July 15-16, 1993
7-15-1993
Pages 112-116
BOARD OF REGENTS
UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF NEVADA
July 15, 1993
The Board of Regents met on July 15, 1993 in the Conference Room,
System Administration Office, 2601 Enterprise Road, Reno for a
special meeting.
Members present: Dr. James Eardley, Chairman
Mrs. Shelley Berkley
Dr. Jill Derby
Mr. Joseph M. Foley
Mrs. Dorothy S. Gallagher
Mr. Madison Graves, II
Dr. Lonnie Hammargren
Mr. Daniel J. Klaich
Mrs. Nancy Price
Mrs. Carolyn M. Sparks
Members absent: Mrs. June F. Whitley
Others present: Interim Chancellor John A. Richardson
President Joseph Crowley, UNR
President John Gwaltney, TMCC
President Paul Meacham, CCSN
Dr. Bill Bonaudi, NNCC
Mr. Bill Davies, WNCC
Mr. Dale Schulke, DRI
Mr. Ron Sparks, Vice Chairman
Mrs. Karen Steinberg, Acting Vice Chancellor
Mr. Donald Klasic, General Counsel
Ms. Mary Lou Moser, Secretary
Also present were Faculty Senate Chairmen Alan Balboni (CCSN),
Chris Gaub (Unit), Dan Mc Clure (TMCC), Mark Melrose (WNCC), and
John Swetnam (UNLV).
Chairman Eardley called the special meeting of the Board of Re-
gents to order at 1:00 P.M. on July 15, 1993 with all Regents
present except Mrs. Whitley and Mrs. Gallagher.
1. Discussion of Role of Chancellor
Chairman Eardley asked each Regent to list qualities for the
role of a Chancellor. Mrs. Price stated she felt it was
necessary to know and understand the role of the Board of
Regents as well, and expressed a desire for that process to
be conducted simultaneously. In addition, she felt the
Internal Auditors and the Secretary of the Board should
report directly to the Board.
Dr. Derby stated that the Chancellor should be the educa-
tional leader and CEO of the System, and be the professional
arm of the Board and provide expertise and guidance. As a
team builder the Chancellor should work with the Regents,
institutions, outside constituencies, and be the key to
communication within the System. The Chancellor should pro-
vide the educational vision and be a respected spokesman for
the System. He/she must exercise leadership in working with
staff to see that internal operations run smoothly. He/she
must be a creative thinker.
Mr. Klaich added that he/she must be able to relate well
with outside constituencies. He disagreed with the term
"CEO" in that it denotes a business model and does not re-
flect the way the System operates. Mr. Klaich stated the
Chancellor has to be an extension of the Board, but also
must lead the Presidents by persuasion, stature and respect.
Mrs. Sparks added that this position must not be an "office
manager type", but a CEO to the System staff, an executive
leader, a community liaison, and have a strong academic
background in order to move in the educational environment.
Mr. Klaich added that while the Board would be recruiting
for a person for Nevada, there are ramifications beyond
Nevada to be considered.
Mr. Graves stated he liked the term "CEO"; that the Chancel-
lor is the System leader. He stated he did agree with the
Organizational Review (May 1993 - on file in the Regents'
Office) and referred to pages 5 and 6 of that report which
lists the thoughts of those interviewed for that study.
Mr. Graves stated he felt strongly the position requires
previous system experience in order to bring in new ideas.
He acknowledged that a drawback to choosing a person from
outside the State would be in not knowing the State of
Nevada. He agreed that the person needs a Ph. D.; and, he
did agree with the organizational chart as presented.
Mr. Foley cautioned that no one should expect the education-
al system to be the same once the State and nation recover
from the current economic recession. He added that the
people are looking through traditions and at saving tax-
payer dollars. He related that the Presidents are articu-
late and creative and the Board and Chancellor's office
have been standing in the way of all process; that they
should respond to ideas which are presented. He continued
that the Chief Administrative Officer must not be frighten-
ed of new ideas and faculty traditions; he/she does not
have to be an academician, but must be a community and
state political leader. He added that choosing the next
Chancellor will be the most important task the Board has
and it must be done carefully.
Mrs. Berkley stated this selection would be a legacy from
this Board for the System to move into the 21st century.
The Chancellor must be an educational leader in a political
environment; must be sensitive to individual institutions'
needs at the same time realizing this is a System; must be
an experienced academician; and that the person must come
from outside the State in order to show Nevada's academic
credibility to that outside world.
Interim Chancellor Richardson asked to clear some of the
misunderstandings of the Organizational Review. He and
Mr. Doug Burris, Director of Community College Affairs,
were asked by the Board to conduct a review and interview
Regents, Presidents and top Officers on the Chancellor's
staff and to apprise the Board of how the System should
move forward. The Organizational Review (May 1993) is a
compilation of those interviews. They also were asked to
report publicly so that other groups could react. During
the study, they reviewed former governance studies and
the UCCSN Code, as well as other documents.
