Dr. Lawrence Schovanec took office as the new President of Texas Tech University. In an interview on Tuesday, Schovanec talked about his priorities while in his new position.
In February, Texas Tech was among 115 out of 4,000 institutions designated by the Carnegie Foundation for high research activity. Many consider the distinction as Tier One status. Schovanec said he is proud of the success Tech has achieved but the university needs to solidify its status.
“Research really is most meaningful when it informs the educational process,” Schovanec said. “And when your also producing new knowledge or creative activity that improves that state of society. And that is something we will always be doing. That is really an obligation of higher education. That a priority that will always be something that we place a great deal of emphasis on…That means increasing our research expenditures, but continue to do the kind of scholarship and producing the kind of creative activity that makes a difference to the community and to the state and to the world.”
Schovanec began his career in the Mathematics Department in the early 80’s. He became the interim President in 2012 and has been the Provost since 2013. Schovanec saying his past experience gives him a unique perspective.
“Every job gives you a sense of why Texas Tech is special,” Schovanec said.
The biggest issue Dr. Schovanec will have to tackle out of the gate is open carry.
“Campus Carry went into affect on August 1st,” Schovanec said. “So that allows those with a concealed carry license to now carry into certain buildings on campus. Open carry is still prohibited on this campus.”
Three professors at the University of Texas in Austin filed a lawsuit that said they should be given discretion to decide if firearms are prohibited in their classrooms. Dr. Schovanec said those kind of issues have not been brought up at Texas Tech.
” Its a big deal,” Schovanec said. “It’s an issue that involves a lot of faculty, students and staff. A lot of different view points on this. In some ways I feel like its to Tech’s advantage to let that play out in Austin and that could inform what we are going to do moving forward.”
When it comes to campus security, guns aside, Schovanec said the key to a safe campus is education.
“It begins with the educational programs we have,” Schovanec said. “Most students when they enroll they go through Red Raider Orientation, once they are here in their first semester. Safety, when you talk about safety that could mean alcohol, behavior- not just guns. And so you have to be engaged in a lot of educational programs that inform the students and give them the best possible environment, but also in terms of the policies, the support we have through the police mechanisms for responding to situations. The university pays so much attention to these issues. We take very seriously the responsibility when parents entrust their children to us.”
Speaking of education, Schovanec said Tech is working to make a college education more affordable.
“This year we are going to a new model of tuition called differential tuition,” Schovanec said. “We use arts and sciences as the base rate, one can get 120 hours of credit…for $42,000, that is tuition and fees. That is a tremendous value.”
Schovanec said the university will continue to establish strong relationships with lawmakers in Austin.
