When Allen Sessoms, president of the University of the District of Columbia, arrived in the city, he made a bunch of promises. Everyone hoped he could deliver. A string of other executives, with equal flair, did nothing but produce controversy.
Not that Sessoms isn’t controversial.
Appointed just this fall, he already has riled the faculty senate by abolishing it, without warning, and creating a new, handpicked leadership group. He has had a spat with schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee over visits he made to city schools, according to sources. And there seems to be a disagreement developing over the speed at which he is attempting to implement plans for a community college.
Brookings Institution Fellow Alice Rivlin and Appleseed Director Walter Smith offered three models for creating a community college; only one of those proposals allowed for the school to be created by and operated within UDC. Most people wanted a stand-alone institution.
Sessoms wants it within UDC. I think he’s right.
Gustavo A. Paredes, manager of the Office of University Communications, last week pooh-poohed assertions there was a spat between his boss and anyone.
“We have not had any conversations with Mrs. Rivlin,” he told me, adding that there was no tiff between Sessoms and Rhee. “There was some miscommunication.”
Sessoms has been visiting schools to promote his new “presidential scholars” program, which will provide full scholarships to students at public or private schools who graduate with a 3.5 average or 1800 SAT score.
Sounds good. But is there money to implement the idea? Paredes said if the president makes the commitment, the money will be there.
Several weeks ago, when I interviewed Sessoms in his office on UDC’s Connecticut Avenue NW campus, I found a bright, energetic and impressive executive. He dismissed my suspicion he was angling for a federal job. Rather, he said, he wanted to be president because of the challenge of building a university — almost from the ground up.
He pledged to enhance the faculty, bringing in some celebrity academicians; to upgrade the facility; improve overall management; and attract private investors. He’ll need a decent board of trustees for the latter; the current crew is of little use. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray have been discussing possible appointees.
Sessoms also promised to establish, by January, the broad outlines for that community college. Ignoring criticisms, he took the first step toward realizing that goal with the recent appointment of Eurmon Hervey as the college’s director.
Did I mention that Sessoms also is ambitious?
That’s one reason he’s developed and is floating legislation he hopes to persuade Gray to introduce in January giving Sessoms personnel, contracting and budget autonomy.
Sessoms’ moves have some folks cautiously optimistic. But, thus far, many of the changes are cosmetic.
He has yet to demonstrate he can actually manage the university’s finances, living within its budget while implementing needed capital improvements. He and the board of trustees have to prove they can raise more than the $600,000 brought in last year.
Sessoms has to engage in contracting without the series of problems that in the past have plagued the university — chief among them illegal sole source agreements. Bringing in academic big guns is nice. But, he needs to convince the city that personnel decisions will no longer be made based on friendships and political connections, as they have been in the past.
In other words, Sessoms has his work cut out. He needs to stand and deliver on more of his promises before the council gives him the control he seeks.
