Gordon K. Davies, who set policy for Virginia's public colleges and universities for 20 years, will join the faculty of Teachers College.

"Gordon is one of America's most visionary leaders to contribute to public colleges and universities," said Arthur E. Levine, president of Teachers College. "His joining the faculty will strengthen our ability to meet the needs of higher education."

His candor about the strengths and weaknesses of colleges earned Dr. Davies the admiration of lawmakers and educators nationwide.

Until recently, he had the bipartisan support of Virginia lawmakers who had trusted him to guide the state's higher-education system without interference. But he was considered too independent for the council's current board members and the Governor who appointed them, George Allen. In April, citing its desire for a more active role and a new vision, the board voted not to renew his contract.

Dr. Davies is known for his 1989 report outlining "the University of the 21st Century." In that report, he anticipated the importance of technology in higher education, the need for partnerships between businesses and colleges, and the demand for performance-based budgeting.

"Virginia's loss is our gain. We affirm everything he did in Virginia," Dr. Levine said. "We're absolutely delighted that a man of his caliber is joining our institution."

Dr. Davies said: "The Teachers College of Columbia University has a distinguished history as an agent of change in American education. I look forward to continuing my work as a member of its faculty."

He will teach four courses in the Department of Organization and Leadership at Teachers College during the 1997-98 academic year. He will teach a course on the relationship between higher education and state government and a course on the future of postsecondary education this Fall.

Even though Dr. Davies will be an active member of TC's faculty, he said that he will continue to be involved in Virginia higher education during the coming year. He said: "We must resist efforts to limit access to Virginia colleges and universities for cheap political gain. Higher education has become the factor that divides the haves and the have-nots in our society.

"Virginia as a whole can not flourish unless every citizen has a fair chance to flourish as an individual," he continued. "That is what I have worked for in Virginia and shall continue to work for and that will be the basis of my teaching at Teachers College."

Teachers College is a graduate school devoted to education across the lifespan, both in and out of the classroom. It is an affiliate of Columbia University but retains its legal and financial independence. In the 1997 listing of "Best Graduate Schools" from the editors of U.S. News & World Report, Teachers College was ranked as the number one graduate school of education in America.

Published Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2001