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September 22, 1999 - MnSCU Board Extends Chancellor's Contract, Announces
Search for Successor
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees and Chancellor
Morris J. Anderson today announced an agreement on a plan to ensure the
orderly transition of leadership for the system as it moves forward into
the next century.
Under the plan, Chancellor Anderson's contract will be extended for six
months, through June of 2001, subject to final approval by the Board at
its October meeting. The Board will soon begin the process of a search
for Anderson's successor. Anderson's contract may overlap with the appointment
of a new chancellor, at which time he will move to an advisory and transition
role.
Michael Vekich, chair of the MnSCU Board of Trustees, praised Anderson's
accomplishments as chancellor and said the board looks forward to continuing
that leadership through mid-2001.
"Chancellor Anderson has brought much-needed stability to a higher
education system that previously had been in turmoil," Vekich said.
"Over the past two years, we have made tremendous progress in making
it easier for students to transfer from one school to another, in bringing
together our institutions in the metropolitan area into a coordinated
planning framework, and in increasing the visibility and prestige of our
colleges and universities. Our institutions are collaborating with each
other and with the University of Minnesota in ways that were unheard of
just two years ago."
Vekich said the plan adopted by the board today will enable the system
to continue to make progress and will smooth the way for a transition
to a new chancellor. He said the board hopes to select a new chancellor
by Jan. 1, 2001. At its regular meeting today, the board authorized a
committee to negotiate the terms and conditions of the six-month extension
of chancellor's employment agreement, to be presented to the board at
its October meeting.
"This plan accomplishes a number of things," said Michael Vekich,
chair of the board. "It allows for a smooth transition of leadership
for the future, and it provides for the flexibility needed to conduct
a thorough and successful search. The plan also allows the chancellor
and the board to focus on some major system priorities over the next 20
months. Moreover, MnSCU will benefit from Chancellor Anderson's political
expertise and experience through the search process and period of leadership
transition."
No timetable has been set for a search process. Vekich said the board
will discuss the process over the next several months. He said the board
will seek input from students, faculty, administrators and the public
on the selection of a search committee.
"Most important, we as a board want to listen," Vekich said.
"We need to listen to the students, faculty, staff, the public and
legislators relative to the characteristics of leadership for MnSCU. This
needs to be an integral part of the search process."
"As we look toward the future, we want to recruit leadership that
will ensure that MnSCU is recognized as one of the nation's best public
systems of higher education," Vekich added. "We also need to
continue to move forward on the priorities and initiatives that we have
set in motion."
Anderson said he welcomes the opportunity to continue to serve through
the 2001 legislative session.
"When I was named interim chancellor in July 1997, my goal was to
bring stability and continuity of leadership to a system that had seen
rapid turnover at the top," Anderson said. "I have done that,
and this plan allows that to continue."
Anderson is the sixth person to serve as chancellor since the Legislature
created MnSCU in 1991 and is the longest serving chancellor. He was appointed
as interim chancellor in July 1997 and appointed permanent chancellor
Jan. 1, 1999.
Anderson said the six-month extension will allow him to focus on three
main priorities. "We still have a lot to accomplish," he said.
"In the 2000 legislative session, we need to convince the Legislature
to pass, and the Governor to sign, a bonding bill that meets the needs
of our students and our institutions. We need to continue to assist Governor
Jesse Ventura and his administration in implementing a workforce development
strategy for the state's future. And we need to formulate a budget request
for the 2002-2004 biennium that allows MnSCU to become a world-class higher
education system."
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is the largest provider
of higher education in the state of Minnesota, serving about 140,000 students.
The system is made up of 36 state universities, community colleges, technical
colleges and comprehensive community and technical colleges in 46 Minnesota
communities, plus a campus in Japan.
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