O/T President Bill Powers Out at UT???

[peruna81]

an enemy of my enemy is my friend...for now.

[Terry Webster]

Sad example of what happens when higher education gets caught up in partisan politics. Everyone loses.

[CalallenStang]

I don't love any of the active players here, but knocking out some internal cronyism at UT seems like a very good thing. I don't think Perry is doing this because he thinks A&M will take their place - that is impossible.

He isn't. He is doing this because it removes the primary opposition to putting his reforms in place - reforms that he has already put in place in the A&M system. And he needs to put the reforms in place so that he will have a talking point in his 2016 election race.

[Digetydog]

This was waiting for me when I got back from my trip to Dallas for the 4th.

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Dear Texas Ex,

We apologize for interrupting your Fourth of July weekend, but we have urgent news of the university to share with you.

Multiple news outlets are reporting that UT-Austin President Bill Powers has been given an ultimatum to resign or be fired at this week’s meeting of the Board of Regents. We can confirm for you that this news is accurate, and that President Powers has declined to resign, instead asking to work together on a timeline for change.

A forced resignation or firing would be a travesty for UT. It would cause further tension with legislators regarding UT System, would compound unrest among faculty, students, and alumni, and invoke serious harm to the institution’s reputation in the national spotlight. President Powers has advanced the university through many tremendous accomplishments, and has been a great leader; he deserves better than this. This is about our university; it is a treasure that alumni need to protect and we need to stand up and fight for its stature. The University of Texas at Austin deserves better than this.

This latest news came from an unfortunate leak to the media which has caused a premature impression of an ongoing and unresolved personnel decision, and has inflamed the controversy. If the individual who leaked the details of the conversation between the chancellor and the president of UT-Austin to the media is in a fiduciary role over the university, this person has breached that duty and has not acted honorably nor in the best interests of the university. Despite this, the chancellor and the president should be able to work together on a mutual decision that provides leadership and a succession plan for the university. That is the way this kind of change is responsibly made.

For more information on this matter and resources for alumni to take action, please see this overview on our Texas Exes website, www.texasexes.org

Thank you for your loyalty to our great alma mater.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, President of the Board
Charles Matthews, Chairman of the Board

[East Coast Mustang]

Whoa nellie! That should be fun to sort out.

[Topper]

UT is basically a giant construction contractor and conduit of chummy cronyism that, inconveniently, is required to operate a university to justify its existence. The Administration and the Board of Regents are constantly fighting to protect their turf and spheres of influence. I have a feeling that most of the impetus for this power grab is for reasons unknown to anyone but insiders.

[Chnash318]

Rick Perry is trying to make UT a second tier school like A&M

[Pony ^]

This is about Perry and his cronies trying to take UT down a peg. To the extent that Texas will have a "flagship" university, they want it to be TAMU.

I'm all in favor of Texas A&M taking the Flagship University status crown and seeing UT slowly crumble along with their conference.

you are out of your mind.

[CoxMustangFan]

This is about Perry and his cronies trying to take UT down a peg. To the extent that Texas will have a "flagship" university, they want it to be TAMU.

I'm all in favor of Texas A&M taking the Flagship University status crown and seeing UT slowly crumble along with their conference.

you are out of your mind.

^ This. A&M is the flavor of the month. UT is going to take a shot to the mouth, but saying A&M will overtake UT as the flagship school of Texas reveals real mental instability.

[East Coast Mustang]

They may take over as the premier football program in the state, but academically it isn't close I don't think

[Bergermeister]

They may take over as the premier football program in the state

Chicken Little was right...

[Digetydog]

STATEMENT FROM UT SYSTEM CHANCELLOR FRANCISCO CIGARROA

The relationship between President Bill Powers, the Board of Regents and the Office of the Chancellor has been strained to the point of becoming fractured for several years. This was the case from my first day as chancellor and even preceded my arrival.

When I took office in 2009, I made it a priority to reach out to President Powers and to begin building a relationship based on cooperation and collaboration.

Unfortunately, the relationship has continued to be difficult throughout my tenure as chancellor, with significant additional breakdowns in communication and trust in recent months and since my comments at the December 2013 Board of Regents meeting.

In conversations last fall that led to my December comments, President Powers conveyed his desire to remain in office at least until the conclusion of his capital campaign and fulfillment of his term as chair of the Association of American Universities in October 2014.

In my effort to accommodate his request, I recommended to President Powers last week a timeline for his departure that would allow him to achieve and celebrate those two important milestones.

I respect all the good things Bill Powers has done for The University of Texas at Austin and his years of public service, and I want to come to an agreement that will allow for a graceful transition and a positive starting point for new leadership at UT Austin.

I tried very hard to reach that agreement and am disappointed it has not happened. At this point, the next step is for me to have a conversation with the Board of Regents and for them to deliberate on how to move forward. This will take place at Thursday’s Board meeting.

Everything I do is in the best interest of The University of Texas. In recent days I have been accused of acting at the direction of the governor or some members of the Board of Regents in this decision and of taking steps that will ultimately damage UT Austin. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I have supported Bill Powers consistently for the last five years, but this latest decision originates with the UT System’s Office of Academic Affairs and my office and is based on a breakdown of communication, collegiality, trust and a willingness to work together for the good of the university.

The University of Texas is bigger than any one individual, whether it is a chancellor, president, regent, faculty member or anyone else. Every decision I make as chancellor is based on what is best for the university as a whole and its students and supporters, not for one individual. That will continue to be what guides me as I serve out my term.

[Bergermeister]

STATEMENT FROM UT SYSTEM CHANCELLOR FRANCISCO CIGARROA
The University of Texas is bigger than any one individual, whether it is a chancellor, president, regent, faculty member or anyone else.

Bigger than Joe Jamail? We'll see......

[East Coast Mustang]

Lori White for UT-Austin President!

[CalallenStang]

Lori White for UT-Austin President!

We could only dream that they hire DRLORI