Sunday, July 27, 2008
By Tim Woods
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The phrases are all too familiar: Heal the divisions. Shared governance. Unified constituencies.
As Baylor University tries to plow forward through yet another bout of uncertainty — the presidency is vacated and provost position soon will be — members of the Baylor family are asking for an inclusive leader who will put an end to years of controversies and strife.
Lilley's legacy: strong will, occasional rancor Baylor students mixed on Lilley's departure In his own words: Quotes from Dr. John Lilley at Baylor
Slide show: Lilley retrospective
Interactive: Baylor presidential timeline
Interactive: Timeline of Lilley's presidency
- 08-21-08 Baylor family enthusiastic about newly appointed interim president
- 08-20-08 News report: Truett dean to be Baylor's interim president
- 07-27-08 Inclusiveness paramount as divided Baylor University seeks 14th president
- 07-27-08 Q&A with Baylor regents head: Unity, vision crucial in months, years ahead
- 07-25-08 Lilley legacy at Baylor one of focus, strong will but occasional rancor
- 07-25-08 John Lilley's tenure at Baylor: Mission Impossible?
- 07-25-08 In his own words: Dr. John Lilley at Baylor
- 07-24-08 Baylor board of regents debating Lilley's future
- 05-17-08 BU officials mum on campus president's future
- 05-15-08 Seven BU faculty see controversial tenure denials overturned
- 05-14-08 Lilley's future hinges on BU regents' vote, sources say
- 05-10-08 Beleaguered BU president labels faculty senate's criticism 'false'
- 05-07-08 BU faculty senate passes resolution critical of administration's governance
- 05-01-08 Baylor officials back off decision to change logo on football helmets
- 04-16-08 Some BU alums feel snubbed by leaders not at dinner
- 04-03-08 Faculty 'massacre' blamed on Baylor's confusing tenure criteria
- 03-24-08 Tenure denials spark steep questions about Baylor's academic aims
“The type of person we need as president, in my opinion, is someone who can listen to diverse constituencies, try to understand what they’re about and also have a vision of Baylor that is beyond any particular constituency,” said Baylor professor Marc Ellis, who directs the Center for Jewish Studies.
“That person has to have a vision, but also has to be seen as a person who cares about Baylor and wants to be part of the Baylor family.”
A seemingly wary Ellis added, “Whether this is possible at this particular moment, with the divisions at Baylor, I don’t know.”
Having been at Baylor for 10 years, Ellis’ uncertainty is not unwarranted.
In the early to mid-2000s, Baylor had a strong, though controversial, leader in Robert B. Sloan Jr. Critics blasted his implementation of the university’s 10-year vision statement, Baylor 2012, and what they said was a heavy-handed, dictatorial leadership style.
Supporters believed in his vision of Baylor as a Christian university with a national reputation as a leading research university, two aspects sometimes viewed in the academic world as incompatible.
Faculty no-confidence votes and much debate later, Sloan resigned in January 2005, saying he had become a lightning rod for controversy.
While Baylor’s regents searched for a new president, law school professor Bill Underwood took the reins as interim president but removed his name from consideration for the permanent position after it became clear to him that the board was divided in its support for him.
Underwood has since moved on to the presidency at Mercer University in Macon, Ga.
In November 2005, Baylor’s regents announced a unanimous vote to select John Lilley as president.
Lilley, a Baylor alumnus, was saddled with the responsibility of leading Baylor out of its recent stormy past, healing divisions on campus between faculty and leadership, being a peacemaker.
All while advancing the school toward its Baylor 2012 goals.
Two and a half years into his presidency, Lilley was fired Thursday, with regents pointing to his inability to “unify the Baylor family,” regent chairman Howard Batson said.
After initial gains, Lilley occasionally battled with the staunchly independent Baylor Alumni Association, heard alumni roar at the prospect of replacing the school’s interlocking BU on football helmets with “Baylor,” and lost the confidence of faculty in the wake of massive tenure denials this spring.
The BAA became fully operationally independent this spring, the move to change Baylor’s helmet branding was scrapped and Lilley held a summit with faculty leaders in June, trying to reach an understanding.
