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SBJ’s Smith reports the NCAA has narrowed its search for a new president with the expectation an offer is made before Christmas. Smith: “...the preferred candidates are a mix of execs from inside and outside college athletics and higher education.” (link); SEC Commissioner Sankey joined D1.ticker/Connect’s Fischer from SBJ IAF to talk, among other topics, the next NCAA president, whom he would encourage to narrow down the job description from six pages to some strategic priorities. “Really what I’m interested in is hearing a vision communicated and then the strategic priorities that inform that vision, and then the ability to draw people in. … I would encourage them to ask a lot of questions, to build relationships, to not just react to pressure points that exist but to identify the real priorities that need to be addressed.” The full interview is now live on Connect. (link)
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In a letter to faculty, Stanford President Tessier-Lavigne addressed questions raised about the authenticity of research in scientific papers he co-authored, expressing his dedication to the “rigorous pursuit of the truth.” Tessier-Lavigne: “I want to be clear that I have never submitted a paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented. I also want to be clear that I take responsibility for any concerns that arise with respect to any work with which I have been involved. I trust that a thorough examination will fully address the concerns that have been raised and will affirm my commitment to the highest standards of scientific integrity.” (link); the Stanford Board of Trustees has set up a website to transparently provide updated information on the examination of concerns with Tessier-Lavigne’s academic work: “Because the president of Stanford University reports to the Board of Trustees – which operates in service to the University – it is the Board that bears the fiduciary responsibility of overseeing a thorough and fair review of the questions that have arisen. In this circumstance, the Board is undertaking the review so that it will not be conducted by individuals who ultimately report to the president.” (link)
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The Oregon Board of Trustees approved the presidential profile to be used in the university’s search for its next president. The profile was developed based on feedback from 40 meetings and forums and calls for a leader who “will cultivate and nurture an environment that attracts and supports the highest quality, highest performing, and most diverse faculty, staff, and students to deliver on this mission of academic excellence, research, and public service.” (link)
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Presidents & Chancellors in the News |
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Colorado Chancellor DiStefano, Arizona President Robbins, Ohio State President Johnson and Minnesota President Gabel headlined Day 1 of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, discussing current research and innovation on their respective campuses, how their institutions were creatively reducing their own carbon footprints and how they’re serving as catalysts for action in their local communities. DiStefano: “Although our universities share similar goals when it comes to climate, we’re all approaching the issue in slightly different ways and bringing different strengths to bear. We can harness that creativity and innovation from our respective campuses to develop new climate solutions and have a strong influence on upholding human rights in the process. .. We all know that higher education is about more than job preparation. It meets students at a critical time and place where they are discovering and homing in on their personal values. So we have a unique responsibility to help them develop empathy, unity, a sense of justice and compassion (for others). Those characteristics are also needed to sustain climate and democracy.” (link)
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Arizona President Robbins established the Presidential Advisory Commission on the Future of Agriculture and Food Production in a Drying Climate, consisting of UA faculty and staff as well as internal and external experts and stakeholders. The commission will identify solutions to food and economic insecurity by conducting a comprehensive review of the resources that could support such efforts and summarizing threats of climate change to the state’s agricultural production systems. Robbins: "As a rapidly drying climate threatens food and agriculture systems around the globe, Arizona's agriculture industry will need innovative solutions to continue producing food and other goods year-round for the state and beyond. From leveraging transformative agricultural practices to enhanced data tools for rapid analysis of challenges and changes within agricultural and food production, research-based solutions will be critical. Our ability to be agile and resilient in the face of this challenge affects not only agricultural production and food security, but also the economic vitality of our rural communities." (link)
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In her end of the semester Campus Conversation, Cal Chancellor Christ highlighted the achievement of the university’s $6B fundraising goal via the “Light the Way” campaign; discussed an $8.6B need to address deferred maintenance needs and fund seismic retrofitting; offered her view on the UC-wide labor strike's impact on learning and emphasized commitment to an injunction-halted, 1,000-unit student housing project: "What we’re trying to do is increase the amount of campus-built and -managed housing for every element of our campus community. We can’t have much of an impact on the housing market, but what we can do is build more housing, which is what I’m trying to do." (link)
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Colorado President DiStefano, upon the arrival of new FB HC Sanders, promises that the school’s stringent transfer policies will be updated to “give coach, and all of his student-athletes, the tools they need to succeed.” (link); Yahoo’s Wetzel says over 200 potential transfer student-athletes have already “made contact” with Sanders. Wetzel also gets this from an unnamed Pac-12 AC: “...half our roster would probably leave if Deion reached out to them.” (link)
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Cal selected former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Pittman to lead the campus police department. (link) |
The National College Players Association is calling for UCLA & USC to turn back on plans to join the Big Ten in a letter to the University of California Regents. NCPA Executive Director Huma calls the decision a “short-sighted money grab,” and further, “The Regents should not let a handful of people sell the soul of the UCLA athletics program for TV dollars that will be spent on luxury boxes in stadiums and lavish salaries for a few.” (link)
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Colorado appointed Strategic Resources and Support Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff McDuffie as interim associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. A permanent hire is expected to be in place by Summer 2023. (link) |
Oregon State launched its next strategic planning process for a roadmap succeeding its current 2019-2023 plan and set to begin in January 2024. The planning process, led by a steering committee of faculty, staff and students, will examine questions related to student success, promising areas of teaching and research, and OSU’s leadership in socioeconomic and health issues. (link)
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Oregon State Vice President for University Relations and Marketing Clark will retire on July 1, 2023. (link) |
