Interim Associate Coast Provost? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 17, 2005

Interim Associate Coast Provost?

Date: Jul 17, 2005

Coast Watcher wrote:

Friday before last, Jay Grimes told a packed house at Gulf Park that the name of the interim Associate Provost for the Coast would be announced in the coming week. That week has now come and gone w/no announcement. What's the whispering gallery saying on this? Have candidates been approached and turned the job down? Is there some sort of unexpected resistance to the Coast Provost idea? If so, from where? And who would the administration want in the job? Who would the readers of this board want in the job? Note: the interim Associate Provost will hold the position during the SACS review and during what Grimes assured was going to be a national search for a Coast Associate Provost. So considerable is at stake in this appointment.

hmmm....

Wasn't Jay Grimes himself interim right up until that national search for a Provost got cancelled? And what about the hiring freeze?

Date: Jul 17, 2005

Coast Guard wrote:

hmmm....
Wasn't Jay Grimes himself interim right up until that national search for a Provost got cancelled? And what about the hiring freeze?

You're right about Grimes, of course. So . . . you're thinking that this hire will go the way of the Provost Search? (ie. that Grimes will continue as acting Coast provost) And that the hiring freeze precludes even an interim appointment?

I don't know, Coast Guard, I mean the G-man said right out in public, in front of like 75 or 80 people, that the administration was going to announce its choice post haste. And Malone HAS been dumped from his infinitely mutable comptroller-like position at USM-GC. They need a replacement dedicated administrator down there and soon, I would think..

Date: Jul 17, 2005

Coast Watcher wrote:

Coast Guard wrote: hmmm.... Wasn't Jay Grimes himself interim right up until that national search for a Provost got cancelled? And what about the hiring freeze? You're right about Grimes, of course. So . . . you're thinking that this hire will go the way of the Provost Search? (ie. that Grimes will continue as acting Coast provost) And that the hiring freeze precludes even an interim appointment? I don't know, Coast Guard, I mean the G-man said right out in public, in front of like 75 or 80 people, that the administration was going to announce its choice post haste. And Malone HAS been dumped from his infinitely mutable comptroller-like position at USM-GC. They need a replacement dedicated administrator down there and soon, I would think..

No, I see the interim being internally filled posthaste and don't know what caused the delay in the promised announcement. My comment was directed at the unlikely interim nature of that position. If a true national search for an associate provost will be performed as JG said, then one has to question why the provost search was cancelled and given to someone who was ostensibly not a candidate in the first place. Then, how all of this relates to frozen positions. Didn't mean to get sidetracked from the real focus of your post, which was what happened to the candidate who was to be announced as interim this week.

Date: Jul 17, 2005

can't shed light on the associate coast provost, but can on the provost search. as i understand it, the SACS consultant said it would not be wise with the two SACS visits occuring 05-06 to change the provost.

Date: Jul 17, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote:

can't shed light on the associate coast provost, but can on the provost search. as i understand it, the SACS consultant said it would not be wise with the two SACS visits occuring 05-06 to change the provost.

In addition, wouldn't the NEW president want to have input into his/her provost? I took the provost search delay as evidence that SFT was on the way out. The way it is going with the commissioner interviews next week there is a chance the new commis. could be in place next spring. Then the president search could begin, etc.

Date: Jul 17, 2005

Could the position require board approval?

Date: Jul 18, 2005

I've heard from reliable source that search for permanent Assoc Provost will begin this fall. Strong interest and intent to fill the position. Larry LeFlore may be interested, but is not now available. Interim options are being considered. Interim will be for one year only.

Date: Jul 18, 2005

Provost predictor wrote:

Interim will be for one year only.

One year is not good if we're talking next year. Make it two years. The new president should have input. The chief academic officer (provost) must work closely with the chief executive officer (president). There should be some common understanding between the two. Bringing in a permanent provost before a new president is on board would not be smart.

Date: Jul 18, 2005

No insult intended, Provost Predictor, but we're still where we were when this thread started. Jay Grimes said Friday before last that there would be a NATIONAL search for an associate provost, so of course such a search would begin in the Fall. But Grimes also said that the interim would be announced last week and that hasn't borne out yet. Was LeFlore approached for the interim position?

Also, rumors are circulating at Gulf Park that Malone was removed from the Coast COO position because he screwed something up that had to do with Continuing Education (?). The other explanation I heard was that he was a bit too strident in pressing for separate accreditation for the Coast operation and was forced out in a power play by Joan Exline and Cynthia Moore.

