Tempest in a Teapot

This is a small school in a small town, and there is seldom anything newsworthy here.  Recently, there was a front page story in the local paper about the return of a runaway dog because there was nothing else going on. (No, I'm not kidding.  I couldn't make up this stuff.)

However, all this changed about 2 weeks ago.  As far as I can piece together, from news articles and campus information, this is what happened. 

Prior to Aug. 3.  It is discovered that college enrollment numbers have been "padded" due to folks being added to the rolls that were not actually students, but people here for meetings, seminars, etc.  There were other questions raised, such as the approval of an increase of scholarships to athletes who had been paid cash under the table last fall.  And, probably there were other problems of various sorts uncovered, also. 

Wed., Aug. 3.  Meeting between our college president and state Chancellor for higher ed.  Chancellor asks president to resign.  They talk about it, but president did not immediately say what he would do.  Chancellor asks pres. to call him the next day to discuss it further.

Thurs., Aug 4.  President does NOT contact chancellor.  Chancellor tries to contact president without success.  Someone tells the local paper about what is going on.

Friday, Aug. 5.  Local paper has banner-headlined article that college pres. has been asked to resign. 
Both the chancellor and the paper try to contact president.  No luck.

Saturday, Aug. 6.  Local paper has front page article that president is missing.  Later that day, president resurfaces and issues a statement that he has done nothing wrong and he has no intention of resigning.  He also says he has hired a private attorney. 

Sunday, Aug. 7.  Local paper publishes president's statement.  Also, the state highway patrol sends a trooper to the president's home with a letter from the Chancellor conveying an "intent to dismiss."  President is prohibited from setting foot on any Univ. property except his own home.  He is also instructed to turn in his keys, Univ. credit card, and laptop.  Evidently, the procedure for firing a college president is that first he is notified of intent to dismiss, then is given a certain number of days to request a hearing.

Monday, Aug. 8.  President turns in the stuff he is supposed to turn in.

Wed., Aug. 10.  President formally requests a hearing. 

Tuesday, Aug. 16.  An acting president has been appointed, someone who is a VP at a large university on the other side of the state.  He will be here on the 22nd.

Wed., Aug. 17.  At our regular pre-school campus-wide faculty meeting, one of our deans speaks to us.  Back in July, our PR person quit unexpectedly, and this dean was asked to also be the PR spokesman temporarily until a new one could be hired.  He told us at the meeting, "I said yes because I thought..It's only a couple of months.  What could happen?"  

Thurs., Aug. 18.  All employees get an email from lawyers from the State Board, saying they will be contacting persons on campus to set up interview appointments.  They are finding people to testify at the president's hearing.   The hearing will be public, but probably too far away for me to attend.  Darn!

Fri., Aug. 19.  As of today, I have not heard of a specific time or date set for the hearing, but the general sense is that it will be mid to late Sept.  Also, the faculty hears through reliable sources that the president will not be allowed to come back, regardless of the outcome of the hearing.  It's just a matter of finding out how much cash it will cost the state.  This particular faculty member is quite relieved!!