As academic vice president at the University of Massachusetts, he questioned everything from faculty hiring and promotion standards to student recruitment.

He is even meddling in the sacrosanct area of faculty hiring.

Students hold decision-making authority in determinations about admissions, curriculum, and faculty hiring.

Under her leadership, the quality of students continued to rise and faculty hiring accelerated.

Efforts in faculty hiring, program development and partnership building focus on those needs.

But the study does note an arguable inconsistency in the way law schools approach student admissions and faculty hiring.

Mr. Bell also suggested he would assist students who have brought a lawsuit against the school for what they perceive as discrimination in faculty hiring.

The faculty hiring - 230 new positions, of which 75 have already been filled - is likely to have the biggest impact.

Nor was faculty hiring, since the annual mating ritual, or "meat market," has been moved to December.

He also advocated a policy whereby the student body could approve or disapprove of faculty hirings.