The current UCCSN Code 1.4.2 states that the Chancellor is
the CEO of the System; when a vacancy exists the Board is
to seek the best professional leader as the CEO of the
System; and the President is the Chief Administrative Of-
ficer of the institution, reports to the Chancellor, and
is accountable to the Chancellor and to the Board.
Interim Chancellor Richardson stated that he, personally,
believes personal qualities are the important factor when
hiring a person, and more so than minimal qualifications.
He urged the Board to assess the current System, determine
the direction it should take, and hire that that situation.
Mr. Burris agreed, adding that this System is unique in
that all public higher education in the State is governed
by one Board. He suggested that the Chancellor should be
knowledgeable in both Community Colleges and Universities
in order not to lose any of the progress that has been made.
Mrs. Gallagher entered the meeting.
Mrs. Berkley indicated she would like the Chancellor to
communicate with individual Board members to provide back-
ground information to them on the pros and cons of issues
and the short- and long- term ramifications of issues.
Mrs. Price stated she felt the Chancellor should live in
the Las Vegas area, but that the Chancellor's office should
remain in Reno. Dr. Derby disagreed and felt the Chancellor
needs to be with his/her staff, although she did agree there
needed to be more of a presence in the South.
Mr. Klaich commented that there is a communication issue
to consider and he would appreciate having the Chancellor
ask Board members for their opinions on issues.
Mrs. Gallagher stated she felt a change was needed, that
the new Chancellor should not bring "System baggage", but
that the person should be an educational visionary. She
reminded the Board that communication is a two-way experi-
ence, and if members did not feel they had enough informa-
tion, they should be calling the Chancellor or staff. She
added that the Chancellor should have an academic background
and be a "people person", and be able to listen, look at
the facts, make a decision and move on to the next item.
She cautioned that the Board must support the Chancellor
in his/her decisions.
Chairman Eardley asked that Interim Chancellor Richardson
and Secretary Moser prepare a list of qualifications based
upon this discussion and submit it for Board consideration
by the September meeting. After that is finalized by the
Board, the Search Committee will begin its deliberations.
UNLV Faculty Senate Chairman John Swetnam stated he object-
ed to two areas of the Organizational Report and he felt:
1) Board members are elected from an area and are not
Statewide Regents, and 2) that Board members should not
have to advise the Chancellor when lobbied by special in-
terest groups. Mrs. Gallagher explained that although
Regents are elected by area, once elected, they are State-
wide Regents. Dr. Derby also explained that it is neces-
sary to keep the Chancellor informed.
WNCC Faculty Senate Chairman Mark Melrose suggested the fol-
lowing for consideration: 1) the term "earned doctorate"
in space of a specific degree; 2) Community College ex-
perience is desirable; and 3) the person should tolerate
and encourage diversity within the System.
President Gwaltney questioned whether the recommendations
contained in the Organizational Review might be implemented
in stages.
President Crowley stressed that the personal qualifications
are very important, and hoped the Board would look for
someone who will fit into the System. Mr. Bill Davies,
WNCC, agreed, and added that the person should be able to
build a positive relationship with the Presidents, and
should believe in "process". Dr. Bonaudi, NNCC, offered
that the person should have a positive attitude toward
teaching, and should be someone who doesn't have all the
answers.
2. Upheld the Findings and Sanctions Imposed on Employee Appeal
Under Section 6.14.2 of the UCCSN Code, Robert Norris, a
University of Nevada, Reno employee, had appealed a deci-
sion of President Joseph Crowley to terminate Mr. Norris'
employment for cause after a hearing held in accordance
with the procedures of Chapter 6 of the UCCSN Code. The
Board was advised that upon consideration of the appeal,
they could: (1) dismiss the charges made against Mr.
Norris; (2) affirm the charges; (3) impose a lesser sanc-
tion on him; or (4) order a new hearing.
Upon motion by Mr. Klaich, seconded by Mrs. Sparks, the
Board moved to a closed session for the purposes of dis-
cussion of the character, alledged misconduct, professional
competence or physical or mental health of an employee(s)
of the UCCSN and/or private persons. Mr. Foley and Dr.
Hammargren voted no. Motion carried.
The Board recessed the meeting at 3:05 P.M. for a closed session,
and reconvened at 5:03 P.M. with Regents Berkley, Derby, Eardley,
Gallagher, Klaich, Price and Sparks present. Also present were
Interim Chancellor Richardson, General Counsel Klasic, Assistant
General Counsel David Hintzman, President Joseph Crowley, Mr.
Robert Norris, Mr. Paul Schofield and Secretary Moser.
Mrs. Gallagher moved that the Board of Regents affirm the
findings of the Hearing Officer and the sanctions that have
been imposed on Mr. Robert Norris. Dr. Derby seconded.
Motion carried. Mrs. Price voted no.
The meeting adjourned at 5:07 P.M.
Mary Lou Moser
Secretary of the Board
07-15-1993