Oregon State Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance Director of Compliance Freccia will serve as interim executive director for equal opportunity and access upon current ED Kirkland’s retirement in February. Freccia will serve on a part-time basis to ensure she can maintain her current position within OARC. (link) |
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A team of Colorado campus and system CFOs and financial executives is working to determine the impact of recent market downturns on the systemwide strategic plan. System Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Marturano: “The substantial drop in market returns means we will have to slow down in some cases and reassess our plans in others. The bottom line is that we have less money to spend on accelerating the strategic plan than we were planning on a year ago.” CU President Saliman: “It’s important to note that the strategic plan articulates our priorities, and none of those have changed. What has changed is that the one-time market gains we were planning to put toward accelerating them have gone down significantly. This is disappointing, since the strategic plan priorities are critical to our future. That said, I expect us to continue to lean into these areas to make progress. Our resolve remains and our priorities have not changed.” (link)
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Colorado FB HC Sanders’ deal: Five years, $29.5M total for an average of $5.9M/year, starts at $5.5M in year one with annual $200K bumps. Sanders owes $15M if he leaves in first year, $10M if he leaves in second, $8M in third and $5M thereafter. On the flipside, the Buffs owe him 75% of the remaining contract if he is fired without cause. Also has a $5M assistant coaches salary pool. For context, CU’s previous top pay for a FB HC was $3.6M to former leader Dorrell this past season, and the AC pool was $4M. Contract is still pending Board of Regents approval. (link)
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The Papé family made a $2M gift to Oregon’s Knight Campus, establishing the Papé Family Innovation Center to foster biotech startups launched in the state and support academic research with a societal impact and translational research opportunities. (link) |
San Jose Mercury News’ Wilner: “Talked to (Pac-12 Commissioner) Kliavkoff today about this comment: ‘A single coaching hire doesn't materially change the value of your media rights. But hiring Deion will lead to more wins for Colorado, which leads to higher ratings. And ratings are an important measure of media valuation.’” (link)
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In its annual presentation to the state Capital Development Committee, Colorado officials presented renovation requests for the Hellems Arts & Sciences Building and Guggenheim Building. The total state funding request for Phase 3 of the Hellems Building renovation is $17.1M, with the university expected to fund the rest of the $42M project, while the request for the Guggenheim Building is $16.8M out of a total estimated cost of $42M. (link)
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The Oregon Board of Trustees authorized spending up to $300M for Phase 2 of the Knight Campus, with construction on building 2 expected to begin in Spring 2023 for Winter 2025 occupancy. Trustees also approved a $10M budget for the continuation of work on the UO Portland Campus. (link, link)
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A report by academics at Cornell and NC State published in Nature Human Behavior indicates that the racial diversity of tenured and tenure-track faculty in the U.S. is not increasing faster than the diversity of the American public at large and predicts that “higher education will never achieve demographic parity among tenure-track faculty.” As a solution, the report notes: “We estimate the sector could reach demographic parity by 2050 by collectively increasing underrepresented faculty by one percentage point per year—an increase of 0.78 percentage points on the current rate of change.” More. (link)
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Colorado Provost Moore expressed support for a change giving instructors the option to shift from a nine-month contract to 12 months, telling the Faculty Assembly: “I’m supportive of state legislation to offer up to five-year contracts for instructors. … If you had an instructor who made $60,000 on a nine-month contract, they’d make around $80,000 on a 12-month (contract). It’s an opportunity for extra income, and we wouldn’t have to pay more on benefits because nine-month instructors already receive 12-month benefits.” (link)
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Oregon will launch a School of Computer and Data Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences in Fall 2023, incorporating existing degree programs in computer and data science and offering a new data science major. (link) |
The Oregon Board of Trustees approved the creation of a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in environmental design to launch in Fall 2023. (link) |
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The New York Times released a list of the top 25 “Low-Cost College Towns,” based on categories of affordability, demographics, and “fun and opportunity,” including Berkeley, CA (Cal). Full list. (link) |
USC released its 2022 Culture Report, a multi-year examination of the institution’s values and priorities based on Culture Journey discussions and surveys conducted for students, faculty and staff. The report includes USC’s Unifying Values (accountability; integrity; excellence; open communication; well-being; and diversity, equity and inclusion) as well as a commitment to continued collective self-examination and improvement. (link, link, link - full report)
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As part of its annual update to the system strategic plan, Washington State will formally retire the Drive to 25 initiative, which served as the foundation of the university’s current vision statement and includes four system-level priorities that were officially introduced last month. (link) |
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The National Labor Relations Board is shifting its focus on college athletics from the NCAA at large to USC FB and basketball student-athletes, per College Basketball Players Association Co-Founder Hsu, who told Sportico the NLRB has communicated it will focus on the NCPA’s charge while the NCAA charge is “in abeyance.” Sportico’s Libit adds context: “The NCPA’s charge included USC and the Pac-12 Conference, and specifically addressed the employee status of football and men’s and women’s basketball players. The charge alleged that by misclassifying them as ‘student-athletes,’ the school, conference and NCAA had ‘interfered with, restrained and coerced’ the exercise of those athletes’ collective bargaining rights. As a private university, USC falls within the purview of the NLRB, which oversees only private sector employees. The NCPA also filed an unfair labor practices charge on behalf of athletes at UCLA, a public university. However, that proceeding would rely on the joint employment doctrine, in which an individual is deemed to be employed by a secondary employer—in this case, the NCAA or Pac-12—if that entity wields significant power over the terms and conditions of the individual’s employment.” (link)
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Deals, Partnerships & Collaborations |
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The UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress will continue leadership of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, among other initiatives, after being awarded $40M over five years by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (link) |
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