Zimpher's UC tenure first class

And now it is finally official - Nancy Zimpher will leave the University of Cincinnati to become chancellor of the State University of New York system.

After weeks of denying what was strongly suspected, the announcement was finally made. She said at today’s press conference in Albany, N.Y., that “Only the size and scale of the opportunity at the SUNY system” could lure her away from UC.

And anyone would agree with that – Zimpher would have to be crazy not to take a position that puts her in charge of 64 campuses that boast a combined enrollment of more than 500,000 students.And despite what many UC community members are saying now, her legacy is yet to be determined.

The truth is, Zimpher has been a polarizing figure on campus and in the region. It seems people love her or hate her. Some describe her as warm and engaging while others say she comes off a little “frosty.” There seems to be no middle ground: There is no ambivalence when it comes to UC’s president.

Those who love her point to strong leadership and an emphasis on academic achievement as elements that bring her great esteem.

“I’ve really enjoyed having a president who has such an open attitude toward students,” said Frank Bowen, UC dean of students. “I’m hopefully optimistic for the future of UC that we find a president who is as exploratory, optimistic and academically focused as [Zimpher].”

And the love fest doesn’t end there.

Student Government President Ryan Rosensweig commented that the value of a UC degree has increased under Zimpher’s tenure.

And Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said: “I feel like I’m losing a friend.”

But those who, well let’s just say those who are not big fans of Zimpher seem to be hung up on a few very specific issues: comments she made about the lesser value of the “pre-Zimpher” degree and the firing of beloved basketball coach Bob Huggins in 2004. In fact, there are whole Web sites dedicated to trashing Zimpher in support of Hugs.

“Your attitude toward UC’s pre-Zimpher alumni is atrocious,” one alumnus said.

“Her comments about ‘pre-Zimpher’ alumni have left a bitter taste in my mouth (CCM ‘71). I have not renewed my alumni membership since she fired Huggins. Not because I thought she shouldn’t or couldn’t do it, but because of the way she did it,” said another.

And typical of the Huggins fan is this comment: “Whoever fires Bob Huggins doesn’t deserve to be at UC.”

And really, those are about the only printable comments there are on the subject of the Zimpher-Huggins rivalry.

So what is the truth?

While it is true that no one person is larger than the institution, and despite a few missteps (the closure of grad student housing tops the list), by and large, Zimpher has been good, very good, for the University.

UC’s reputation has improved. Enrollment is up. UC is now considered to be a top-notch research university. And Zimpher has positively impacted the entire region with her involvement in the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Agenda 360 and the CUF Community Council.

She has made UC a university students can be proud to attend.

And to those people who still carry a torch for Huggins? Get over it already.

Around the time Huggins was fired, Zimpher was quoted as saying: “Character counts.”

If all members of the UC community are honest with themselves, they’ll see she was right and that UC athletics are better off now than in the Huggins heyday.

Gone is the questionable recruiting. Gone is the thuggish reputation of the team. And in are the classier, quality athletics programs of today; the UC community should be proud not only of the performances of the baseball, volleyball and football teams (not to mention the basketball team, which is quietly earning its way to an NCAA tournament bid), but also of the academic accomplishments of UC athletes. According to the most recent figures available, 68 percent of athletes graduate while only 52 percent of the general student population graduates.

So while SUNY’s gain is UC’s loss, there are several initiatives she won’t be around to see through, including the semester conversion, performance-based budgeting and the redevelopment of McMillan Park.

“I’ll take a hoe out there myself if it takes [longer than two years],” Zimpher said in January 2008.

Looks like we’ll never get to see that happen.

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Here's a look at Nancy Zimpher's first visit with a college in the SUNY system, the University of Albany.