Texas A&M's Faculty Senate passed a resolution of "no confidence" in A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney on a 55-to-9 vote Tuesday.
It wasn't surprising. The day before, results of a faculty survey showed that about 83 percent of more than 1,300 respondents supported a no-confidence resolution against McKinney.
"This is not to say that the chancellor is a bad person," said Michael Benedik, a senator and biology professor. "Take the words literally. Do we have confidence in him as a leader? ... I, for one, do not."
Rod Davis, a McKinney spokesman, declined to comment.
Bob Strawser, one of the nine who opposed the resolution, noted several instances in recent weeks when members of the Board of Regents and the chancellor have met with faculty to gather input. The accounting professor said the no-confidence resolution was not in the best interest of the university.
"I think what we need to do is end all this and move forward in a positive manner, working with the regents to make Texas A&M the place we want it to be," he said.
McKinney, a former family physician and chief of staff to Gov. Rick Perry, has been criticized frequently by the faculty since he became chancellor in late 2006. But his most recent troubles began in late May when he told The Eagle that combining his job with the Texas A&M presidency was one of many cost-cutting options regents were considering. He stressed that no plans were in place, but the possibility angered many.
The concerns intensified when a scathing February performance evaluation of Texas A&M President Elsa Murano by McKinney was made public in response to an open records request from The Eagle. Many, including Murano in her written response, deemed the evaluation unfair.
Then came the news of Murano's resignation, a day before the Board of Regents was scheduled to hold a special meeting in which regents were expected to discuss her employment. Regents appointed as Texas A&M's interim president R. Bowen Loftin, who had served as chief of the university's branch campus in Galveston.
At that June 15 meeting, regents approved a plan to combine services of the 48,000-student College Station campus and the 11-university system that governs it. A&M System officials cited the need to keep tuition affordable for students and families, but many Texas A&M faculty members and administrators have questioned the need for such a move when the university fared well in this legislative session and Texas hasn't been hit nearly as hard as other states because of the recession.
Tuesday marked the first time the Faculty Senate passed a resolution of no confidence in the A&M System chancellor. It was also the first time the senate brought forth such a resolution.
The vote came after Regent Jim Wilson urged senators to oppose the resolution, saying that the faculty stance had been made clear and that the chancellor and regents were listening.
"I personally cannot see how a vote of no confidence in the chancellor helps Texas A&M University," he said. "I would ask you to ... consider how what you may do with your proposed resolution as the Faculty Senate at our flagship university affects the chancellor's ability to conduct business with you the faculty, with students, with other members of our system, with the Legislature, former students and other stakeholders. I make this request respectfully, knowing that you do not take your responsibilities lightly."
McKinney answers to the regents. Board Chairman Morris Foster has said McKinney had his "full support." Regent Gene Stallings said that McKinney might have made mistakes but that "his mind's in the right place and his heart's in the right place."
The no-confidence resolution was one of two passed by the Faculty Senate during its special meeting Tuesday on the sixth floor of Rudder Tower. The meeting was attended by about 150 members of the university community.
The other -- which cleared on a 58-to-5 vote -- called on regents to rescind a March policy that states the board can hire a president not vetted by a search committee; to create a committee that includes representatives of various Texas A&M constituent groups to search for the next president; and to postpone implementation of the plan to share functions until a new president has been selected.
30 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 02, 2009 10:21 AM
Comment Title: I'm not Tom Arnold, but
This blog has reviewed some of what's out there on tigm. - http://vision1920.blogspot.com/search/label/TIGM (disclaimer - it has a strongly sarcastic pov). Tom Arnold, the comments there are open, but moderated, so they don't show up right away.
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Posted by:
A faculty member On:
Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:21 AM
Comment Title: To Tom Arnold
You seem to know a lot about the TIGM fiasco. Why don't you tell it to the Eagle so they can put it in the sunlight?
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Posted by:
Loser Police On:
Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:41 AM
Comment Title:
Let's get rid of the pompous board of regents. They're losers. We don't need 'em!
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Posted by:
Tom Arnold On:
Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:05 AM
Comment Title: typo - Lexicon Pharmaceuticals...
rather than Lexicon Therapeutics, as I refered to it by in my previous post
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:50 PM
Comment Title: My, oh my...
A resolution of no confidence. How frightening! The might of the faculty has been demonstrated. Please do not write a note to my Mommy. Shared governance in action! Lions and tigers and bears...
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 6:08 PM
Comment Title: Again, excellent point TA
It's not the ideals of business, it's who is "doin' the bidness" and bullying and/or distracting others away from the money trail. Your example is an excellent case in point: Who lost money in that scenario? Who paid for it? (and who will investigate that?)
