{"id":4993,"date":"2016-05-26T11:22:03","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T15:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.khpi.org\/blog\/?p=4993"},"modified":"2016-05-26T11:26:35","modified_gmt":"2016-05-26T15:26:35","slug":"no-progress-in-reconstituting-functioning-uofl-board-of-trustees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.khpi.org\/blog\/no-progress-in-reconstituting-functioning-uofl-board-of-trustees\/","title":{"rendered":"No Progress in Reconstituting Functioning UofL Board of Trustees."},"content":{"rendered":"

I was traveling out of the country the first part of this month.\u00a0 When I returned, I expected, or more perhaps accurately hoped that some progress has been made in restoring the governance and oversight responsibilities of\u00a0the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. \u00a0Unfortunately, last week the Board was forced to meet once again<\/a> for “informational” purposes only.\u00a0 Alas, as far as I am able to determine, nothing has come out of the Governor’s Office or the newly constituted Governor’s Postsecondary Education Nominating Committee indicating an intention to resolve in a timely manner the deadlock that has placed the Board in limbo. \u00a0I can find no required public notice that a meeting of the Nominating Committee has been scheduled.\u00a0 An email inquiry yesterday morning to the Governor’s office has not been answered, nor was a phone message earlier in the month requesting notice of a date.<\/p>\n

Based on what I have observed, I must assume Governor Bevin’s higher priority is to protect an embattled and increasingly desperate-appearing President James Ramsey. \u00a0By delaying the appointment of an African-American trustee further, Governor Bevin will have an opportunity to appoint a larger and controlling block of additional trustees as existing terms of office expire thus effecting political capture and control of the University. \u00a0Surely such a potential goal must not be perceived as delaying the resolution of a matter of social justice which is in my opinion now being used as an excuse to sideline the current Board of Trustees. \u00a0In my 36 years at the University, now is the worst possible time to allow the University to flap ineffectively in the breeze.<\/p>\n

Still broken\u2013 including the Nominating Committee itself.<\/strong>
\nGovernor Bevin sidelined the Board over a claim that its membership was illegally constituted, lacking sufficient minority racial representation. \u00a0Ironically, the Postsecondary Nominating \u00a0Committee the the Governor recently appointed fails the same test of legitimacy, including the lack of even a single minority member.\u00a0 By the Governor’s own logic, his Nominating Committee is illegally constituted <\/a>with regard to minority status, gender, and political party.\u00a0 I believe that the Office of the Attorney General should examine whether the membership of the Nominating Committee and its current activity pass statutory muster. \u00a0This committee serves an important public function. The Nominating Committee names candidates to the governance boards not only of Kentucky’s comprehensive \u00a0public universities, but also its Community and Technical College System, the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, and the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation. Our community deserves to know that the legitimacy of this critical Committee is unassailable. I do not believe that it is.<\/p>\n

What should<\/u> the Nominating Committee be doing now?<\/strong>
\n“In making its nominations<\/a>, the committee shall consider the needs of the respective institutions, locate potential appointees, review candidates’ qualifications and references, conduct interviews, and carry out other search and screening activities as necessary.”\u00a0 In simpler words\u2013 function like a head-hunting organization. \u00a0What will<\/u> happen?\u00a0 “The Governor’s office staff shall provide support services for the committee.” \u00a0I attended a meeting of the Nominating Committee last year, perhaps the first visitor to have done so in a while. \u00a0Based on what I observed and learned from interviews of Committee members, the committee will meet a single time in person or telephonically to consider a list of potential candidates submitted by the Governor\u2019s staff.\u00a0 There will have been no systematic attempt to assemble a panel of candidates, let alone fresh candidates.\u00a0 No interviews of any potential candidates by the Committee will have been attempted.\u00a0 Candidates will have been drawn from a preexisting pool of individuals.\u00a0\u00a0 Representatives from the Governor\u2019s office will be in attendance and participate in the discussion.<\/p>\n

Is there any wonder that a sceptic like myself might reasonably believe that a\u00a0Governor will get a list of nominees for appointment that contains a preordained name?\u00a0 \u00a0As a test of my lack of confidence in the nominating process, or alternatively as an act of atonement for any lack of faith, I offer a modest wager I used to make in these pages.\u00a0 I have written down the name of the individual who I predict will be appointed to fill at least one vacant Trustee slot promised for a racial minority.\u00a0 A more fervent supporter of President Ramsey cannot be found. \u00a0I will reveal my prediction individually after the matter\u2013 as it must be\u2013 is settled. \u00a0If I am wrong, I will buy the Martini or beverage of choice as we toast together our wishes for a brighter, less embattled, and successful future for the University of Louisville.<\/p>\n

Peter Hasselbacher, MD
\nEmeritus Professor of Medicine, UofL
\n26 May 2016<\/p>\n

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