2014 Town Hall

Welcome to the 2014 Town Hall with President Mike Fitts. We will get started in ten minutes.

Tulane Communications is live blogging from this event. We are taking questions online, and will share them with President Fitts during the event. Please feel free to start submitting now.

President Fitts is very excited about his first Homecoming and Town Hall.

Also, Keith from our Communications group is live tweeting the event from @TUFitts. You can follow along on Twitter at #TUtownhall

The moderator is Gabe Feldman, @SportsLawGuy, the Director of Tulane Sports Law Program

President Fitts has taken the stage

Gabe Feldman is welcoming everyone to the event.

Feldman is honored to be here to introduce Fitts.

Feldman: "Fitts did incredible things at Penn Law School."

Fitts is thanking Feldman for being here today and is very proud of his accomplishments and those of the Tulane Law School.

Fitts on Feldman: "He's been my teacher since I arrived at Tulane University on regulatory issues in sports."

And then Fitts calls Feldman out for being the Duke U mascot!

Fitts is not going to give a long introduction but lets everyone know that he has fallen in love with the institution in his time here so far.

Feldman outlines the format with questions coming from previous submissions to the View from Gibson and this live blog, then audience questions later.

You can follow along on Twitter, too, at @tufitts

This transcript will be available after the conclusion of the Town Hall on tulane.edu/news/newwave

Feldman: "This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to have someone new in the fold who is invested in the institution."

Feldman: "This is an opportunity to see our institution through Mike's eyes."

First question: Let’s start by having you tell us why you decided to accept the Tulane presidency.

Fitts says he loved the warm weather!

Fitts: "There are so many qualities about this institution that are attractive... a sense of grit and determination..."

There also are a number of strengths of Tulane that can be brought forward.

Five different undergraduate schools... ability to make connections between schools and the city of New Orleans....

And, finally, the food. And the ambiance of New Orleans is very special.

What is your favorite Tulane experience so far?

"It's the people."

"It's a gorgeous campus....but the people... the students, faculty, staff.... they have a special passion for Tulane. "

Fitts thinks of Tulane almost as a small town with all the close relationships among the people here.

"Even though we're a university with national and global presence, it's like a small town."

Question: Where is your favorite place on campus?

We are continually coming across new treasures. I love Gibson Hall...it's one of the oldest buildings on campus. On one side you see the intimacy of Tulane University, and on the other side you look out on Audubon Park and St. Charles Ave and you have a sense of the connection with New Orleans.

Question: Will you host a town hall at the health sciences center in the near future?

Fitts: Yes.

The downtown campus has been developing in many important ways. Social work moved down there...

Medical school and School of Public Health are down there...

We are developing a true campus downtown.

Question: What can you do as a leader of this campus to improve diversity?

Fitts: "One of the great strengths of a place like Tulane is its diversity. Its geographic diversity is very unusual."

I've noticed the geographic diversity is unusual for an institution in the United States... I view that as one of our great strengths.

Fitts considers diversity to be a high priority and wants to improve financial aid to help Tulane attract students of all different backgrounds to the institution.

Question: Please tell us the measures you are taking to keep all students safe.

Fitts: Our presence in New Orleans is one of our greatest strengths..... it's a huge draw for students and faculty from across the US. So I love being in New Orleans, but obviously big cities have challenges.

We are involved in numerous ways to ensure the safety of students and employees on campus and in the surrounding area.

We have a large police force, 140 officers... and we are working with students to increase awareness and safety

We are constantly thinking about ways to improve safety on campus.

Question: What plans/programs are in place to get our student-athlete graduation rankings in the Top 10?

Fitts: We are ranked 12th in student grad rates of athletes. That's a testament to our academic and athletics programs.

Tulane is a division I athletics school and with Yulman Stadium and other facilities, we have made a real commitment to sports on campus in recent years.

What surprises you about Tulane on a daily basis?

Fitts says it's the passion of the people here.

Tulane has a sense of dedication among the people here.

Question: Can you comment on Tulane’s current thinking about the medical school and future clinical partnerships?

Fitts: I don't know how many people are aware of the transitions going on in the medical field and med schools in the country.

Every medical school in the country is thinking about 5 and 10 year plans.

Tulane, like other schools, is thinking very hard about what partnerships we should have going forward.

"The medical school is extremely important to the history of Tulane, and to the future of Tulane, so I view this as a very important issue."

