Although the temperature March 7 was colder than average, it was still warmer than the day before, part of the Earth's yearly transition into summer warmth.

Warmer weather wasn't the only change set in motion that afternoon. Susan Henrichs accepted the position as UAF's new provost beginning July 1.

Over the next three months, outgoing Provost Paul Reichardt will help Henrichs, currently the dean of graduate studies and vice-provost, transition into her new role as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

"We're working together to make the hand off," Reichardt said. "I think it will go without a glitch."

According to Reichardt, the working relationship the two have already built makes the transition much easier than it would be if a "newbie" were being introduced to both UAF and the provost position.

"I'm bringing her into a wide variety of things I work on," Reichardt said. "Working with her for a number of years, it's a lot easier because we know each other's minds."

The only other candidate for the job, James Pratt, the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., withdrew his application last month.

He was a candidate for provost positions at several other universities.

Reichardt said he is involving Henrichs in many of the deliberations regarding issues that will affect the university when she is provost. He is also asking her to assist him with some of those decisions, he said.

Even after the transition is over, the work Henrichs hopes to accomplish is not too far from what Reichardt himself values.

Both cite the time they spent in the classroom as integral to their successes as administrators.

Henrichs has said before that the time she spent teaching Oceans 111 was an invaluable education for where she is now.

Reichardt agrees.

"Overall, the thing that I've enjoyed the most is dealing with students," Reichardt said. "They are what makes the university a rewarding place. I look forward to seeing what the students here now do in the future."

Focusing on helping students to succeed is one of Henrichs' many goals.

"I have quite a variety of plans, some short-term and some long-term," she said.

Henrichs said she intends to continue working with the university on facilitating student success – measured by increasing UAF's graduation, degree and certificate rates, as well as by raising the student retention rate.

Her strategy to accomplish that goal is two fold.

One plan is to work with Facilities Services to encourage all areas to look at undergraduate teaching resources and improve them. The other is to establish a center for teaching and learning.

Henrichs has already proposed the center, but she still needs to find the funding to back it.

The center would help professors and graduate students improve their teaching abilities.

"I'm looking forward to working with the faculty and staff to accomplish the goals I've been talking about," she said. "I know I can't do it by myself."

Her goals are ones that Reichardt seems to agree with.

"I look forward to seeing UAF continue to focus on students and their interests," he said.

Recently, Reichardt was recognized for his contributions to the University of Alaska and its students.

Reichardt received the Edith R. Bullock Prize for Excellence, an annual award and stipend set up to reward excellence in service to the University of Alaska. He was one of 13 considered for the award this year.

"It's really a great honor," he said. "I've considered it a privilege to work for the university and have appreciated the opportunities the university has given me. It's a neat time to be recognized for making some contributions to the university."

In his retirement, Reichardt plans to continue contributing to the university, as well as to the Fairbanks community.

He said that he has agreed to continue to do a few things at the university on a part-time, volunteer basis.

Reichardt and his wife, Terry, are also identifying causes in the Fairbanks area that they'd like to volunteer for.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the community in a different way than I have in recent years," Reichardt said.