OUPride, Well, McDavis did keep that promise in one respect: OU-HCOM is now the largest medical school in the state in terms of enrollment, if you include the two new campuses in Dublin and Cleveland. I know you were talking UG enrollment, and I'm sure that's what McDavis was talking about, too, but I thought the growth of the medical school under McDavis deserves mention. He really didn't have too much to do with it, but the head guy (or gal) always gets credit or blame for the things that happen during his (or her) tenure. The key factor spurring that grow, of course, was the $120 million gift from the Ohio Osteopathic Foundations. Former Dean Jack Brose gets most of the credit for negotiating that deal.
Agreed on the med school, and fundraising kept pace with Miami too. I'm certainly willing to give McDavis credit for the things that went well during his tenure. I'm, however, just left with a gnawing feeling that his administration ended up being one of missed opportunities amidst his grandiose talk. From Nellis' early interviews and talks, it seems as though he is going to be a little more grounded. When he says that he's not looking to change Ohio's freshmen class profile, I don't think it's defeatism so much as a realistic appraisal of the current competitive and demographic landscape. At the end of the day, I'd rather be pleasantly surprised at achievements outpacing expectations than with a lot of talk leading nowhere.