Digital Edition: March 17, 2021

1 The Ferris State Torch NINETY YEARS OF ILLUMINATING THE TRUTH Big Rapids, Michigan Week of March 17 - 23, 2021 www.fsutorch.com Eisler’s era coming to an end President announces he plans to retire from Ferris after June 2022 Cora Hall "That has really been a strength and a Editor in Chief change for Ferris and he has broadened the urban portion of Ferris State University and President David Eisler announced Mon- that was driven in large part by Dave Eisler, day, March 15 that he plans to retire in June making those contacts and bringing those of 2022 after what will be a 19-year tenure. things forward," Seibold said. Some of the most significant aspects of Since he was hired as president in 2003, his presidency listed in the university press Eisler has led the university through signif- release include increasing the graduation icant nationwide challenges, most recently rate to 65%, starting 15 building projects being the COVID-19 pandemic. Communica- worth $400 million and increasing the Ferris tions professor and academic senate pres- Foundation's endowment from $18 million ident Sandra Alspach said she has worked to $100 million. with Eisler in various settings throughout Eisler said in a message to campus that his time at Ferris, and he has "kept the ship he "believe[s] this will be a good time for a afloat through many a storm." leadership transition, and it is the right time "Even though I haven’t always agreed with for Patsy and me." his decisions, perhaps because I didn’t see "Working at Ferris State University is a the charts he followed, we’ve seen the Uni- privilege, and it has been my honor to serve versity in full sail moving forward and surviv- as your president over the past 18 years," ing a pandemic tempest during his watch," Eisler wrote. "This is a great university, with Alspach said. a unique and special mission that provides Nursing professor Mary Beaudry said life-changing opportunities." Eisler’s strength was his connection with He will leave as the university's lon- the community and was impressed with his gest serving president besides its founder, leadership through the pandemic. Woodbridge N. Ferris, which physical scienc- “Dr. Eisler kept us on task, yet recognizes es professor and Ferris Faculty Association the challenge that COVID-19 provided. Com- Charles Bacon called "quite an accomplish- munication turned out to be an important ment." Bacon, who has been at Ferris for 37 part of his job,” Beaudry said. “In addition, years, said he had not expected Eisler to he is a comforting presence when we were retire for a couple more years. all going through such chaos.” "This is a little faster than I thought," Ba- Takitaki has worked at two universities con said. "But he had some goals he want- previously and called 18 years a long run ed to accomplish, and I guess he's accom- for any president. There has been significant plished what he wants to do. challenges in higher education the past few "I think people need to give credit to folks years in Takitaki's eyes and if Eisler was that are willing to step up into leadership po- looking for a time to transition leadership af- sitions like that, that are difficult and they're ter seeing the university through them, "this going to go through good times and bad maybe is the right window." times." Among Eisler's accomplishments there Though Bacon said he enjoyed working were also shortcomings, such as the Torch File Photo with Eisler, he wished there would have strained FFA contract negotiations that led President David Eisler, who has served at Ferris since 2003, announced he will retire after June of 2022. been more focus towards running and main- to a strike on the first day of classes in the taining programs in recent years. fall of 2018. There was also two different "Administrations always love building votes of no confidence by the FFA, the sec- "I like Dave personally, I've enjoyed our firms in charge of the candidate pools. In projects because they can point to a build- ond of which in 2018 resulted in 88.5% of interactions," Bacon said. "I've kind of put Bacon's eyes, search firms often "lead to a ing to say, I built that," Bacon said. "So we FFA members voting that they had no con- the union stuff off to the side because that's lack of transparency" in the process, how- would have preferred a little stronger focus fidence in Eisler’s leadership. It was Eisler's just business, it's just the way it is but as a ever, Seibold said the search firms were to on on the employees over the last five years, fourth round of contract negotiations with person, I've enjoyed working with him and ensure the process "is as transparent as it but that's just the way it is. They'd rather the FFA as president, and it left a bitter he's a nice guy." is supposed to be." build buildings than build people." taste in some members' mouths, such as While a president can never make every- As far as the next university president Political science professor David Takitaki mathematics professor Holly Price. one happy, Seibold said Eisler's focus was goes, Bacon hopes they'll find a candidate saw the university's change firsthand, hav- "With respect to Dr. Eisler as a president, always on what was best for the university. who has leadership experience in higher ing visited the campus as a high schooler. I’m going to follow the rule, 'If you don’t have "I will say that the job of a university pres- education, someone who has worked with He said when he returned 20 years later in anything nice to say, don’t say anything at ident is never easy," Seibold said. "He is the unions before and who involves the faculty 2017 for his interview process, he didn't rec- all,'" Price said. "With respect to the next lightning rod for all things. He is in the mid- in decisions because "it's a tiring process all ognize campus. president, I hope it’s someone who respects dle of all things, and he has the enviable job the time having to fight." "The growth and change that happened the uniqueness of Ferris State and better of trying to keep the board happy, the faculty Takitaki is looking for leadership that puts in those 20 years were absolutely phenome- supports the programs, activities, and peo- happy, the students happy, the staff happy the student experience first, which he con- nal," Takitaki said. ple that make it special." and the community happy... and there are siders to largely be dependent on having the Amna Seibold, the chair of Ferris' Board of Bacon said he and Eisler would always dis- always competing priorities and someone right people in crucial faculty positions so Trustees, said one of Eisler's successes in the agree on priorities, as is the nature of labor ends up feeling left out." students have "the support they need." big picture is the university's increased pres- management relations, but he believes Eisler According to Seibold, the search for the According to Seibold the search for ence in Grand Rapids with Kendall School of has done good things for the university. next university president has yet to begin, the next Ferris president will begin in Art and other satellite programs there. and the board has yet to choose the search the coming months. Got news? Let us know. Like us on facebook Follow us on Twitter Add us on instagram Watch us on tiktok Email: [email protected] Ferris state Torch @fsutorch fsutorch FsuTorch Phone: 231.591.5978 Connect with us on social media - Read articles online at www.fsutorch.com 2 2 News Week of March 17 - 23, 2021 Ferris State Torch NEWS Noah Kurkjian| News Editor | [email protected] Ready, set, give Vaccines for all Ferris fundraising Gov. Whitmer announces everyone 16 older can be vaccinated starting April 5 event returns after Noah Kurkjian "I urge all eligible Michiganders to get ministered in Michigan, and we are well News Editor one of the three COVID-19 vaccines. It is on our way to vaccinating 70% of Michi- one-year hiatus essential to getting our country back to ganders age 16 and up,” said Dr. Joneigh The COVID-19 vaccine is about to be- normal … And as always: mask up, prac- Khaldun, chief medical executive and come widely available across the state of tice safe social distancing and avoid large chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “We Rebecca VanderKooi Michigan with the announcement that the indoor gatherings where COVID-19 can are pleased to lay out our plan for when News Reporter original phasing plan is being abandoned. easily spread from person to person. We every Michigander age 16 and up will be Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced will eliminate this virus together,” Gov. able to get a vaccine. We will continue to The One Day for Dawgs online fundraising event Friday, March 12 that every Michigander Whitmer said. focus our efforts on removing barriers to for groups on campus is taking place April 14, and age 16 and older will become eligible to Ferris students, staff and faculty resid- access for our most vulnerable to expo- receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting ing in Big Rapids will have several options sure and those at highest risk of severe ill- there’s still time for more programs to join.

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