Published Monday, June 15, 2009 8:49 AM
Updated Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:16 AM
Galveston's Loftin named interim A&M president
Eagle Staff Report
Texas A&M-Galveston Vice President R. Bowen Loftin has been named interim president at the flagship university in College Station.
Outgoing president Elsa Murano's severance package includes being paid her annual salary of $425,000 through June 2010, which is when her development leave will be up.
She'll also be paid $295,000 within several days in exchange for not filing a lawsuit against the system or its officers.
Regents granted her the title professor emerita, a role that will pay her $260,000 annually once she starts next summer.
The panel emerged with few specifics after three hours of closed-door discussions about, among other issues, reorganizing its top administration, as well as merging some posts at headquarters with the campus in College Station.
And it’s what wasn’t discussed during the one-hour public discussion earlier in the day that captured the interest of many of the 150 or so faculty members there: Combining the posts of Chancellor Mike McKinney with that of Murano’s job.
While sharing administrative research duties was a measure unanimously approved — along with several other offices, officials did not elaborate about what the savings would be or whether anyone would lose their job. Regents said a committee will be formed to research those answers and return a verdict by September.
The issue of vice president for research at A&M has been the source of some angst between Murano and McKinney in recent months after she went forward with a national search that resulted in the selection of Jeffrey Seemann, currently a dean at the University of Rhode Island. He is scheduled to begin at A&M next month. McKinney wrote in an evaluation of Murano that she refused to acknowledge her commitment to the regents and chancellor regarding “VPR, Research Foundation.”
Brett P. Giroir, who was appointed by McKinney as vice chancellor of research over the system in April 2008, took over the job a few months later, leaving a high-level post at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Arlington, Va.
McKinney did not speak during the regents meeting, but did go into closed session with the panel. He declined to comment to The Eagle.
About 30 minutes before regents convened this morning, 100-plus professors gathered outside the MSC where two carried a sign reading: “McKinney and Regents: Gig ‘em,” but the traditional thumbs up sign instead was pointed down. The other side of the sign had the Texas A&M logo and underneath it the words — “Absolute mess.”
Several dozen wore black ribbons tied around their arms to represent mourning the death of Vision 2020.
The gathering, which included about 15 students, was organized by the Council of Principal Investigators, a group that represents faculty researchers. Initially, it was called late last week to rally support behind embattled Murano, but after her resignation Sunday afternoon the focus became putting the spotlight on the idea of shared governance.
Murano — who said in a statement Sunday that she hoped to stay on in Aggieland as a member of the faculty — was not at the rally or the meeting.
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Texas who is running for governor, said in a statement that politics were behind Murano’s exit.
“Texas A&M University is one of the premier universities in the country. The current situation with the leadership is unfortunate, unacceptable, and does the great Aggie community a disservice,” the senator wrote. “I hope at their meeting today, the Board of Regents remains focused on keeping A&M a nationally recognized university and ends the politics involved now.”
Hired a year and a half ago, Murano is A&M’s first Hispanic and only woman president at the 133-year-old institution. The Cuban immigrant was became A&M’s 23rd president and left her job as vice chancellor and dean of agriculture at A&M, replacing the popular Robert Gates after he accepted a job as secretary of defense.
Before going into closed session, Frank Ashley, vice chancellor for academic affairs for the system, discussed what’s been a mystery since the agenda was posted Friday — “shared services opportunities.” System officials declined at the time to explain what that meant, saying Ashley would explain later.
On Monday, he discussed combining the offices at the system and the flagship university in the following areas: research administration; business services; marketing and public relations; facilities, planning and construction; human resources; information technology; and training — all to improve efficiency.
He said they’d first merge various aspects of these offices at the system and College Station campus before doing the same at other universities within the system. No timeline was given and details were limited, despite Regent Gene Stallings’ efforts to secure more answers.
Some A&M officials believed going into the meeting that the discussion set the regents up to execute a controversial plan to merge the chancellor’s position with that of the flagship president, but Ashley and regents made no mention of it during the public discussion.
The issue was made public three weeks ago after an Eagle interview with McKinney revealed at regents were contemplating the merger, citing cost-cutting needs.
Legislators and officials with other large state universities, including the University of Texas, have said combining those positions wouldn’t make logistic sense.
Meanwhile, the majority of A&M faculty railed against such a possibility after McKinney, in an interview with The Eagle, minimized the need for shared governance at the university. Shared governance calls for faculty, staff and administrators to work together to enhance the university through interdependence, communication and joint decision-making.
Ashley said consolidating services and sharing expertise in other areas will reduce costs by not having multiple employees in overlapping jobs and allows the system to share “best practices.”
