University Administration Search To End

Harvard will soon name a new administrator to oversee campus operations, a top position that will be restructured to eliminate administrative inefficiencies before the next academic year, University Executive Vice President Katherine N. Lapp said Monday.

The new leader will hold the refashioned title of Vice President for Campus Services—formerly Vice President for Administration—and will oversee the University’s central operations functions and dining facilities, in addition to the Harvard Faculty Club and Harvard Magazine.

“We’ve conducted a nationwide search,” Lapp said. “We’ve looked at a number of candidates. We’re close to a decision point.”

Lapp added that applicants for the job each proposed ideas for streamlining the organization of the office’s myriad functions in line with the central administration’s ongoing efforts to merge human resources functions and reduce costs.

“Right now they operate somewhat independently from each other, but I think there’s a lot they can do across their departments,” Lapp said.

The office—which manages the University’s behind-the-scenes services, ranging from real estate to transportation—has lacked a permanent head since July 2009, when Sally H. Zeckhauser stepped down after over two decades of service.

Finding a new vice president before interim head Thomas E. Vautin departs has been a “primary focus” since Lapp’s arrival at Harvard in Oct. 2009.

Lapp said she decided to rename the position to reflect the office’s responsibilities, which are not limited to administrative services.

The Arnold Arboretum and Harvard University Press, which formerly reported to the vice president for administration, have been moved to the Provost’s office, and the University Planning Office—which manages campus planning and has played a role in the University’s development in Allston—will move to a new department of planning and construction.

Lapp declined to comment further on the new department, stating that it would be premature to discuss the unit’s responsibilities.

—Staff writer Elias J. Groll can be reached at egroll@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer William N. White can be reached at wwhite@fas.harvard.edu.