Question: what can you do to support interdisciplinary research and teaching for all departments, including the sciences and medicine?

Fitts: "I am personally all about interdisciplinary education."

If you look at what students get the most of from their college experience, and where discoveries occur, in both cases it's in people who think outside the box

The ability to think from one field to another field, both for students and faculty, will be very important in the next decade.

Tulane has major advantages in addressing that. We have 10 schools, closely connected

On issue of Ebola, major schools are working on this very issue and at forefront of research

Just as an example...

Question: What is Tulane doing to address problem drinking?

This is an issue that confronts every university in the United States.

We've worked very hard at Tulane to try and provide an environment where students understand issues around drinking.

We try to communicate in many ways to students the importance of being responsible with alcohol.

We have a task force created looking at this very issue.

Dr. Dusty Porter takes the mic.

Dusty Porter is the Vice President of Student Affairs

"We are working right now on our alcohol policy at the university, and looking at alcohol and substance abuse issues."

Part of what draws students here is our location in New Orleans, but that brings its own challenges.

"Given history and ethos of this city, we have specific challenges we are trying to address."

Over the next year, the task force is looking at the complete undergraduate experience and will have more initiatives to come to help with this problem.

"More to come... please let me know your specific questions after the program."

Question: my son wants to minor in business but isn't allowed to. Why not?

Fitts: We have two minors in business, one offered over summer, and the School of Liberal Arts has launched a minor in management starting this Spring.

Fitts: Students can pursue a minor in business.

Fitts: We admit students to Tulane regardless of what their ultimate major will be, and they can compare fields and choose after two years.

Fitts: Other schools are reacting to great interest in business by admitting students from the get go in that field. We are not.

There is such a demand for students to take business classes that we have started this new program in the School of Liberal Arts.

Question: The food in Bruff is terrible. What can you do to improve it? And, where can you go in NOLA to get some good eats?

Fitts; I've eaten at Bruff several times, and I think the food at Bruff is really good.

Fitts says when he went to college the quality of food was much poorer than it is now.

Fitts: I will say I have enjoyed the food at Bruff.

We are constantly working with Sodexo to offer a wider variety of food on campus and do take suggestions from students about how to broaden the menu at Bruff

Bruff is one big room where 450 people eat, and that is another issue we are looking at.

We need to expand options on campus.

Fitts says he probably eats at Popeyes more than any other place and really loves it. But overall the food here in New Orleans is second to none.

Fitts: I had the honor of taking 15 first year students to Commander's Palace

Fitts: they won the photo challenge http://tulane.edu/administr...

Question: Expanding STEM capabilities will be very important in the future. What about expanding electrical and energy related engineering?

Fitts: Every great university has a presence in the sciences and engineeering.

Fitts: As many of you know, post-K, several departments in engineering were closed and the school was combined with science

There is no question going forward that we need to be thinking about ways to grow in that space in technology.

Fitts: We ought to be thinking about areas in which we can be distinctive

Biomedical engineering is a big one

We will think about what will be needed in the 22nd century and will prepare our students for that future.

Question from audience: just a thought... West Philly is very different from New Orleans. But what is your impression of Tulane and New Orleans' relationship going forward?

Fitts: I think our relation to New Orleans is very important to the future of Tulane.

I think universities will be judged by their commitment to their communities around them

There is no great city in the US that doesn't have a great university in it.

The synergy between cities and universities is part of the fabric of the city

Audience question: Grad of 76... I heard you mention the primate center.

This year the primate center celebrates its 50th anniversary

I want to let you know there will be a ceremony. And we hope you come. Former president Dr. Herbert Longenecker was very supportive, I hope you will be too

Fitts visited the primate center in his first few weeks at Tulane and considers it to be absolutely critical to research on medical and health issues around the world.

Fitts: It attracts to us top researchers and it is on the edge of rapid response to HIV and other diseases...

"It is an incomparable resource for Tulane and the world."

Question from a current senior: First off he says Bruff has improved since he was a freshman.

The student continues: He has had frustrations with the emphasis on the business school. There is not as much equipment and study space available for students in science and engineering. He is wondering if there are any plans to help with this.

Fitts: When I became president I moved forward to create task forces to look at a master plan for campus.

Fitts: Facilities are at the core of that.

Fitts wants to think about space not being siloed in one area but open to the whole campus.

Fitts: I must say I have heard complaints about study opportunities in Freeman too, so I think it is a common question.