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Posted by:
Tom Arnold On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 5:45 PM
Comment Title: Monkey business
The problem is businessmen, not necessarily business practices. There is a lot of chaff on these posts regarding whether “business” is good or bad for a University. They miss the point – it is the subversion of good practices that are the problem, as shown clearly by TAMUS actions with Introgen Therapeutics (IT) and Lexicon Therapeutics (LT). In 2005, the business press questioned the wisdom of the $50 million funding from the state to the TIGM project, due in part to the majority shareholders of LT who were large donors to the Governor. The official press release touted the creation of many jobs due to the effort. What happened? LT took their $35 million and baled, refiling with the SEC in 2008 to amend the agreement (signed by Dr Mike), has CUT its workforce twice at roughly 20% each time and had a stock price dropping through the floor. A&M is holding the bag, literally. Who benefited? Who considers this good business?
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Posted by:
Sniffy On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 4:18 PM
Comment Title: A&M is a dictatorship
I agree with the point made by one of the anonymous posters. A&M always gets back at those who speak against their sorry university. When I spoke out against bringing back bonfire I was made to feel that I killed those students myself and working at the university became unbearable. YOU AGGIES NEED TO COME INTO THE 21st Century
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 3:21 PM
Comment Title: Poor dumb A&M
Obviously A&M is an inferior system, best solution is put it under the University of Texas system and let it become Univ. of Texas at CS.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:09 PM
Comment Title: anonymous
Thomas Schlumprecht asked why all the anonymous comments? For the very reason many of us fear reprisals. I've worked for the University for over 25 years, and I have personally seen reprisals against faculty and staff who have spoken out. There is no real job security. If the administration wants to punish someone for speaking out, there are many tools at their disposal to force them out or fire them. I've seen fake departmental RIFs (Reduction in Force) where they eliminate a position to get rid of someone, only to create it again later, or create an almost identical position with a different title. The bottom line is, it is not safe for someone to speak out publicly about problems at A&M.
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Posted by:
Randy75 On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:57 PM
Comment Title: Come Together
I remember the Bonfire tragedy,and how "WE" came together as a family.I was moved to tears at the fact that I had family I did'nt know I had.We can do it again.I mean pull together as a single unit for the total good of the University.
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Posted by:
J On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:31 PM
Comment Title: Mc Dumb Nuts Needs To Start Packing
Get out of Aggieland you coward! You are not welcome here any longer you backstabber.
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Posted by:
Thomas Schlumprecht On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:45 AM
Comment Title: On "Because we are the only Tier One Research Place"
Great Comment! The one thing which worries me most: Why are most of our comments anonymous? Are we already at the point were we have to be afraid of retributions? I hope not!
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:26 AM
Comment Title: Other parts of the System
The Health Science Center faculty senate expressed support last week. The CPI represents people in the agencies too. You apologists are the ones who don't know the facts... and don't want to know them. You're like a cancer patient in denial, complaining about the news instead of facing the problem.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:26 AM
Comment Title: Because we are the only Tier One Research University
In the A&M system. And many of us came here to work at this stellar research institution, and we share the vision of becoming a Top 10 public institution --- in the nation. Many of us have seen leadership problems at other universities (see the note below about Auburn -- where the problems with the Board exacerbated until they were threatened with losing national accreditation) and we've been at institutions where public money was misused (resulting in million-plus fines that were borne by the public institution as the guilty parties had cashed in their investments and scooted away). Frankly, many of us are shocked to see these problems at A&M: we had no idea so many with so little familiarity with a research institution would be appointed to leadership positions, and can't understand why this has happened to A&M (despite the *stated* mission which we gladly embraced), and why it does not happen to other Top Tier research institutions in the state (i.e., UT). We teach everyday, do research everyday, and consult and confer with colleagues nationally and internationally, and we've done it for decades, congruent with the expectations of a Tier One. And yet we have political appointees on the board with no expertise with a research institution, making incredibly capricious decisions with slanted information that have had an immediate detrimental effect on our work and reputation, and the consequences will be felt for years.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:17 AM
Comment Title: You still can't handle the truth
Nice try... if common sense is sufficient to tell you it's a bad idea, then why waste System resources studying it? The reason it's a bad idea isn't because it wouldn't save any money... in the short term it probably would. The reason it's a bad idea is that it's an obvious conflict of interest - a concept Dr. Mike has a pathetically weak grasp on.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:12 AM
Comment Title: No confidence in faculty senate
From what I saw and heard about the whole joke of a vote yesterday, the faculty senate acted like this was a big joke and had no idea what they were doing. Motions out of order, people laughing, no one knowing the Rules of Order. Pretty unprofessional, if you ask me. I think they should get on with business and do their jobs, not whine about something they arent going to change, and have no reason to change. Murano was wasting school money and resources, and needed to go. Lets get someone who can manage this school well, trim the budget, streamline the school and get us moving in the right direction again.
