He Plans To Put His Stamp On WCC

Gunder A. Myran's appointment as Washtenaw Community College's new president, at $37,500 yearly, was formally approved by the WCC trustees Tuesday night. The quiet-spoken president-designate limited himself to a "thank you" and a smile when introduced from his place in the audience after unanimous approval was voted for the resolution approving his appointment. Trustee Phillip G. Wells sponsöred the resolution. Interviewed brief ly after the meeting, Myran said in earnest tones "I expect to put my own stamp on the college." He emphasized, however, that he is anxious to spend about a month familiarizing himself with WCC operations and meeting staff members, adding he would consider it "a bit premature" for him to make any specific policy statements. Myran did make clear that he is im.pressed by the heavy emphasis on vocational and occupational courses provided by WCC's curriculum in comparison with Rockland Community College, near New York City, where he is dean of instruction and acting president. Rockland's emphasis on business and advertising courses reflects that area's job market, he observed. Fotír vocationál courses were added to Rockland's curriculum in the past year, he noted. He voiced strong praise for a lengthy set of documents presented last night by WCC Occupational Studies Dean Joseph M. Miller. These provide detailed descriptions of contents and teaching goals of all technicalindustrial courses at WCC, for use by students and academie counselors. Myran also said he intends to "review the status" of efforts underway for more than a yean to write "management by objectives" goals for WCC administrators. Asked if this means he is skeptical of MBO, a technique aimed at management through consultation in contrast to the chain-of-command approach, Myran said "no, I've used it. But it takes three to five years to implement. WtC is at the beginning stages." Myran, 40, has been dean of instruction at Rockland Community College since 1972, and served before that in faculty positions at Michigan State University and at Jackson Community College, as reported by The News Tuesday. He is also a director of the American Association of Community and ior Colleges, and president-elect of the National Council of Community Services. He stres'sed that he sees a major role for two-year community colleges in the - ' U.S. educational system, in terms of "serving new constituencies. " The Myrans have three sons, aged 10, 12 and 16, meaning the family "will be using the Ann Arbor schools at every level," he observed. The exact date when Myran will formally assume the presidency at WCC has not been determined, largely because he is obligated to continue as Rockland's acting president until that college's president returns from a lengthy overseas trip. Anothér key administrative position was filled last night with the appointment of Doreen C. Thompson as director of health occupations, effective Aug. 15, at $22,000. Thompson's educational background includes an MA from the Sorbonne iñ Paris and a Master of Public Health Degree from the U-M. She has worked as a medical laboratory technician at university hospitals in Jamaica, France and the United States, as director of employment development at Highland Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., and most recently as director of program development for the State University of New York's Educational Opportunity Center.