When Fitts went to school, everyone studied in the library. Today students study all over campus.

Fitts: We need to look at what students of today want.

Question about US News rankings

Fitts: I get asked about rankings a lot. Like every president, I find these ranking systems frustrating. People overread them, and the criteria is inconsistent.

Fitts: One number can't capture the whole picture of an institution.

Fitts: That said, I think we have to take them seriously, they have impact on people's views.

Fitts: We have to think about how we can do better.

Question: What is your favorite restaurant?

"The list would be too long."

Audience member: I want to piggyback on question of diversity.

Diversity is important among faculty, too. Faculty here really shaped my experience. What do you plan to do to insure more professors of color on tenure track at Tulane?

Fitts: Diversity is important in both the student body and composition of faculty and staff.

The ability to bring together people from different backgrounds to share their insights is important.

Fitts: In terms of the faculty, whenever we do faculty hiring, its is important that we look extremely hard, do outreach, to reach candidates of all backgrounds

Question from an alum: There has been a lot of discussion about universities using more adjunct professors in the press. Is this an issue here at Tulane?

Audience member: how will you address this?

Fitts: When I went to college, there was one type of professor. We have broadened the type of people in the classroom, and that is a huge benefit to our students today.

Fitts: We are looking at skills that are important to our academic programs. Professors of practice are very valuable with their knowledge of the professional aspects of their fields.

Fitts: We have professors of practice have huge amount to offer in their knowledge of professional experience outside academia

Fitts: What's the distribution? The core of our faculty are tenured.

Fitts: I don't think we can say we want to be all tenured or all adjunct.

Audience member: I have a comment on free speech. There is a liberal bias in most universities. What are your thoughts on that?

Fitts: In terms of free speech, I am a traditionalist. Universities should be a place to support all kinds of speech. He is committed to supporting a free and open environment at Tulane.

Fitts: Diversity includes viewpoints. My impression is Tulane is diverse in that regard

Fitts believes Tulane has a good history of being open to different viewpoints.

Question from a parent: How would you describe your leadership style?

Fitts: Great question. I have different aspects to my leadership style.

Fitts: I think about this university and it's special qualities, and how we can articulate those strengths

Fitts: I am both a cheerleader and a visionary about where we want to be going forward.

Fitts: I think it's important to constantly ask everyone across university, 'How can we be better?'

Fitts: So the other part of my leadership style is enjoying all different aspects.. Athletics, cultural, or just eating at Bruff.

Fitts: Learning about the community and getting feedback is very important to me.

FItts: It's a way of becoming part of Tulane so people feel they can approach me and I can learn from everyone

Question from an alum: As a civil engineering graduate, he was disappointed that his department was cut after Katrina and believes it was a missed opportunity.

.... What is being done by the university to reach out to the School of Engineering alumni to heal that relationship?

Fitts: If you step back and look at the whole range of decisions that were made at that time...

Fitts: The leaders at that time were under incredible pressure... I know a lot of people disagree with decisions made, but we need to remember this was a critical point in time and hard decisions were made.

The ultimate goal was to save Tulane.

Fitts: I think engineering is important to the future of every university and Tulane as well, so I think we need to grow in that space.

Fitts; I am looking at other ways in which we can expand, and what a university will be in the 22nd Century

Audience member: What is Tulane's role with the K-12 school system?

Fitts: Tulane's involvement post-Katrina in NOLA was very important. We have a teacher certification program and many students are involved in the schools.

Fitts: It's good for us and for New Orleans.

Feldman: Question from online

Question: What do you intend to do to provide due process for student victims of sexual assault?

Fitts: This is one of the most important issues in higher ed at the moment, insuring that students on campus feel safe and protected

Fitts: We have looked at our processes continuously and will continue to.

Fitts: as a former law dean and current law professor, this is very important to me

Feldman: We just had a panel on this very issue at Hillel two days. Is very important to us.

Question from a parent: We hear a lot of discussion about financial aid, but what about families who do not qualify for aid? How will you keep the tuition in check so that families who don't qualify can still send their students here?

Fitts: That's an issue that keeps me up at night. Affordability of higher education.

Fitts: Last year Tulane raised its tuition less than it had in prior years, but there was an increase.

Fitts: One of the priorities for us going forward is to try and improve the financial aid offer.

Fitts: We are looking at that with a campaign being planned for the future.

We are out of time. Feldman thanks Fitts and the audience for coming.