
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 16, 1994                   TAG: 9411160151
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

ACTING PRESIDENT WON'T SEEK JOB PERMANENTLY

Radford University's acting president, Charles Owens, withdrew his name Tuesday from the list of candidates to become the school's permanent president.

Owens, called back from vacation in June to take over amid the abrupt departure of longtime president Donald Dedmon, withdrew less than a week after the university's board of visitors withheld administration and faculty raises. Board members made the move to speed Radford's state-mandated reorganization effort to merge programs and cut costs, after Radford's previous plans failed to gain approval from the State Council of Higher Education. Up to $1.6million in state funding for Radford could be withheld if the plan is not approved. Raises will go into paychecks once the plan is approved.

"This action is prompted by my conviction that I can best serve the university as a noncandidate," Owens said in a statement released Tuesday. "As acting president in the coming months, I expect to concentrate my efforts on restructuring, enhancing the university's public image and recruitment of students.

"I believe I can best meet these challenges if I am not involved in the search process and I look forward to working with all members of the university community in that endeavor."

Owens had launched the university's cost-cutting restructuring efforts last spring when he still held the post of vice president for academic affairs. Since taking over as interim president, he has become an outspoken critic of Radford's lingering "party school" image, and pledged to work to improve academics at the university. Under Owens' watch, a committee has been formed to tighten admission standards to be implemented this fall - even as the school struggles with a 400-student drop in enrollment.

The board last week said it wanted to see a university recruitment plan, which probably will be reviewed at a special meeting in December. The presidential search, meanwhile, is expected to continue for several more months.

by CNB