Sexton to remain as NYU president until 2016

NYU President John Sexton isn't leaving any time soon. Sexton, who has served as the university head since 2001, will serve as president of NYU until at least 2016. The Board of Trustees announced this decision in an e-mail to the university community Friday.

Martin Lipton, the chair of the board, asked Sexton to commit to another seven years after consulting with the trustees, students, faculty members and administrators. The decision was unanimous among the trustees, Lipton said.

"We thought it was critical that people be assured that our leadership was in place until at least 2016," Lipton said.

Lipton praised Sexton's achievements as president, which include the creation of NYU Abu Dhabi, the merger with the former Polytechnic Institute, the creation of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, and massive fundraising campaigns aimed at increasing the university's endowment.

"I have no doubt that by 2016 NYU will be one of the 10 leading global network universities, and that this achievement is due primarily to John Sexton," Lipton said.

Prior to the new agreement, Sexton was contracted to serve until at least 2010.

"I want to serve the university," Sexton said. "I feel useful. The trustees and most of the community seem to feel that I'm useful."

By 2016, Sexton hopes NYU will have emerged as one of the world's great universities.

"We are likely to attract high talent people who have a very cosmopolitan view of the world," Sexton said. "By 2016 … I think that we'll be an even better version of what we are now."

Lipton also charged Sexton with the responsibility to act as a spokesman for higher education.

"NYU, through me and faculty and administrators, will increasingly be part of the leadership conversations that are the shape of higher education," Sexton said.

In Friday's e-mail, Lipton also reminded the community that NYU does not have unlimited resources and thus must make strategic choices when managing the budget.

Sexton said recent decisions, such as reengineering residential education and limiting free printing to 500 pages per student, ultimately put money toward more vital student services.

"Even in these tough times we have said that there are two areas where we will not be cutting back at all … and those two areas are student life and student services," Sexton said.

Lipton said Sexton's salary — currently $1.3 million annually — was not increased as part of the new contract, but may increase in the future.

Student reactions to the announcement were mixed.

For Whitney Petrie, a CAS senior and a chairperson for the University Committee on Student Life, the trustees' decision is practical.

"Sexton has certainly carried the university to new heights — it makes sense that they'd ask him to stick around," she said. "And then, of course, there's Abu Dhabi: A risky venture that brings with it the potential to change the meaning of what a university is. Quite honestly, we need Sexton to see this through."

But some believe Sexton spends too many resources on NYU expansion.

"[Sexton] needs to place a lot more attention on the central location," said Kelley Evan, a Tisch junior. "He should never forget the core fiber of the university."