CURRENT IHL PRESS RELEASES


COMMISSIONER POTTER TO LEAVE IHL


10/27/2004 (JACKSON, MISS. ) -

Commissioner David Potter, head of the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), announced today his plans to resign his position as IHL Commissioner and return to a campus setting by January 2005.




"I have enjoyed my time as commissioner of this system but realize that working in a campus setting is better suited to me," Potter said. "I enjoy the community feeling that accompanies working on a campus and have missed it."




"We fully support Dr. Potter and appreciate the strides he has made as commissioner of this system," said Board President Roy Klumb. "Under his leadership we have resolved the Ayers case, were funded first in the 2003 legislative session in a historical event, and have worked to streamline our system more than ever. His leaving is a loss for us, but we understand his decision."




Potter was the first-ever sitting president of a Mississippi university to move into the commissioner position. The Board named Potter as successor to Commissioner Thomas Layzell in December 2002. He officially began his term in April 2003.




"Dr. Potter was an outstanding university president and really impressed the Board, which is why we asked him to become commissioner when Dr. Layzell announced his retirement," Klumb said. "His service as commissioner is appreciated, and I have no doubt that he will be a wonderful campus leader in his next venture."




"I have asked Virginia Newton to chair the next commissioner search committee," Klumb said. "She will work with Ed Blakeslee, Aubrey Patterson, and Amy Whitten. The committee will convene at the earliest possible convenience to define the process of selecting an interim commissioner and permanent replacement for Dr. Potter, who will serve through December 2004."


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For additional information, contact Sarah Nicholas, IHL Media Relations Coordinator, 601-432-6493.

What is real story behind Potter's "sudden" resignation? I know press release in HA stated the standard "return to his first love--teaching"--is there more?  Where is he going, anyone know?

quote:

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Originally posted by: Chicken Soup Lady
"Didn't his wife pass away recently? He may really have personal reasons for leaving, but I know some hope the campus he chooses is here. Provost??"

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...or maybe his views on education in general and economic development in particular were a little too scholarly?

potter is a finalist for the presidency at the university of north alabama.  the clarion-ledger reported that he is also rumored to be a finalist for a presidency in georgia.

Too bad...anyone's guess with THIS Board of Trustees who the next will be.  Potter is a good man, guess it was wishful thinking that anyone of his caliber and choices would wait around for USM presidency nor even consider Provost under present administration.

Potter, who is supposed to be an academic and have an understanding of academic culture and values, gave absolutely NO leadership last spring.  I know his wife was terminally ill, but he is supposed to lead the board--to advise them on matters they may not understand.   He is not a fighter.  After Shelby leaves, we will need a real academic and a fighter for the faculty and academic values.

Just what is the extent of the power held by the IHL Commissioner? I've never been quite sure. Does the Commissioner break tied votes? Is the Commisioner simply an organizer or keeper of the records? Is the Commissioner just an "Administrative Assistant?" Is the Commissioner virtually powerless in the decisions made by the board itself? Who delegates the "authority" on specific matters to the Commissioner after he/she is appointed? I have looked at the IHL website but I can't find the answer to those questions.

I think Klumb is relatively unique in his willingness to be vocal as a board member, and that's reflected in the way some board members reacted to his comments about finding millions to cut at universities. 

pre-potter commissioners that i can think of (Layzell and Cleere) weren't necessarily more vocal.  They didn't have a vocal board member like Klumb.  The commissioner officially doesn't vote.  He/she heads up the IHL staff, providing information, ideas, and insight to the board members.  He does speak to the legislature about higher education issues.  The commissioner has unofficial power--the recommendations he makes to the board members and others (like presidents) can be influential.  Layzell supposedly told some on-campus people that after Lucas retired the first time that the new president would be from off-campus.  When it came to the MUW situation with Rent, the board sent Layzell to MUW to observe what was going on.  He observed one of Rent's rants first-hand and it was his observation that caused board members to realize she had to step down.

one last point--he was selected without much of a search.  He was at the board for his annual review as president of Delta State and apparently impressed board members.  He was in the parking lot getting ready to go back to DSU and someone came back and said they wanted him to be the commissioner of higher education (the position was vacant at the time). 

 

quote:

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Originally posted by: Chicken Soup Lady
"So, let's get Don Cotten, Jim Hollandsworth, and a few more like them to go stand around the parking lot."

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AMEN! GO GIRL!

Those two know more than Shelby and all of his cabinet put together and multiplied by 1000.