Reporter Volume 25, No.20 March 10, 1994

The SUNY Trustees have named Joseph C. Burke interim SUNY Chancellor,
effective immediately. Burke currently serves as SUNY Provost and Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
	In a separate action, the Trustees named an 18-member
committee to conduct a nationwide search for a successor to SUNY
Chancellor D. Bruce Johnstone, who announced Feb. 7 that he is
stepping down for health reasons.
	Board Chairman Frederic V. Salerno said, "The SUNY system, its
faculty, staff and students, and the people of New York, are quite
fortunate to have Joe Burke as one of SUNY's greatest resources,
ready, willing and able to step in at this pivotal period of
transition. 
	"Joe brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, leadership and
wisdom to SUNY's helm. His effectiveness was supremely demonstrated
most recently when he temporarily took over the responsibilities of
chancellor. As a result, this decision to name Joe to this interim
position was an easy choice for the Trustees to make." Burke's
appointment was made with the understanding that he would not be a
candidate for chancellor.
	Last September, the Trustees named Burke officer-in-charge
with the responsibilities of chancellor during Johnstone's absence due
to illness. Burke served in that capacity until January 1994 when
Johnstone returned to his duties. Burke's initial service at SUNY
Central was as acting Provost in 1985 after an 11-year career as
president of SUNY College at Plattsburgh. He was later named SUNY
Provost and eventually given the title of Provost and Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs.
	As Provost, Burke has had general supervisory responsibilities
over academic programs, research, libraries, health sciences and
hospitals and other academic-related activities in the SUNY system. He
coordinated preparation of an all-funds approach to sponsored research
and programs; coordinated the preparation and implementation of a
five-year plan to enhance graduate studies and research on SUNY's
doctoral campuses; developed a system assessment program that
evaluates the knowledge and skills acquired by SUNY graduates and a
new program of performance indicators to assess the performance of the
system and its campuses.

Search Committee named
In naming the search committee to find a permanent successor to
Johnstone, Salerno said, "Inspired by Chancellor Johnstone's vision
for SUNY, the search for a new chancellor will transcend academic and
regional boundaries. We are seeking the very best candidates from
within and outside higher education, both in New York State and
throughout the nation."
	Salerno, a vice chairman at NYNEX, said, "This committee is
representative of all segments of the SUNY community, and embodies the
wisdom and insight to ensure that the search process will fully
address the University's special leadership needs on the threshold of
a new century." The committee consists of members of the SUNY Board of
Trustees, four SUNY campus presidents, a member of the SUNY Central
administration and representatives of the major University-wide
constituencies. Salerno will serve as chairman.
	The other committee members include SUNY Trustees Richard A.
Berman, New York City; Roderick G. W. Chu, New York City; Arnold B.
Gardner, Buffalo; John L. S. Holloman, Jr., East Elmhurst; Nancy H.
Nielsen, Orchard Park, and Rosemary C. Salomone, Brooklyn Heights.
	SUNY Presidents who will serve are: Sean A. Fanelli, Nassau
Community College; Carol C. Harter, College at Geneseo; John H.
Marburger, III, University at Stony Brook, and Frederick W. Woodward,
College of Agriculture and Technology at Morrisville.
	Also, Nancy S. Harrigan, Deputy University Counsel, SUNY
Central; William F. Weitz, president, SUNY Student Assembly; James R.
Chen, president, SUNY Faculty Senate; Michael Steuer, president,
Faculty Council of the Community Colleges; William P. Walling,
president, Association of Council Members and College Trustees; Nancy
Langer, president, Association of Boards of Trustees of Community
Colleges of the State University of New York; and Robert Giblin,
president, Confederation of Alumni Associations of SUNY.
	The committee is expected to eventually narrow the choice to a
select group of finalists to be interviewed by the full Board. Once
those interviews are concluded, it will be up to the Trustees to make
the final selection of a chancellor. "We have to establish an
aggressive target and have a new chancellor appointed by our September
Board meeting," Salerno said. "I know that such a goal is unusual, but
under these circumstances, with SUNY not having the full services of a
permanent chancellor since last September, we must use all available
resources to complete this search as quickly as possible."