A renewed vision for BOT
President James Walker is battling cancer, and is still too ill to work. Chancellor Walter Wendler appears to be actively seeking employment elsewhere, and his commitment to the students and faculty seems questionable.
Meanwhile, SIU-Edwardsville Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift has only had a few months to acclimate himself to his position, and the climate has been anything but stable since he took the helm of the Edwardsville campus in June.
In a time of turmoil, it is reassuring to know the Board of Trustees intends to take a proactive role in guiding the University on its mission. In a recent address to the SIUC Administrative/Professional Council, Board Chairman Glenn Poshard offered an unequivocal 11-point outline of the board's priorities. He spoke more in depth about the board's mission statement to the DAILY EGYPTIAN editorial board on Friday.
One priority will be to demand accountability from University administration, Poshard said.
He told us the board will take a more active role in monitoring the University's budget and will demand that its priorities be funded.
Should Wendler leave, Poshard said, the board will insist an interim replacement be named promptly and a national search launched immediately to find the best chancellor we can get.
Of course, we should expect nothing less, but it is good to know Poshard and the board have confronted the likelihood that Wendler will not stay.
"Southern at 150" must be developed into concrete, measurable goals at the college level, Poshard said.
It must be accurately represented. We strongly agree. When the focus strays from ensuring this University's long-term viability, someone must have the courage to speak out.
Otherwise, "Southern at 150" will simply degenerate into a résumé-stuffer.
"People are the top priority for funding," Poshard also said, mentioning that the board had proposed a standardized system for increasing the pay of employees who become more proficient in their present jobs through education and training. This is also an admirable goal, but leaves one question: How will these pay increases be funded?
Poshard said the University should re-order its funding priorities, and move some items farther down the list. But which items? Poshard didn't say exactly.
Perhaps the money will appear in the course of the University's capital campaign, another of the board's stated priorities. As federal and state funds steadily dwindle, private fund raising is a key to the University's survival. Poshard said the Board would take an active role in raising funds, and will work to create a culture of contribution.
It's about time this was taken seriously. SIUC's capital campaign attempts so far have ended up with little to show.
It's an enticing smorgasbord, offering a little of everything - clear priorities,
accountability, integrity and a robust commitment to funding it all. The board has piled heaping portions on its plate. On behalf of the entire University, we'll be watching to make sure they eat every bite.
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