ND trustees grant Hatch another 5-year provost term
By JASON McFARLEY
News Editor
Notre Dame's Board of Trustees has elected University Provost Nathan Hatch to a second five-year term in his current post.
"I'm honored and humbled and look forward to working with my colleagues to make this the greatest Catholic university in the world," Hatch said Wednesday.
Hatch, provost since 1996, serves as the University's second-ranking administrator and chief academic officer. His reappointment follows the Trustees' review of recommendations from University President Father Edward Malloy and an elected faculty committee charged with conducting a formal review of Hatch's performance.
"Nathan's efforts over the past five years not only have helped to enhance the University's academic reputation, but also, and more importantly, have improved our academic infrastructure and encouraged new academic vitality on campus," Malloy said in a statement released Wednesday.
According to University officials, Hatch has improved Notre Dame's standing as one of the world's premier Catholic institution by focusing his tenure on such areas as revitalizing undergraduate education, recruiting top-notch faculty and students and keeping science and engineering programs on the cutting edge.
"My philosophy has always been to find people better than myself," Hatch said of his recruitment of faculty and administrators. "Investing in leaders and keeping leaders — that's of chief concern."
He cited his success in appointing leaders to key academic positions as his most noteworthy accomplishment over the past five years.
During his tenure, he has appointed deans in six colleges and schools is currently chairing search committees for a new dean of science. He also has appointed directors to seven centers and institutes.
Since Hatch's initial election as provost, the University has established 14 new centers and institutes, increased by more than 100 the number of regular teaching and research faculty positions and raised the number of endowed faculty chairs to about 140.
"The greatest challenge is keeping Notre Dame a Catholic university and making it a great university," Hatch said. "It's our distinctive, wonderful challenge."
Hatch first came to Notre Dame as a history professor in 1975. Today he remains a member of the department's teaching faculty, serving as the Andrew V. Tackes III endowed chair.
All News Stories for Friday, May 18, 2001
