Curt Rice becomes new rector at NMBU

Early Wednesday on 5th of May, it was announced that the Board of University at NMBU has chosen Curt Rice as the new rector of NMBU. He assumes office on August 1st, succeeding our current rector, Sjur Baardsen. Baardsen replaced Mari Sundli Tveit on the last two years of her tenure, who ended her tenure early.

Journalist: Tord Kristian F. Andersen

Translator: Benjamin Faulkner

The new rector

Curt Rice has a doctorate in linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin and has researched grammar and phonology. Previously, Rice was the rector at the Oslo Metropolitan University, leading the former university college to its university status and name change to OsloMet in 2018, where he has worked ever since. "I is not without sadness that I leave OsloMet. I am very fond of our university, and proud of all our achievements." he stated on the OsloMet webpage. Earlier, it became known that a candidate was exempted from publicity as an applicant to the position of rector at NMBU, which today was revealed to be Rice. In a comment to Khrono, Rice does not wish to reveal who reached out first. Curt Rice is the third rector at NMBU after it was renamed NMBU from UMB in 2014.

Sjur's farewell

When the employment decision became known, Baardsen sent an email to students and personell at NMBU where he thanked them for their efforts during the pandemic: "Let me just remind you of Buddy Week and UKA in Ås 2020. Outstanding efforts!". Even though he himself wished to continue, he has confirmed to Khrono he has congratulated Rice. "Curt Rice is a good bloke. I have called and congratulated him today" he states.

About the employment process

The 21th of January, it was declared that the Board will continue hiring rectors at the NMBU instead of electing them, with 7 to 4 votes. Until 2016, the rector was elected by students and employees. Currently, the Board of University (consisting of management representatives, science representatives, technical personnel, external, and two elected student representatives) hire the rector. The position of rector is a tenure of four years, before the position is announced again. The job advertisement for this tenure can be read here: https://www.finn.no/job/management/ad.html?finnkode=207650642. The application deadline was initially on the 1st of March, but it was delayed until the 6th of April.