Big IHL News from Chimneyville - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Apr 26, 2005

Big IHL News from Chimneyville

Date: Apr 26, 2005

Sort of removes the concern that he can't take decisive action as an interim doesn't it?

Date: Apr 26, 2005

Does that sound like someone who's about to be reprimanded?

Date: Apr 26, 2005

Nope, it sounds more like someone who's getting ready to reprimand!

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: The Tupelo Mississippi Flash
"Yesterday the IHL announced that the word "interim" has been removed from Richard Crofts' title. He is not a candidate for the permanent position of "Commissioner," but this will enable him to better fulfill the duties of his office under the new system until the search for a successor is completed later in the year. "

Do you mind providing the source of this news, Tupelo Flash? I tought the IHL Board met last week. Did you get this news from the IHL Website? The Clarion Ledger? Heard someone say so on a Tupelo street? What?

Date: Apr 26, 2005

good question skeptic. i've snooped around the IHL website, various newspaper websites in state (including the tupelo newspaper) and can't find a thing.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"good question skeptic. i've snooped around the IHL website, various newspaper websites in state (including the tupelo newspaper) and can't find a thing. "

Yes, SCM, I did too. That is why I posted. I didn't check the Tupelo paper. Thanks.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"good question skeptic. i've snooped around the IHL website, various newspaper websites in state (including the tupelo newspaper) and can't find a thing. "

If it's a hoax, it's a pretty good one. Memorandum from Klumb and Newton to the "Institutional Executive Officers" (fancy name for university presidents?) dated April 25, 2005 with the subject heading "Governance Model Update" is circulating.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: What's in a name?
"If it's a hoax, it's a pretty good one. Memorandum from Klumb and Newton to the "Institutional Executive Officers" (fancy name for university presidents?) dated April 25, 2005 with the subject heading "Governance Model Update" is circulating."

Thanks for the info. Now please tell us where it is circulating. Provost office? Dean's office? Where do I need to go for verification? Thanks.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Skeptic
"Thanks for the info. Now please tell us where it is circulating. Provost office? Dean's office? Where do I need to go for verification? Thanks."

I am "triangulating" now. Be patient please.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Skeptic
"Do you mind providing the source of this news, Tupelo Flash? I tought the IHL Board met last week. Did you get this news from the IHL Website? The Clarion Ledger? Heard someone say so on a Tupelo street? What?"

Skeptic, the Tupelo Mississippi Flash would never knowingly perpetuate a hoax. Believe me. I wouldn't do that. I'm very careful.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: What's in a name?
"If it's a hoax, it's a pretty good one. Memorandum from Klumb and Newton to the "Institutional Executive Officers" (fancy name for university presidents?) dated April 25, 2005 with the subject heading "Governance Model Update" is circulating."

Sounds legitimate to me.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

We are all super cautious and skeptical right now. There is alot of FUD and many malicious rumors. I know that there is a document. I have read it. I trust the source. What I don't know is whether it was a plant in the first place. Read LVN's post on the above thread - the one about trying to figure out who knows what. Give the dust some time to settle on this story. Ultimately, I think we'll find that it is both true and encouraging.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

I have also seen the document. I also trust the source who sent it to me. However, I don't think anyone should read more into it than is there. Simply, Crofts is no longer titled "interim" & will be implementing the new governance model.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

I still don't follow why this wasn't announced last week when the Board made decisions. This story implies the Board met over the weekend and made a decision on the title of Crofts and "announced" it to no one, except via memo to the presidents yesterday with no press announcement. Or would I have to believe they did this last week in executive session and ordered the staff to keep it secret. It just sounds very strange. So I remain a skeptic.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

If Invictus says the document exists, my doubt is diminished.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

as invictus says, don't read too much into it. look at the Georgia System and see the trouble Tom Meredith (their head commissioner who our IHL discussed the governance changes with) is in there. remember who hires and fires the commissioner.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"I have also seen the document. I also trust the source who sent it to me. However, I don't think anyone should read more into it than is there. Simply, Crofts is no longer titled "interim" & will be implementing the new governance model."

Invictus, I thought the "new governance model" was to be voted on in May. Are you saying the document indicates it is already in effect?

