What an opportunity.

The incoming Kansas University chancellor will have a tremendous and unique opportunity to bring about many positive changes and improvements for the university.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway will be retiring in a few weeks, Provost Richard Lariviere will be leaving to become president of the University of Oregon, and Joseph Steinmetz, acting provost and dean of the College of Liberal Arts — KU’s largest school with more than 17,000 students — will depart to take a position at Ohio State.

The new chancellor will be able to select a new provost and a new dean of the College. Who knows? There may be other retirements, resignations or firings.

It is unfortunate that news about Steinmetz’s departure was not public at the time candidates were being interviewed for the chancellorship. Did he tell Hemenway he was seeking the Ohio State job? And were chancellor candidates told the acting provost and dean of the College would be leaving?

Was it right for Steinmetz to accept the interim provost position and appoint an acting dean for the College when he was actively seeking another job?

University officials and Regents spokesmen are saying there is no need to be concerned, that everything is fine at KU. Let’s hope so, but it seems obvious there will be many changes and that all Kansans should hope the regents select the right individual to unify and inspire faculty and students to aim for excellence and help lift the school to a position of national academic prominence.

There’s been far too much drifting in recent years.