Does any of this ring true anywhere? And geeez, somebody must have heard about people being approached for the interim position by now.

Date: Jul 18, 2005

I would seriously doubt if Larry LeFlore would be interested. He has way too much integrity to get involved with this bunch.

Date: Jul 19, 2005

Coast Watcher wrote:

No insult intended, Provost Predictor, but we're still where we were when this thread started. Jay Grimes said Friday before last that there would be a NATIONAL search for an associate provost, so of course such a search would begin in the Fall. But Grimes also said that the interim would be announced last week and that hasn't borne out yet. Was LeFlore approached for the interim position? Also, rumors are circulating at Gulf Park that Malone was removed from the Coast COO position because he screwed something up that had to do with Continuing Education (?). The other explanation I heard was that he was a bit too strident in pressing for separate accreditation for the Coast operation and was forced out in a power play by Joan Exline and Cynthia Moore. Does any of this ring true anywhere? And geeez, somebody must have heard about people being approached for the interim position by now.

This ain't rocket science. The build up to this latest fiasco has been discussed on the board(s) for over a year. Uninformed, inept non-academicians making academic decisions in isolation...it finally caught up but it's certainly not new news. The interesting aspect is that his one time mentor just cut him loose. Enough for rewarding loyalty. Yes, the dome grande dames played a role as part of the recent power shift.

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Week Three in Provost Watch began today at 5PM.

It's now been two entire weeks since Jay Grimes, Maxi-Provost, announced that an interim Associate Provost for the Coast, or Mini-Provost, would be named soon, within 7 days, in fact. Today is Day 14.

I do know now that the two Mini-Deans from the CoAL have already turned down the position at least once. One of these folks actually used to BE the Coast's chief academic officer, but then moved to H'burg when the Maxi-Dean called. I just can't imagine why this person wouldn't want to trot back down Hwy 49 just as smartly.

Anybody else heard anything about the acting mini-provost job? Maybe the new Commissioner will have an opinion? Is that what's behind the delay?

My take is that all those who might be inclined to accept the job are unlikely to do so, for a variety of reasons.

First, there are those on the wide, thickly populated, wrong side of the Dome Gnome, who values unquestioning loyalty over talent, intelligence or vision, or morality and ethics for that matter. There isn't as much of a supply of those things now as a few years ago, but there's still considerable of it. There are a couple of such people on the Coast who could handle the job, but no more than a couple. And they are way out of favor.

The second group consists of those who were tapped by Thames for administrative posts earlier on, accepted, and now regret it, deeply, but who, having saddled the tiger, are now obligated to ride the bugger until it retires . . . or the whole tiger track collapses. The CoAL mini-deans fit this bill, I verily do believe.

Third, there are those few loyalist insiders who are essentially opportunists--like Malone, in fact, or Joan Exline. These folks would try just about anything that might lead to their advancement, but they already have taken on so many and such varied administrative duties that there's just no more room for new hats on the hat rack.

My money is on Sub-Maxi Provost Cynthia "Moon" Moore, who is said to harbor presidential ambitions, who was hinted to have been behind the ouster of the Mal One and whose job description is already correctly inflected. If she takes the job, let's hope she has good night vision and sharp defensive driving skills. She'll need them on Hwy 49, I guarantee!

The supply of Shelby's henchpeople is looking pretty thin these days. Who'll be the next to bolt? Which will bite at the apparently not-too-tasty bait of the interim mini-provost job? Stay tuned as Week Three of Provost Watch unfolds.

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Provost Watch aka Coast Watcher wrote:

Week Three in Provost Watch began today at 5PM. It's now been two entire weeks since Jay Grimes, Maxi-Provost, announced that an interim Associate Provost for the Coast, or Mini-Provost, would be named soon, within 7 days, in fact. Today is Day 14. I do know now that the two Mini-Deans from the CoAL have already turned down the position at least once. One of these folks actually used to BE the Coast's chief academic officer, but then moved to H'burg when the Maxi-Dean called. I just can't imagine why this person wouldn't want to trot back down Hwy 49 just as smartly. Anybody else heard anything about the acting mini-provost job? Maybe the new Commissioner will have an opinion? Is that what's behind the delay? My take is that all those who might be inclined to accept the job are unlikely to do so, for a variety of reasons. First, there are those on the wide, thickly populated, wrong side of the Dome Gnome, who values unquestioning loyalty over talent, intelligence or vision, or morality and ethics for that matter. There isn't as much of a supply of those things now as a few years ago, but there's still considerable of it. There are a couple of such people on the Coast who could handle the job, but no more than a couple. And they are way out of favor. The second group consists of those who were tapped by Thames for administrative posts earlier on, accepted, and now regret it, deeply, but who, having saddled the tiger, are now obligated to ride the bugger until it retires . . . or the whole tiger track collapses. The CoAL mini-deans fit this bill, I verily do believe. Third, there are those few loyalist insiders who are essentially opportunists--like Malone, in fact, or Joan Exline. These folks would try just about anything that might lead to their advancement, but they already have taken on so many and such varied administrative duties that there's just no more room for new hats on the hat rack. My money is on Sub-Maxi Provost Cynthia "Moon" Moore, who is said to harbor presidential ambitions, who was hinted to have been behind the ouster of the Mal One and whose job description is already correctly inflected. If she takes the job, let's hope she has good night vision and sharp defensive driving skills. She'll need them on Hwy 49, I guarantee! The supply of Shelby's henchpeople is looking pretty thin these days. Who'll be the next to bolt? Which will bite at the apparently not-too-tasty bait of the interim mini-provost job? Stay tuned as Week Three of Provost Watch unfolds.

I don't know much about the personalities or issues involved here, but this post was cleverly written and I enjoyed reading it; thanks!

Date: Jul 23, 2005

Do Exline and Moore get along? I head that Cynthia resents other women around SFT.

Date: Jul 23, 2005

Ephemeral phenomena.

Date: Jul 23, 2005

It’s time for a double switch.

Willie Pierce is “promoted” to Associate Provost to clean up Malone’s mess clearing the way for Dana to become COEP Dean.

Date: Jul 23, 2005

would that be a promotion? more faculty in coep than on the coast? no way.....or maybe that will happen and JG will let us alone.

the interim period is on the count down..... the goal of the present adm is to keep the coast operation down...down...down...while telling the Gulf Coast community that they want to develpop the campus. ...nothing new about that strategy....its been that way for years....only Fleming gave any hope for developing the campus.

Date: Jul 23, 2005

coastliner wrote:

the interim period is on the count down..... the goal of the present adm is to keep the coast operation down...down...down...while telling the Gulf Coast community that they want to develpop the campus. ...nothing new about that strategy....its been that way for years....only Fleming gave any hope for developing the campus.

There are those of us who believe that Fleming's emphasis on the coast campus had as much to do with his demise as the much-ballyhooed used car salesmen. There are some big players on the coast who really don't want USM-GC to succeed, although they give considerable lip service to the concept. What they want is for another university to "develpop" some programs, preferably engineering, on the coast...

Date: Jul 23, 2005

coastliner wrote:

only Fleming gave any hope for developing the campus.

Whatever the reason for his demise, Horace Fleming was the only hope I have seen for developing both campuses. USM always seems to let the best get away and mounts the worst like a trophy to be admired.

Date: Jul 23, 2005

Evinrude wrote:

coastliner wrote:
only Fleming gave any hope for developing the campus.
Whatever the reason for his demise, Horace Fleming was the only hope I have seen for developing both campuses. USM always seems to let the best get away and mounts the worst like a trophy to be admired.

Not disagreeing with your general sentiment here, coastliner, but USM didn't let Fleming get away & USM didn't mount SFT like a trophy to be admired. IHL was responsible for both of those actions...

Date: Jul 23, 2005

My bad! I was addressing Evinrude & I apologize for not properly editing the Activeboardified quote.

Wiping

off my face...

Date: Jul 23, 2005

Invictus wrote:

USM didn't let Fleming get away & USM didn't mount SFT like a trophy to be admired. IHL was responsible for both of those actions...

I didn't mean USM literally. I meant the IHL or badheads that make those decisions about USM.

Date: Jul 25, 2005

Provost Watch, Day 17.

Latest rumor to come down the pike: The Coast interim Unterprovost job was offered to longtime USM insider Bud Ginn. Reportedly, he turned it down.

Coastians have long suspected Dr. Ginn was instrumental in keeping the Coast operation down--neglected, underfunded, directionless--when he was USM's chief lobbyist in Jackson. Most recently, these sources report that during the lead up to the January 2005 Legislative Special Session, Dr. Ginn actually lobbied against funding construction of the new science building at Gulf Park!