But it was too little, too late for Baylor regents, and the university now finds itself without even an interim president. Rather, regent Harold Cunningham, who has vice presidential experience at the school, is “acting president” until an interim president is named.
Looking for a listener
Now, as Baylor’s board of regents begins its search for first an interim, then a permanent replacement for Lilley, university constituents are asking for a leader who will include varied sources of input in his or her decision-making for the school.
“I think it’s important that the next president be very familiar with Baylor culture,” said Baylor Law School dean Brad Toben. “The next president needs to understand the faith mission of the university (and) needs to have an ability to reach out and work with the many constituencies of the university.”
Not only are members of the Baylor family asking for an inclusive leader, they’re hoping for a voice in the selection of that leader.
“Our regents are entrusted with much, and we are all looking toward their leadership,” BAA executive vice president Jeff Kilgore said. “A process that fosters inclusion and input from across the faculty, staff, student and alumni community is always welcomed and appreciated during times (like this).”
Said economics professor Kent Gilbreath, who was critical of the Sloan administration, “The first measure of the board of regents’ commitment to addressing the criticism they levied against Lilley, that he was not healing the university, will be the manner in which they go about selecting both an interim and permanent president.”
Batson has said all the right words, to this point.
“For 160 years, the university’s success has been based upon the collective efforts of the entire university community working together,” he said in a school statement immediately following Lilley’s dismissal.
Baylor senior lecturer Lynn Tatum, immediate past president of the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors, said he was encouraged by words he read on Baylor’s Web site. Specifically, Tatum cited an excerpt that reads, “After an interim is chosen, the Board, in consultation with other constituencies of the Baylor family, will begin a comprehensive search for a new president.”
“At America’s greatest universities, academic standards require significant faculty input into the search process,” Tatum said. “I am optimistic that the board of regents will honor that academic tradition.”
Regardless of who is chosen, the next president will step into a tricky situation, much as Lilley did when he arrived in 2006. It is a fact that both Batson and Kilgore acknowledged Thursday after Lilley’s firing.
“(Lilley) found himself in a very untenable situation from the get-go, inheriting a highly sensitive and emotionally charged (situation),” Kilgore said.
Batson said, “It is no secret that (Lilley) came into a very difficult situation.”
Despite Ellis’ and others’ questions about whether the right person for the job can be found, Toben expressed confidence that such a person is out there and will be able to calm the sometimes stormy seas.
“I think that the matters that unite everyone who loves Baylor and all its constituencies dwarf the disagreements of the past,” Toben said. “Now, we have an opportunity to recognize that our points of unity and our strengths leave any (past contentions) in the dust.”
twoods@wacotrib.com
757-5721
Comments
By Frederica
Sep 1, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this
Good afternoon. As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.
I am from Yemen and learning to speak English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "Small robots invested services about madoff's advice for publications."
Waiting for a reply ;-), Frederica.
By Paulette
Jul 6, 2009 1:09 AM | Link to this
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By David
Nov 29, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Religion and science can be compatible when you keep religion in your pocket and let the scientific facts bear out. Publishing "research" studies on un-scientific crap like "intelligent design" is an embarrassment to any academic institution.
Point is, you can't be an "angry hard core fundamentalist hard right wing bigoted racist christian" university and be respected. A little more Jesus Christ and a lot less Pat Robertson and you can be respected.
By Shane
Jul 28, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
A quest to be top tier is preemminently a fine idea. Thinking it can be done with very few Jews and feminists, and with no gay people at all, is perhaps a tad unrealistic.
