in 1976, he was named the dean of the merged college of arts and sciences at the university of massachusetts boston. as an administrator, he increased the numbers of minority students in the arts and sciences, and helped create a minority pre-med program. five years later, he became provost and academic vice president at hunter college of the city university of new york. riccards worked to re-establish sabbaticals for faculty, which had been abolished systemwide during the 1970s. he revamped the school-deaconal structure, and created the college's first doctoral programs. he also taught political science for three years.