Morris Foster, chairman of the board of regents, kicked off the meeting — which drew a standing room-only crowd of more than 100 — by saying he called the gathering with finances in mind.
Reading from prepared remarks, Foster said regents' mission to be good stewards of taxpayer money. He lamented that college students continue to pay for an expensive education during extraordinary tough economic times.
B.J. Crain, associate vice chancellor for budgets and accounting for the system, briefed regents about administrative salaries increasing by the millions in recent years — both within the system and at its universities — as well as related expenses.
Instructional costs, including those attributed to Gates’ faculty reinvestment plan, also have soared. The plan calls for adding 447 new tenure-track and selected clinical faculty over several years.
Tuition and mandatory fees, likewise, have shot up during that same period, Crain said, adding that student population at each of the universities continues to increase.
Comments from several regents during the briefing touched on the same message — one that isn’t new to A&M or other public universities: A college education should be made more affordable.
“If you put a group of parents in this room and a group of young adults trying to get into this university, what do we say to them in terms of justification? How do we justify that? Have we been good stewards?” Foster asked.
While the regents were behind closed doors, Eluned Jones, a professor of agricultural economics who is on a shared governance committee for the university, said she was skeptical about the dire financial picture presented by officials.
“It's a very well-crafted approach — to be able to justify any actions they want to take,” she said, referring to the emphasis on cost-cutting measures as a means to reshuffle administrative roles.
A&M doctoral student Chuck Goldsmith, who made the sign with the thumbs down, said he’s “sad and frustrated” by the unfolding situation.
“I don’t think personal politics should guide our university,” said Goldsmith, a 25-year-old from Plano who is studying genetics.
“The chancellor and board of regents have already showed their hand,” he said referring to the belief that officials planned to oust Murano regardless. “They’re back-peddling a little but not changing their minds. We’re going down a dark path. No one is going to want to work here. No one is going to teach here.”
Several professors said the regents were using the economic situation as a pretense to do what they want.
During a press conference following the meeting, system spokesman Rod Davis told the media not to ask any questions about Murano, saying that they couldn't comment on personnel issues.
Loftin, Galveston's top official, will serve as interim for at least six months. That's the deadline by which Foster said he expects to have a new president in place. He said a search committee has not been formed, but will include members of the faculty.
• Eagle reporters Vimal Patel, Michelle Casady and Kelly Brown contributed to this report.
Comments
20 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
Andrew Pate On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 7:14 AM
Comment Title: McKinney
Understand, Longhorns can be, and often are, highly critical of their university. That said, the present situation at Texas A&M is intolerable to advocates of quality and responsibility in higher education. The Governor and the Chancellor appear to be terribly misguided in their efforts to run the university, along with several of the Regents. It's a shame. As much as anyone, I desire that A&M be nothing less than superior in the quality of education it offers.
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Posted by:
James On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:42 AM
Comment Title: What is funny
What is funny is that everyone one knows there is something fishy going on and your still closed minded. She should have never resigned to these losers who pretty much forced her to. I will never look at Mc 2 Face and Rick Pecker Wood the same. These guys made lots of Aggies question faith in A&M for ever and ever to come. Can you trust these all political guys now???? Every one deserves a 2nd chance and she was given none. Sad day in Aggieland to let one of your own disown over politics race and gender. <----Yes the truth.
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Posted by:
NOTAGAIN On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:52 AM
Comment Title: Can't Wait !
This event, should by all means be presented to the national media. Have them investigate all the players from the bor, to hair-spray govenor, and Murano. Let the evidence begin. It ani't over just yet. A defeated leader of the state and a total replacement of all the croonies here. Just keep tuned to the news.... The Whole world will be watching what this university has become recently.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 11:33 PM
Comment Title:
How smart can Lofton be? Can't he see the new Chair is a refined version of Mckinney; that he thinks our university is an oil company and that he intends to manage it like one; that he thinks in terms of costs and not strategies? Get ready for the Exxon Valdez. Here it comes.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 6:19 PM
Comment Title: To anonymous aggie supporter
I don't follow your comment. What would you think is a better plan? Leave some position vacant? Why? Interims are not generally paid as much as the ultimate holder of the position will be paid, but many an administrator has gotten a start as an interim, or has stepped in as an interim to good effect. I give you Ed Davis, as an example. Shame he wasn't named president, but probably a good thing for him that he wasn't.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:56 PM
Comment Title:
in the KBTX.com coverage, the chairman of the board said he select Murano's replacement within six months. That suggests no open national search (not that there would be a lot of desirable candidates lining up for this job)--why wait 6 months? why not just go ahead and appoint who ever it is that they obviously have had in mind since they changed the rules about how presidents are hired? And yes, he also admitted that they are going to have to hustle to get the reorganization of A&M's administration over before the students and faculty return in September. But he did say repeatedly that HE believes in SHARED governance...oh, please
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:12 PM
Comment Title:
Lofton will do a good job as interim President. He has experience and is well respected.
