Academic Probation: The Buck Stops Here - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Dec 11, 2004

RE: Academic Probation: The Buck Stops Here

Date: Dec 11, 2004

i worry that if thames is dumped right now, we'll lose it all. Exline might not be the right person, but we've got but 12 months. how much time you want to spend on her replacement? go through a search? i'm for it but the clock is ticking.

Date: Dec 11, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"but we've got 12 months. we've got to pull together. "

All of the sudden we are one big happy family, eh? I hear it's going to rain beer tomorrow.

Date: Dec 11, 2004

rain beer tomorrow. good, it'll save me from having to go to the store. (i don't use emoticons--so just kiddin')

Date: Dec 11, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i worry that if thames is dumped right now, we'll lose it all. Exline might not be the right person, but we've got but 12 months. how much time you want to spend on her replacement? go through a search? i'm for it but the clock is ticking."

Twelve months from now, Exline still won't be the right person. In December 2005 we'll have squandered 12 months and still not have met SACS expectations. They'll find that we have the same ineffective leadership that we had in 2002 and haven't made any move to remedy the situation. If we make changes now, SACS will recognize our efforts to install effective leadership and will be lenient in evaluating our progress. Remember, they don't want to remove our accreditation - its bad for SACS, too. But if the present administration continues to spin their wheels in the mud.....SACS will have no choice but to do what they've threatened to do. Then Shelboo, Exline, and the rest of USM will be looking for jobs.

Date: Dec 11, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Bucko
"Speaking of "The Buck Stops Here," let's not forget that another "buck" may take centerstage next: Jane Buck (the AAUP Jane Buck). "

I met Jane Buck about two months ago. Did my damndest to tell her as much about USM as possible. She said, "Oh we're keeping an eye on Mississippi." Watch out Shelboo, here comes that organization that you think is not important. . . .

Date: Dec 11, 2004

to row harder ben hur--you absolutely wrong about one thing--SACS doesn't give a rat's hindquarters right now about our leadership. change our leadership now, i don't care. we've gotten all the extensions and good graces we're going to get from them. if we don't do what we should have done years ago, we are doomed. we have to do things we should have started almost 10 years ago.

Date: Dec 11, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by the original stinky cheese man
"to row harder ben hur--you absolutely wrong about one thing--SACS doesn't give a rat's hindquarters right now about our leadership. change our leadership now, i don't care. we've gotten all the extensions and good graces we're going to get from them. if we don't do what we should have done years ago, we are doomed. we have to do things we should have started almost 10 years ago."

You are right on most of this, Mr. SCM, but I think USM may have started on these things 10 years ago. Something was done & presented on the '96 follow-up to the self-study that satisfied SACS. And there are reports that some things were done under Fleming -- mostly "missionning & visionning" -- but it is quite likely that Fleming was looking for a few more years to get it implemented. Out goes Fleming & the institution basically lost a year in a holding pattern (Lucas interim), which would've been the third year that is missing right now. In comes Thames who was informed of the situation & chose to summarily ignore it.

You are correct that SACS doesn't care whether USM changes leadership right now. But I'll offer that without a change in leadership -- or a complete 180-degree change in Shelby Thames' "leadership" style -- USM is going to have a very very difficult time getting the job done. The work is hard enough without a paranoid egotist with micromanagerial tendencies running the show.

If Shelby Thames is not removed from office now, he will be able to take full credit for "saving" the university from the dire straits that Horace Fleming & Aubrey Lucas left it in. The groundwork was laid for this argument when the timeline was distributed yesterday. Once he has erased a little more institutional memory, nobody will know that the probation occurred because he chose to ignore all the warning signs. At that point, he's getting a second 4-year extension. And if that happens, my friends, you are on your own, because I will disavow myself of any connection whatsoever with the University of Southern Mississippi & will deny that I ever attended the place for 9 years.

Date: Dec 12, 2004

Wasn't Maureen Ryan originally supposed to handle the SACS report? And she was given no support--no secreterial help, etc.? I bet she knows a lot if she will talk.

Date: Dec 12, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
" If Shelby Thames is not removed from office now, he will be able to take full credit for "saving" the university from the dire straits that Horace Fleming & Aubrey Lucas left it in. The groundwork was laid for this argument when the timeline was distributed yesterday. Once he has erased a little more institutional memory, nobody will know that the probation occurred because he chose to ignore all the warning signs. "

Right you are, Invictus. I couldn't agree more, and that would be a dangerous situation because it would give him more power (more time).

NO QUARTER!!!