As SUNY Oswego’s presidential search continues, candidates are speaking at open forums, where the community, faculty and students are invited to attend and ask questions.

On March 23, Karin Ruhlandt, the second candidate, had her open forums. Ruhlandt began her community forum with a short presentation discussing her vision for SUNY Oswego and discussing problems that she sees in higher education as a whole.

“Our students are changing and that means that what worked a while ago isn’t working anymore,” Ruhlandt said. 

She talked about the way that students are and were affected by the pandemic and her hopes to help these students, as well as college accessibility, affordability and diversity. She said that she was impressed with the retention and graduation rates at Oswego and found these to be a good foundation to build upon. Some changes that Ruhlandt envisioned involve curriculum and advisement.

Ruhlandt is currently a distinguished tenured professor at Syracuse University and teaches several chemistry courses. She was previously the dean of arts and sciences there from 2015 to 2022, according to the Syracuse University website.

Ruhlandt addressed the fact that she would be moving from a private to public university and financially, she said she viewed them as very similar. 

“You need to make hard decisions no matter where you are,” Ruhlandt said.

She also discussed her background working to increase the number of women in her department and as one of few women in her department. 

“There are a lot of things one can do, but one has to be strategic, pay attention, and be quick to react and have a dialogue,” she said.

Bruno G. Hicks, the third candidate in the process, had his open forums on March 27. Hicks is currently the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Dalton College in Georgia. He also has experience working at several universities in New England, according to his resume on SUNY Oswego’s presidential search website. During his student forum, he stressed the importance of campus involvement at college.

Hicks said that many east coast schools, including SUNY Oswego, appealed to him. 

“They’re public, they’re state funded, and the students that attend them have the same kind of experience that I had,” Hicks said. “I was sitting in your seat thirty years ago. When you look at that, that’s powerful.”

Other elements Hicks discussed included student employment, academic excellency, his experience as provost, community and student life security.

“Higher ed has got some complications, it’s got some issues going on, but it’s going to take leadership and a community to work those out, and I’m committed to working with students, faculty, staff and administration to craft a common narrative about what we’re trying to do, and get people engaged in that work,” he said.

Two further candidates have open forums scheduled, one on March 30 and one on April 3. Faculty, community and student forums are hosted for each candidate.