penn., which chose Lemons after an extensive nine-month search.
Lemons will leave Wise with a legacy of improvements, including higher admissions standards, planned library and stadium construction, and a $20 million capital campaign.
Under Lemons' leadership, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wise as the No. 2 public liberal arts college in the South.
Casteen addressed faculty, students and staff at Wise yesterday, naming Culbertson the interim chancellor. He said he plans to name a search committee for a permanent chancellor within the next few weeks, in conjunction with the college's board.
Culbertson has been intimately connected with the rural college as a student, professor, and administrator. In 1957, Culbertson graduated from Wise when it was called Clinch Valley College.
Culbertson returned to Wise in 1970 as an associate professor of mathematics and went on to hold numerous administrative posts including registrar, dean and ultimately provost and senior vice chancellor.
Culbertson said he anticipates a "very smooth transition" to the interim position.
"President Casteen has outlined an excellent plan for the search process," he said.
The Board of Visitors hopes to have a new chancellor in place by next fall. If the search is completed by that point, Culbertson will be able to retire Dec. 31, 2001 as originally planned.
Assistant to President Casteen, Amy D. Cronin said she believes Culbertson's personal familiarity with central issues will ease the transition into his new role.
"He has been a key person, working with the General Assembly ... as provost," Cronin said.
Among other challenges Culbertson faces are negotiations with the state over Institutional Performance Agreements (IPAs).
According to Cronin, these agreements will eventually drive funding for all state colleges and universities.
The University is one of five Virginia schools in a pilot program and will be submitting an IPA at the end of this week.
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