12/7/2006
HAWKPOCALYPSE NOW
Tough times to be Hawkeye, these are. First of all, the university is getting dangerously close to a no-confidence vote directed at the Board of Regents, who thus far have failed to hire a president to replace David Skorton. Not even the intervention of your next president, Gov. Tom Vilsack, has been able to settle the situation. The Board of Regents apparently wants to hire someone with significant past experience in health care administration, reflecting the significance of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Outside observers are calling for someone with a more traditional academic background, suggesting instead that a vice-president could be hired to serve as a liaison between the administration and UIHC. At the center of it all is Regents president Michael Gartner, whom you may remember.
Meanwhile, The Haircut has no idea why one of his players transferred to Silo Tech. But don’t worry; everything’s fine in Iowa men’s basketball . . .
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A public University didn’t disclose the names of the finalists for its Presidency? Hell, most private colleges do that… That’s not exactly the sign of an “open” process.
Jon
Comment by Jon — 12/7/2006 @ 4:26 pm
That’s a huge part of the problem as well. If Gartner would just come out and disclose the names, I think things would simmer down a bit. However, there have already been some concerns that some of the people close to the process are a bit too cozy with the insurance industry. UIHC and Blue Cross have been at each other’s throats about reimbursements. The suspicion is that Gartner and the rest of the regents are looking for someone to settle the Blue Cross matter first and foremost. All of the university’s other needs are taking a backseat, because if Blue Cross and UIHC decide they’re not going to work together any more, a significant source of revenue for the university will go away.
Comment by Mark — 12/7/2006 @ 4:36 pm
Then they are thinking too small. You don’t hire a CEO to settle one issue that a campus faces. You hire a CEO based on their experience and vision for the University as a whole. You can hire a consultant to help with the specifics of that particular matter. I mean, say this issue is settled in UI’s favor - now what? They still have faculty to deal with, money to raise, etc. etc. etc.
Comment by Jon — 12/8/2006 @ 8:51 am
It’s looking like the situation is approaching meltdown, as the Johnson County Democrats (a very powerful group) are calling on two regents (including Gartner) to resign, and asking the state attorney general to investigate whether the open meeting laws were violated. Something here just doesn’t smell right.
Comment by Mark — 12/8/2006 @ 11:24 am