Professor Nicholas de Takacsy

PHOTO: OWEN EGAN

Able assistant for academics

DIANA GRIER AYTON | Professor Nicholas de Takacsy has agreed to take on a new job, even though he's not exactly sure what it entails. Officially, he will become associate vice-principal (academic) on June 1, when his current assignment as associate dean for student affairs in the Faculty of Science wraps up.

A two-year appointment, the job description for it is fairly general, says de Takacsy. "It's somewhat fuzzy. I think the problem is we have a lot of external relations, a lot of internal functions and we have been downsizing across the board. So there is a need in the James Building for additional people power. And I guess I'm it."

Actually, a lot of what he is doing now is encompassed by the brief list of duties outlined in a memo announcing the appointment from Vice-Principal (Academic) Bill Chan.

"I'm supposed to look after student affairs, our McGill relations with the Commission des Universités sur les programmes (CUP) and to chair the NRCP (New and Revised Courses and Programs) sub committee of APPC. That part of the mandate is already more or less in operation."

What de Takacsy is less sure of is the last sentence of the note, which says that "he will assume other responsibilities from time to time as the need arises."

But de Takacsy knows he won't be idle. "I have worked with Bill Chan before when he was Dean of Science and I liked working with him. He does have lots of ideas, but he doesn't always tell you right away what they are. Sometimes he just lets you discover them for yourself," he laughs.

For his part, Chan says he has identified at least one additional priority.

"In the coming year, with the introduction of the new student information system, there will be modifications to the way we function, the way we serve the students and the way we improve and streamline the academic programs. A lot of these things will require close interaction with faculty and I can see Professor de Takacsy playing a very important role in that."

De Takacsy agrees that he's probably well suited to help implement change. "I guess if I have any strength at all it is that I have been here for a long time -- 30 years -- and I know McGill pretty well. I think I can say who the people are we can talk to and who we can interact with in planning another step."

But he also knows that things can't be rushed.

"The problem -- or the wonderful thing about McGill -- is that it's a very democratic, very collegial institution, and that's why it works.

"But in order to go in a slightly different direction and still steer the process requires a fair amount of time spent in interaction and consultation. That's a very efficient way of doing things in the long run because then everybody out there makes it work. Saving time at the planning and consultation end is typically a mistake "

De Takacsy, a professor of physics, will spend half of his time handling administrative duties and devote the other half to teaching. As associate dean of students and with his CUP chores, there hasn't been much time for his research in recent years.

"I sort of knew that would happen. I wasn't blindsided by it, so you have to say it was a choice. It's not like anybody put a gun to my head and said, 'You have to do these things.' And I'm not entirely brain dead because I haven't had a grant in four years."

Calling his new colleague "a great guy to work with," Chan says de Takacsy should find the job an interesting one because this is a very exciting time -- at least academically -- in McGill's history.

"I would characterize this as an amazingly innovative period, through a lot of hard work in the faculties. Some program changes were initiated before budget cuts, some were because of them and others moved forward in spite of the budget situation. We have had to keep thinking about the teaching and learning environment we provide and whether it is keeping up with the changing needs of the students."

De Takacsy knows from his experience of serving on Senate, on committees and on task forces that a job can be as big as you make it. "It depends a little bit on what you stick your nose into. That's the nice thing about the University. You can try a lot of things just because you want to."