Kansas University is losing two of its better deans: Kim Wilcox, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Ann Weick, dean of the School of Social Welfare. No one is indispensable, but these two deans will be difficult to replace.

Last week, Weick, the longest-serving dean currently at KU, announced plans to leave the social welfare position after 19 years as dean. That’s a long time at what surely is a wearing and pressure-filled job of dealing with students, faculty, alumni and administrators at Strong Hall.

There are bound to be times of elation and enthusiasm but also times of great frustration at not being able to do many of the things a dean might like to do because he or she encounters tight control from the university’s administration.

Wilcox has been in charge of the university’s largest school, the College, for the past three years. The school has approximately 16,000 students. He came to this deanship after serving as executive director of the Kansas Board of Regents. Before that, he had been a member of the nationally recognized speech, language and hearing faculty at KU.

He took on the dean’s job with the idea of igniting new enthusiasm within the College, getting the public, as well as the overall university community, to realize the College’s vast and potential role and to help build the school into one of the best at any state-aided university.

The latter wish was a tall order, but Wilcox had the enthusiasm, desire and energy to try to get the job done. He, too, faced many challenges and undoubtedly many frustrations.

If those frustrations triggered his interest in looking elsewhere, Wilcox is unlikely to acknowledge it publicly, but he has much to offer and he hasn’t hidden his desire to become more involved in university administration.

Weick apparently plans on — or hopes for — a less stressful pace in retirement. She said she hopes to write more on the field of social work, learn Spanish and pursue community projects. Under her leadership and direction, her school has been recognized as one of the nation’s finest. Wilcox will be stepping into the fire as the chief academic officer at a university considerably larger than KU.

As mentioned above, both will be missed, and their friends and admirers at KU, as well as throughout the state, will wish them much happiness and success in their future ventures.

Now, however, the job is to find two top-flight replacements.

Unfortunately, there have been too many cases of various KU search committees not investigating as thoroughly as they should the backgrounds of individuals being considered for senior positions at KU.

When there are vacancies in positions, such as the dean of the College or School of Social Welfare, university officials have a relatively rare opportunity to shoot for the top and try to secure the services of the best individuals. Too often, the job is rushed, and inadequate numbers of sources and references are queried about an individual’s personal background and academic record. Likewise, it doesn’t do KU any good to go into this investigation with the idea of trying to find the cheapest candidate.

Resignations provide a unique opportunity to raise the level of academic and leadership excellence of a school. It is a shame to waste this opportunity with a lax review process, settling for someone less talented than the previous dean and focusing too much on the dollars.

Another factor which is sure to be discussed is the degree of control exercised over KU deans and how much freedom Strong Hall officials allow the deans to show their leadership, vision and initiative. Is the Strong Hall leash too tight and too controlling?

Wilcox and Weick served the university well, and the university is a better institution today because of their efforts. Now the challenge is to find and secure the services of two exceptional individuals to replace the departing deans.