As of Thursday, the final candidates for the position of provost, the chief academic officer of USC, are Nancy Rapoport, William Tate and John Wiencek.
Rapoport is a professor in law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at the William S. Boyd School of Law. She specializes in business ethics, law and popular culture, professional ethics, corporate governance and bankruptcy.
Tate is the vice provost for graduate education and serves as dean for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Tate held several arts and science academic and research appointments at Washington University. If Tate becomes the provost, he would be the first African American to do so in the history of the university, The State reported.
Wiencek is the University of Idaho’s executive vice president and provost, where he directs the university's academic programs and leads its strategic planning and accreditation development implementation.
The provost position at USC guides and develops all academic graduate and undergraduate programs and academic systems at USC. They are also in charge of looking over the budget for these academic systems.
The three candidates will hold forums in the future in the Ernest F. Hollings Special Library Program room during a two-day visit to the Columbia campus. During these visits, students and faculty will be able to attend the forum and speak to them.
Once the three candidates have made their visits, university President Bob Caslen will make a recommendation, and the board of trustees will decide on whether to hire the recommended candidate.
Candidate visit dates:
Nancy Rapoport:
Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 2 to 3 p.m.
William Tate:
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 2 to 3 p.m.
John Wiencek:
Thursday, Feb. 20 from 2 to 3 p.m.