Although Provost Watch cannot vouch for the authenticity of this last report, the charge that Dr. Ginn lobbied against the Coast is credible if one considers that USM administrator's decisions about the Coast have always been influenced by fears that growth on the Coast equals lost revenues for Hattiesburg businesses that cater to the University community.

Seen from the perspctive of the Warren Paving putsch posse, Dr. Ginn has the ideal credentials to be Coast Unterprovost. He has a proven track record of diverting the state revenue stream away from the Coast .

In a more recent development, Provost Watch correspondents also report that bushes are being beaten and heavy rocks lifted all over the state as the Thames administration seeks professional syncophants with no visible baggage and the ethics of venemous reptiles.

Stay tuned to Provost Watch as the rattler roundup continues.

Date: Jul 25, 2005

It's posts such as the last one that reduce the credibility of this entire board and the larger cause. I appreciate that this is a open forum and does not express the views of the AAUP-USM nor the faculty in general, but I think such paranoid-laden and gossipy toned messages serve to undermine the larger goal of improving USM's future.

Date: Jul 25, 2005

Provost Watch aka Coast Watcher wrote:

My money is on Sub-Maxi Provost Cynthia "Moon" Moore, who is said to harbor presidential ambitions, who was hinted to have been behind the ouster of the Mal One and whose job description is already correctly inflected. If she takes the job, let's hope she has good night vision and sharp defensive driving skills. She'll need them on Hwy 49, I guarantee!

Cynthia Moore, presidential ambitions???

Date: Jul 26, 2005

Get real wrote:

It's posts such as the last one that reduce the credibility of this entire board and the larger cause. I appreciate that this is a open forum and does not express the views of the AAUP-USM nor the faculty in general, but I think such paranoid-laden and gossipy toned messages serve to undermine the larger goal of improving USM's future.

There's nothing new, or "paranoid" about the notion that the H'burg administration fears that the success of the Coast would hurt the bottom line of Hub City businesses, especially all those apartment complexes around campus. The greater- than-ever role of Town in the affairs of Gown, under SFT, would thus make it seem even more likely that the Dome would act surreptitiously to "keep the coast operation down, down, down" as Coastliner put it last week.

Probably the only reason this would sound "gossipy" or "paranoid" to anyone is because he/she never paid attention to anything having to do with the Coast , or even to anything vaguely political about USM in general before it was USM-H'burg's proverbial fat that fell into SFT's fire. Conversely, Coastians have always been compelled to pay close attention to our fat's being in various fires. The very existence of the Coast operation has always been at risk because it has been under perpetual attack from many different quarters. Remember, for instance, that twenty years before Thames essayed to f*&!# up the entire University he brought his talents for rancour and divisiveness to the position of VP for satellite campuses and tried to f*%# up the Coast operation.

Similarly, the 1970's law that chartered USM-GC was partially authored by the community college lobby and imposed conditions on USM-GC that were designed to stunt and malnourish it to the point of collapse. If USM is the "ugly redheaded stepchild" of the IHL system, USM-GC has long been regarded as the bastard spawn of USM and MGCCC, and neither one particularly wanted to claim paternity.

Thus, the enemies of USM-GC weren't always outside the USM system. For instance when Horace Fleming was first installed, it was revealed that Aubrey Lucas had for years held back as much as 40 percent of the IHL's dedicated funding for the Coast operation and rolled it over into the USM general fund. During this period Bud Ginn was USM's lobbyist in Jackson. It is inconceivable that he didn't know about AL's misdirection.

I'm sorry if this sounds acrimonious, but it's difficult not to see "Get Real's" comments as anything other than more of the same old same old the Coast has suffered for thirty-plus years: sheer ignorance, malign neglect, and the narrow minded definition of USM's self-interest as synonymous with Hattiesburg's self-interest. "Get real" with all that GR and you might have the "credibilty" to discuss what's going on down here.

Date: Jul 26, 2005

Legislative "bagman", coordinator of, ummm, "companions", finder of "blackmail" fodder?

Date: Jul 30, 2005

Week 4 of Coast Provost Watch Begins

Over 3 weeks have passed since Uberprovost Jay Grimes announced that an interim under provost for the Coast would be named within the week.

Date: Jul 30, 2005

Job Qualifications wrote:

Legislative "bagman", coordinator of, ummm, "companions", finder of "blackmail" fodder?

is this in reference to Aubrey's cousin(by marriage?) Bud Ginn?