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Posted by:
AnonymousAggieSupporter On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:08 PM
Comment Title: Slim Shady...
Did anyone else notice that they took a VP from Galveston, not A&M main campus, who the Chairman then stated would have an interim named for his position at TAMU-Galveston while he served as Interim TAMU President. Why take a VP from Galveston, put him at A&M, and have an interim for his position, as a cost cutting measure during these cash strapped times?? Seems wasteful on the part of the Regents...Oh, and in case you didn't catch it in the post interview, Lofton was apparently recommended in closed session by Chancellor McKinney. HMMM...interesting...
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 4:50 PM
Comment Title: Mr. Wiginton...
was someone who made a very hateful comment in this comment string and apparently was removed by The Eagle. Kudos to them for keeping this blog civil.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 4:28 PM
Comment Title: This is the End
This marks the end of a period in which we tried to become a tier one University. Fortunately I will retire soon....
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 4:13 PM
Comment Title:
Who is Wiginton?
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 2:21 PM
Comment Title: Watch Your Mouth Mr. Wiginton
And keep your hatred in check. It's a shame that we have to go off point in a comment section, but you, Mr. Wiginton have stepped way out of line. Perhaps you forget the fact that your ancestors were at one point welcomed to this land from some far away place - yes, you too sir are of immigrant stock. You also clearly forget that A&M was created (as were all land grant institutions) to serve all people of the Great State of Texas - a state with a very embarrassing situation on its hands right now and some people that should be held accountable for their reckless actions and egos.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 1:15 PM
Comment Title: To Plasma
You mean a snake is a snake is a snake. Your description of this whole rubbish is on point.
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Posted by:
plasmapal On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 12:53 PM
Comment Title: What did she expect?
Reminds me of a gal I knew who ran off with a married man. After they'd been hitched a while he ran off with someone else. Poor gal had a difficult time suggesting she didn't know what kind of guy he was. Likewise El Presidente sin gusano chose her sancho knowing he was a snake, and now she's upset she got bit. So now it's because she's latina, at least according to her race baiting supporters. At least this shines a light on the good ol boys, maybe the topic will come up during the looming election cycle.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 12:42 PM
Comment Title: Our Shame
All of our maroon faces are red with embarassment for what McKinney and Perry have inflicted upon our school. Perry will lose big to Kay Bailey because he will not even pull the faithful Aggie vote.
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Posted by:
Ricky G On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 12:28 PM
Comment Title: No Wonder
No wonder minorities and locals here all wear Longhorn apparel. It's a shame they can't even feel somewhat proud and feel a little bit of pride in our local school. That's because its ran by good 'ol boys and very white and very racist people. Growing up here and even having a sister and a brother and law graduate from A&M i don't feel pride like I should. This University has Segregated dorms and is intimidating to people of color. It will never change this months fiasco is proof of that. Keep your school and your pride white people. I will go buy me a longhorn or Tech shirt. At least they are more accepting of people.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 12:20 PM
Comment Title:
If this had happened during last semester, I would have been there for the rally. It's outrageous that the Board of Regents are even considering merging Chancellor and President of TAMU College Station. McKinney, the Board of Regents, and Perry are going to drive the reputation of A&M into the ground. College Station has too many students and receives too much money in research for the positions to be merged. It's too much for one person. Universities should not have to worry about this type of politics. The main focus should be the quality of education that is provided rather than providing a golden parachute for politicians.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 12:05 PM
Comment Title:
As a student I am saddened to see Murano go...I thought she was implementing changes for the better.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 11:54 AM
Comment Title:
I was one of the 15 students who attended the rally. 40,000 students attend A&M and only 15 of us were present. This shows the ostensible "brilliance" of McKinney and the regents in choosing to have all of this go down in the summer when hardly any students are here. I can honestly say that I am heart-broken. Murano has been treated shamefully by the chancellor and regents. She has had and will continue to have my full support and respect. I can not say the same in regards to the chancellor and board of regents.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 11:28 AM
Comment Title: Who loses here?
1. TAMU System -- is there any better way to demonstrate that the other campuses of TAMU don't matter than to combine chancellor/TAMU president? Where are the legislators for Kingsville, Canyon, Commerce, etc.? 2. TAMU-College Station--they will be a joke among first-tier universities. See what has happened at West Virginia in response to state political interference 3. The state of Texas -- instead of two public research universities, this action increases the opportunity that Texas will be seen among top researchers as having only one, located in Austin
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