Two months after leaving his position as Dartmouth's Provost, University of Michigan President Lee Bollinger is adjusting to the heavy responsibilities of running one of the nation's largest public universities.
Bollinger said he is "enjoying the new job thoroughly" and is getting used to a new life of "endless meetings and events every evening."
He said the transition is eased somewhat because he spent almost 20 years at Michigan before coming to the College. Bollinger was a professor at Michigan Law School and was the Dean there from 1987 until 1994.
"In one sense it is an easy adjustment because it is a familiar place, and there are many people I know extremely well," Bollinger said. "In another sense, not having been a president before, it is amazing how much there is still to be discovered."
Bollinger, who assumed the presidency Feb. 3, said he has a long way to go before he'll be fully settled into the position.
"I think I'll be in the adjustment period for several years," Bollinger said. "It's an extremely large and vital university, and it's not one you quickly get your arms around."
His job as College Provost prepared him well for the presidency, but the "range of responsibilities" is significantly greater with the new position, he said.
"The fact that it's a public institution is also a significant difference," Bollinger said. "The publicness of the position is much higher."
Bollinger, who said in November that he and his wife have no plans to sell their newly built house in Norwich, said he will "absolutely come back to visit Dartmouth."
"I have a great fondness for the institution and for the people there. I very much enjoyed my time at Dartmouth," he said. "I learned a great deal. I was stimulated by the environment and I loved the students."
Bollinger quickly left Dartmouth after accepting the Michigan presidency Nov. 5. He said he learned years ago not to linger at a job which you plan to leave.
"Once you take a new position it's important to begin as soon as possible," Bollinger said. "I do believe it helps a lot over the long term to have quickly made the transition."
Bollinger said he will find time next fall to teach a course on the first amendment. It will be identical to Government 68, "Freedom of Speech and Press," the class which he taught at Dartmouth.
Randall Juip, president of the residence halls association -- the central student government for the 16 Michigan residence halls -- said he thinks Bollinger is a visible figure on campus and seems to be "doing a great job so far."