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Posted by:
BS On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:10 AM
Comment Title: Excellent Journalism?
Out of all the universities and agencies the Chancellor is over, why is A&M the only one crying? Get their opinions. Their stories. If everyone else in the SYSTEM wants Dr. McKinney out, then I can see a reason for resignation. But its only one university in the SYSTEM that wants him out....why? Because you can't get what you want. Big brother/sister doesn't want to share. That's it.
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Posted by:
BS On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:03 AM
Comment Title: TO You can't handle the truth
The Chancellor never said he was going to do it. He was asked to look into it by the Board..."that combining his job with the Texas A&M presidency was one of many cost-cutting options regents were considering." I would probably bet the farm that he would have said no after getting all the details.
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Posted by:
Teddy Wilson On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:03 AM
Comment Title: Tonight on Biased Transmission
If you would like to hear more about the current situation at Texas A&M listen to Biased Transmission tonight at 6:00pm on KEOS 89.1FM; tonight there will be a roundtable discussion of current Texas A&M faculty, staff, and students.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:48 AM
Comment Title: You can't handle the truth
Commenter BS says " Anyone with common sense knows that merging the two positions are [sic] not possible". But after admitting that the Chancellor lacks basic common sense, BS rips the faculty for expressing no confidence in him.
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Posted by:
A concerned faculty On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:43 AM
Comment Title: Time for Action
The Regents are no doubt decent, rational people, judging from Mr. Wilson's participation in yesterday's Faculty Senate meeting. Although they are political appointees and have not earned their place on the Board, they do care about the university and want to do the right thing. Well, here is their opportunity to do the right thing. They must immediately ask the Chancellor to resign, if he has not already. Would they themselves keep "serving" an institution that no longer has confidence in their ability to lead? The next step to take would be to run A&M as any other research university in any other peer state. There's no reason to make us different. We have good leadership in the Provost; the faculty are engaged on a path of excellence. Just leave us alone for a while. Get a good manager who can take care of the financial situation in the System that needs attending. And finally, please start an information campaign for Texans about what a research university does. There's a lot of ignorance. It hurts to be in a state where people are so misinformed. Thanks.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:21 AM
Comment Title: Excellent journalism
Very impressed with the Eagle's handling of this matter. Requesting and securing the Murano evaluation was pivotal for many, taking the issue out of speculation and into fact. More research and investigation is warranted, particularly into the use of public funds and investments in theIntrogen Therapeutics and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals debacle. Patel, and other colleagues at the Eagle, have done a fine job. And there is more work to do. It is not surprising that some "know" their opinions despite facts and lack of familiarity with the full range of issues -- particularly when effortful thinking and fact-gathering may be uncomfortable.
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Posted by:
Tom Arnold On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:02 AM
Comment Title: trolling
Trolling {Wikipedia} In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic
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Posted by:
BS On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:56 AM
Comment Title: The Truth
Let face it. Patel you can't write one sided articles all the time. Anyone with common sense knows that merging the two positions are not possible. Too many responsiblities. Of course, most faculty don't use common sense. But what upset the faculty was the comment Dr. McKinney made on Dr. Murano's eval..."Work with faculty not for them." That just burst their bubble. They got mad because they couldn't get their stupid projects rubber stamped. Just report the facts. Rumors are what start problems. If you took the situation to court, facutly would lose. I would bet the students would pass a "no confidence" vote on the faculty senate if they could. I would.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:41 AM
Comment Title: Lessons from other institutions
Can we learn from the experiences of other institutions who have been through similar troubles? I found this Auburn University situation has some possible lessons: http://diglib.auburn.edu/auburnhistory/hanlyfunderburk.htm
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:39 AM
Comment Title:
You can lead the faculty to a classroom but you can not make them teach.
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Posted by:
Tom Arnold On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:31 AM
Comment Title: The best interests of Texas A&M...
...are NOT being served by Dr Mike or those Board of Regents members who "have full confidence" in him. He precipitated all of this. His inept handling of the A&M Presidency speaks volumes about his "leadership?". His seeming inability to answer any media requests for response on any issue speaks volumes. You wonder whose best interests we are talking about. Certainly Introgen Therapeutics and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals have benefited, at taxpayer and A&M’s expense. And now the regents and Dr Mike want more control of research decisions. Go figure.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:07 AM
Comment Title: Bye McKinney
Let's hope the faculy voice is heard.. Let's hope former students are heard.. Let's hope current students are heard.. It is time to say bye bye to McKinney. If he had the best interest of A&M in his heart, he will resign and go home....
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 7:11 AM
Comment Title: Chencellor's performance evaluation
One wonders if Dr. McKinney will receive a low score for the manner in which he has dealt with the media. "But his most recent troubles began in late May when he told The Eagle that combining his job with the Texas A&M presidency was one of many cost-cutting options regents were considering."
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