The Concordian

Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News

VP Services Micheal Di Grappa steps into new role.

Michael Di Grappa, Concordia University's Vice President Services, doesn't know how long he'll be needed in his new position as the university's acting President. "It could be just 6 hours," he jokingly told The Concordian in an interview last Friday, the day after his appointment by the Board of Governors on Oct. 18.
He said he had not sought the position but was approached about a week ago by the Board's Chairman, Peter Kruyt, if he would consider filling in "on an acting basis" if the Board couldn't find an interim president by Nov. 1, the date after outgoing President Claude Lajeunesse's departure. "I said I would be honoured to serve and help in any way that I can," said Di Grappa.
"The intention now is for [Di Grappa] to move us forward for the next few weeks, possibly a month, before an interim [president] is appointed . . . But we are still recruiting actively an interim president, someone who would really take over the role of the president until a permanent one is brought in," explained the university's spokesperson, Chris Mota.
As acting President, Di Grappa said he will likely not be called upon to make major decisions on the university's behalf that would have "long-term impact" - reviewing the bylaws of the university, or major decisions regarding academic matters, for example. He said he will consult with acting Provost Louise Dandurand and the Faculty Deans to make decisions.
Di Grappa, who has worked as VP Services since March 2000, could be one of the university's longest serving administrators. His ties with Concordia began more than twenty years ago when he came as a student in 1981. When asked what changes he has seen the university undergo in his 26 years at the school, Di Grappa responded diplomatically, "Obviously, there have been a lot of ups and downs," without elaborating.
Asked how he would describe the administration's relations with the student unions, Di Grappa said they had "a very good relationship with the [Concordia Student Union]. We may not agree on all the issues, but we have a dialogue."
As for the Graduate Student Association (GSA), he said the GSA had some "internal issues they need to resolve" that he "hopes they overcome." The GSA's Executive virtually imploded last year as members accused one another of abuses of power. The Executive had to be dismantled and administered the rest of the year by the Dean of Students.

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