By Bill Fitzpatrick
Jul 27, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
When we allow the Board of Regents at any school to be packed with the elitest alumni, we usually wind up with discontent and loss of the purpose for higher learning of young adults. College professors' and administrators' salaries are becoming more out of line when compared to k thru 12 classroom teachers. Their ultimate value to the education process of the young mind is somewhat dubius and questionable when compared to the value of the classroom teacher. When I went to Baylor over 60 years ago, the tuition for 15 quarter hours was $135.00 per quater. I got my money's worth from a group of dedicated good ole boy and girl professors, who believed in educating their students rather than adulating their personal accomplishments. We have had the same problems here in Northwest Florida. The Board of Regents, all elitist alumni, offerred an unreasonable pay package and incentives (over $400,000) to the former President. He is gone, now, to greener pastures after a short tenure. My question was; is or was he really interested in the education of young adults or just in padding his credentials. If you want a real head administrator for the top Baptist School in the South, may I suggest Mike Huckabee. He definently would be a uniter for the student body and the teaching professors. His experience has been unique and his commitment to God is extraordinary. BFF
By Nat
Jul 27, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Baylor had no difficulty functioning as both a Christian church-affiliated university and an academically-respected university until Sloane's presidency. The question is whether the pre-Sloane formula, which had worked for 150 years, can ever be recovered. The answer from the existing board of regents is, "No." The board thrives on the internecine Baptist warfare stirred up by Sloane, and perpetuation of this conflict seems far more important to the regents than Baylor's worth and integrity as a university.
By Eduardo
Jul 27, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
In my earlier note, I left out the more encouraging commentary reference my personal thoughts as Baylor pursues its search for our next President. With all the challenges and concerns that Baylor has faced regarding its governance during the past years, we who love and embrace Baylor University and ALL that it has stood for over time, know very well that Baylor is much bigger than the current problems it faces. Our family will be praying for BU's search committee and the wisdom that these men and women need in order to make the very best decision impacting the outstanding institution that is Baylor University.
By Bruce
Jul 27, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Baylor can achieve the 2012 Vision if:
1.) The faculty stop debating the issue and get to the business of being a quality faculty member who contributes to teaching, service and RESEARCH (as expected of faculty members at any other tier I level university). There are many outstanding faculty members and programs at Baylor. However, there is also a contingency of faculty members who spend more time complaining about the 2012 Vision than contributing to this mission. Amazing accomplishments have been made over the last six years but everyone needs to work together and contribute to this vision if it is to be realized.
2.) Baylor hires experienced tier I level administrators (President, Provost, Deans and Chairs) rather than the frankly mediocre level adminstrator recently hired. I'm sorry an embattled musician from Nevada-Reno as President, a preacher as Provost, recent dean hires from small to mid-level schools, and naming inexperienced Associate Professor level Chair's who just got through tenure doesn't instill much confidence in the leadership. Why would a quality faculty member come to Baylor without strong and supportive leadership?
3.) Baylor hires and retain top level faculty. Even when high quality faculty members have come to Baylor and done a wonderful job, the adminsitration seems to alienate them (and they leave), deny them tenure, and/or is unwilling to match competitive offers they recieve from real tier I level schools.
4.) Baylor values the contributions of all faculty and staff.
5.) Baylor does away with closed door meetings, secret "working files" on faculty members, and retaliation against faculty members who don't completely "agree with the administration".
6.) Baylor stops debating whether it should be a Christian university or not. Baylor needs to make a real commitment of being a top tier Christian University. That means stop playing lip service to its Christian heritage. Hire Christian scholars and administrators that will help move the university forward in a true appreciation of the Baptist tradition. Much of the problems at Baylor have arisen between faculty members firmly committed to supporting the Christian mission of the university and those who do not. A divided house will not stand.
By Eduardo
Jul 27, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
To Fred: You are undoubtedly an idiot! Now, get out there with your u.t. t-shirt and don't burn my hamburger order.
By B.T,
Jul 27, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
UT is a good school, but Baylor would be one darned expensive UT. If Baylor were secular, there would really be no reason to go there when you have tons of secular schools within a 90 mile radius of Waco. The BOR would have to sell the university to the state, like they did with the dental school.
I just have one question: how do you unify people who really don't want to be unified? The two major sides don't want compromise; they want control.
Most married couples would divorce at the point there was this much difference in ideals and goals and indifference in regards to love for the other side.
Love is the only power that can unify, and neither side loves the other, so there really is no hope for Baylor except to enjoy more of the same.
That's the harsh truth.
Don't get me wrong, Baylor can be a wonderful place, but some egos are going to have to change if that is ever to really come to fruition.
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