Rose Tseng, chancellor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, says she’s got plenty of things on her to-do list before she steps down from her current position in December 2009. Since Tseng became chancellor in 1998, outside grants for scientific research at UHH have increased from $3 million a year to about $20 million. - Photos By William Ing/Hawaii Tribune-Herald

UHH chancellor Tseng has projects to finish before departing post

by John Burnett
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer

Published: Monday, July 28, 2008 9:15 AM HST

It’s been nearly two months since Rose Tseng informed the University of Hawaii regents that she would step down as chancellor of UH-Hilo in December 2009.

Tseng, who has presided over a decade of unprecedented growth at UHH, talked to the Tribune-Herald last week, discussing her plans and hopes for the 17 months she has remaining in the school’s top spot. Attired in a tasteful black dress and long-sleeved red jacket and impeccably coiffed in her trademark semi-wedge, Tseng radiated the energy of a woman half her age and carried herself like the long-time institutional CEO she is.

“Whatever you do, please don’t describe me as a lame duck,” said Tseng, who is in her mid-60s. “I’m too young and there’s too much still to be done.”

Tseng said she gave the regents more than a year-and-a-half notice “so they can take their time and find a good permanent replacement,” adding that she will probably not have a role in the search for her successor. She’ll take a sabbatical for the entire 2010 calendar year, then return to UH-Hilo in a still-to-be-determined capacity for two years before retiring.

“I was a (United Nations) consultant,” she said. “I could use my international connections for the university. I could do fundraising. I’m very big on grants, getting foundation money — and I would have more free time to do that. I could do (technological consulting). I have a lot of connections in Silicon Valley. … There are a lot of possibilities. Then, there’s teaching. There’s nothing wrong with that. I love to teach, too. There are just too many options (laughs). … There are still 21/2 years before I have to decide.

“There’s also what the new chancellor wants, how he or she thinks I can best help.”

If Tseng returns to the lecture hall or the lab — which seems unlikely — she is a full professor with a Ph.D. in nutritional science who minored in biochemistry and physiology. She has spoken extensively on leadership and said it’s possible she could teach leadership at the school’s College of Business and Economics.

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Dear Chancellor Tseng:

Thank you for taking UH Hilo so far forward as a comprehensive university.

Under your leadership, we have established our academic reputation as a quality institution of choice to Hawaii residents and others. The creation of the College of Business and Economics, which has achieved AACSB accreditation, has been a major accomplishment for this institution. The creation of the College of Pharmancy will further establish our campus as a campus of choice for many.

Thank you for all the work that you have done for us with the legislature and with private donors.

I honor your service and dedication and professionalism. You are a true role model for me, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you, and look forward to working with you in your last months at UH Hilo as Chancellor.

Sincerely,

Barbara Leonard, Ph.D., CMA

Associate Professor of Accounting

UH Hilo Faculty Congress Chair

Chancellor to leave post, but not university, in 18 months

by John Burnett

Hawaii Tribune-Herald

University of Hawaii at Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng will step down from the top post in December 2009 under an agreement struck Thursday with the UH Board of Regents in Honolulu.

“I will be returning, just not as chancellor,” Tseng told the Tribune-Herald Thursday night.

Tseng, who has been UHH chancellor since 1998, was given a “special salary adjustment” — an unspecified raise — retroactive to July 1, 2007 during the closed meeting. She was also granted a one-year “professional improvement” leave starting Jan. 1, 2010. In addition, Tseng had requested a waiver of return service obligation, which would have allowed her to retire from the university. She said the regents declined that request.

“Some people think that’s a special favor,” Tseng said. “The reason (UH President David McClain) and I requested that is because we believe that -people’s return is not always the best for the university — when high-level people return to teach or return to whatever when they are no longer chancellor.”

Tseng, who is in her mid-60s, is also a full professor at UHH and has a Ph.D. in nutritional science with minors in biochemistry and physiology from the University of California at Berkeley. She said it has not been decided in what capacity she will serve at the end of her sabbatical.

“It will probably be in some executive position,” Tseng said, but did not rule out a return to the classroom. “I was a very good teacher,” she said, adding, “I don’t mind returning. Later we will discuss what I will return to do.”

She made no bones about her original intention, however, stating, “I was going to retire, but they didn’t approve it.” Tseng says she does not know how much longer she must serve before she could retire with benefits.

“I was thinking it would be a clean cut, and it would be better for the university if the high-level executives (were to) just leave at the end. But the BOR for the faculty says ‘if you take a leave, you shall come back for service.’ So they wanted to apply that for the executives, too.

“That’s OK. It doesn’t hurt me.”

Tseng, born in Northern China and raised in Taiwan, has held the position longer than any other chancellor in the school’s history.

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Chancellor Tseng announced yesterday she’s stepping down on Dec. 31, 2009. She will then take a year’s leave in 2010, and return to UH Hilo in 2011 in a position not yet determined.

Story in today’s Star Bulletin here.

UH Hilo chancellor making strides in higher education

See full story at Greentree Gazette (external site determines when link expires).

Summary:

UH Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng has been making strides in higher education for the past 30 years, spending the last nine transforming UH Hilo from a small liberal arts institution into a comprehensive university.

Chancellor Tseng just returned home from China where she attended the first organizational meeting for the 4th World Women University Presidents Forum to be held in Beijing in 2009. Tseng was invited to be a member of the organizational committee in 2005.

The 3rd World Women University Presidents Forum opens in Beijing Aug. 19, 2006. Photo from Chinese Government website.

The first organizational meeting was held May 21-27 in Kunming, Yun’nan Province, China. Discussion centered on the theme and topics of the 2009 event. Tseng joined five university women presidents as representatives of their respective continents, along with five women who head universities in China.

Hosted by Communication University of China, the 4^th world forum will be attended by more than 100 women university presidents as well as experts and scholars from 34 countries and regions.

National Cheng Kung University of Taiwan recently elected UH Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng as one of four recipients of the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. The university’s School of Science nominated Tseng for the award.

“Your achievements and contributions to the field of Nutrition are widely acknowledged with great respect,” writes Chiang Kao, president of National Cheng Kung University, in the notification letter. “We are proud of having you as one of the most accomplished and valued alumna, and we would appreciate the opportunity [of] making you the model of our students by presenting you with this award.”

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