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Skeptic
"If Invictus says the document exists, my doubt is diminished. "

When the Tupelo Mississippi Flash posts, your doubt should not only be diminished . . . . it should be eliminated.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

With all due respect, TMF, we've had a lot more time to develop trust in what Invictus says than we have with you. Keep posting, though, and you might move up on the trust meter. :)

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"as invictus says, don't read too much into it. look at the Georgia System and see the trouble Tom Meredith (their head commissioner who our IHL discussed the governance changes with) is in there. remember who hires and fires the commissioner."

I posted this the other day and it didn't get any play so I'm re-posting. SCM, Walt, and others who are making a big deal about Meredith's woes in Georgia are being naive about administrative tenure. The timespan of university administrators in a particular job can be measured more appropriately in months than in years. The Chronicle has paid alot of attention to this recently. Even if Meredith is out at Georgia that is unlikely to affect his ability to move on.

.............

Interesting article in the Chronicle yesterday, "U. of Georgia moves to Cut Ties With It's Foundation, an Apparently Unprecedented Split" by Paul Fain.

Excerpt:

"After nearly splitting apart last year, the University of Georgia and its private fund-raising foundation appeared on Thursday to be finally bringing an end to their stormy relationship -- a breakup that experts said would be without precedent in American higher education."

And from the Board of Regents, University System of Georgia Website (wwwusg.edu) a quote from Joel Wooten, Board of Regents Chair in a press release from yesterday indicates the reports of Tom Meredith's "termination" (first post in thread above) are, at a minimum, premature and possibly erroneous.

Excerpt:

"Wooten emphasized the fact that the evaluation process has not yet been conducted. "For the record, the Board has not voted to dismiss the chancellor," he stated. "In fact, the Board has not made any decision regarding the renewal of the chancellor's contract. We intend to maintain our customary process." The board chair also strongly noted the protocol under which the Board of Regents operates. "No single member of the Board of Regents has the right to preempt the protocol and decision making of the entire 18-member board," he said."

Wooten then goes on to praise Meredith's accomplishments.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

chronicler--i read your post the other day. i also read the story in the atlanta constitution journal which is more in depth. the ACJ's story indicates that despite the good but equivocal words from the head of the georgia board, Meredith is in trouble. would another board want him--remains to be seen. my comment is that people see crofts as being able to wield a "big stick" and i'm not sure that's true (i guess that could make him the Buford Pusser of the IHL). it is going to depend on what the board members want him to do. they also latched onto some of Meredith's comments when he talked with our IHL--i'd read them with a sense of reality not wishful thinking.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Lost in Space and Translation
"With all due respect, TMF, we've had a lot more time to develop trust in what Invictus says than we have with you. Keep posting, though, and you might move up on the trust meter. :)"

Any posts I do here in the future will be verifiable truths. Remember that I initiated this thread.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

see IHL press release regarding status of Crofts

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"see IHL press release regarding status of Crofts"

An IHL press release is triangulation enough for me:

Here's the text of the memo, which I think provides stronger rationale than the press release:

Last month, the Board approved the general terms of a new governance model focused on making the Board of Trustees more effective through strengthening the role of the Commissioner. We understand that implementation needs to begin quickly and will take some months. Maintaining momentum requires initiation of policy changes as soon as possible in order to bring about the desired structural and behavioral change.

Effective immediately, we are asking Dr. Crofts to assume full initiative and authority to begin the implementation of the new governance model. Although Dr. Crofts is not a candidate for permanent Commissioner, he has many of the professional characteristics and experiences we will be seeking. That fact, along with the suggestions from our search consultant that a successful conclusion of the search is unlikely before the end of the calendar year, has led us to the conclusion that Dr. Crofts needs to move forward aggressively with the Board, his staff, and the Institutional Executive Officers in implementing the new model. This will include changing the reporting lines for the IEOs effective July 1. Although Dr. Crofts will continue to work in an interim capacity, we believe that deleting the “Interim” from his title underscores our desire to implement the new governance model without delay as we continue the search for the permanent Commissioner.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: What's in a name?
".....we believe that deleting the “Interim” from his title underscores our desire to implement the new governance model without delay......"

Yep. There it is.

Date: Apr 26, 2005

The IHL Press release was not on their Web page earlier in the day. I’m happy to see the new governance model go into effect. I now think this may be true.