Chancellor David Reingold started on June 2. (Courtesy of Purdue University)
Indiana University Bloomington Chancellor David Reingold officially started his new role Monday.
Reingold was formerly the vice president for policy planning at Purdue University. Now, he's returning to IU, where he spent 18 years as a faculty member. He will take over part of Provost Rahul Shrivastav’s role and work in President Pamela Whitten’s cabinet.
"We share a number of common goals, and I'm looking forward to working with them to lead the campus to new heights,” Reingold said.
Read more: IU community meets first chancellor candidate David Reingold
Reingold will make $655,000 a year, according to a report from the Indiana Daily Student.
IU Bloomington had a chancellor position until it was replaced with a provost in 2007. The university’s flagship campus was the only one of IU’s campuses administered by a provost.
The role was reinstated by the Board of Trustees after significant protests and multiple votes of no confidence against Whitten last year. Chair of the Board of Trustees Quinn Buckner said the new role would allow Whitten to take a step back from Bloomington.
Whitten said the chancellor will focus on building relationships with faculty and getting in touch with Bloomington’s needs. As provost, Shrivastav will focus on campus academics.
Read more: IU trustees are giving Bloomington a new leader
Reingold will take a listening tour of Bloomington over the next few months to hear from faculty, staff, students and local partners. He wants to know what IU could do better or should keep doing.
He said, like Whitten, he is focused on keeping students at the heart of the university. He also wants to strengthen research and align with state and community interests.
“Indiana University Bloomington has always been one of the more important institutions in the state,” Reingold said. “It is an institution that is vital to the future of the State of Indiana and its people.”
IU adapts to new laws
Indiana legislators have passed several bills affecting higher education — and some affecting only IU.
The university is adapting to SEA 202, a law which requires faculty to teach “intellectually diverse” ideas in the classroom. Community members can file complaints against the faculty member that, if found legitimate, are considered in their tenure review.
Read more: IU has almost 50 ‘intellectual diversity’ complaints against faculty
“I'm spending some time trying to learn about how it's being implemented here on this campus and certainly intend to follow the law here in this job,” he said. “I believe that there is a way to adapt, implement the spirit of that law, and protect the free speech rights and the free inquiry rights of faculty members, and to ensure that there is viewpoint diversity on the campus.”
Another new law could cut hundreds of degree programs, the Indy Star reported. Programs must meet a minimum number of students enrolled, such as needing 15 students for an undergraduate degree program. Educators fear dozens of programs — specifically humanities and highly specialized areas — could be cut.
Reingold said IU offers more than 400 undergraduate areas of study, and the university should be taking a close look on a regular basis at all its offerings.
“I think that we're certainly appreciative of the state's interest in higher education, and we are the state university that has the state's name in its title,” Reingold said. “We work closely with our partners across the state government to make sure that we're aligned on meeting the expectations of the citizens of the state. I think that we're committed to working with faculty, and our current students and various other partners here on campus to make sure that all of our educational programs are as robust and strong as they possibly can be.”
Reingold says being open, honest is the ‘North Star’
When searching for a new chancellor, faculty expressed the need for a leader who is transparent. They have long been concerned over clarity about the university’s budget, communication with protesters and the adoption of faculty-backed resolutions such as recognizing the union of graduate student workers.
Read more: The Bloomington chancellor search committee is asking for feedback. Here’s what faculty want
“I think that being open and honest with those that you're working with is an important ideal and an important value,” Reingold said. “It's something that we strive for, and it's something that I've always had as a North Star in my professional life.”
As a long-term faculty member, Reingold said he plans to be transparent with university colleagues as IU works through challenges. He said differences don’t need to lead to division.
“I think it's important that, as we confront and face issues and items that might bring about conflicting and different points of view, that we embrace those differences,” Reingold said. “While at the same time, ensuring that we conduct ourselves in a professional manner, in a manner that respects other people's opinions.”
University making budget cuts
IU may make cuts to save $100 million in the next budget year to account for a loss of federal and state funding.
Reingold said he has confidence in IU’s ability to weather turbulence. Tight budgets are a challenge, but he said all of Indiana’s institutions are in a strong fiscal position.
Read more: IU proposes tuition freeze for Indiana students while making budget cuts
“We're focused on ensuring that the institution has the resources it needs — the faculty are supported, the staff are supported, and that the students have the opportunities that they need to advance their hopes and dreams,” Reingold said.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.
