University of Oregon President Richard Lariviere was fired Monday by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education after a series of decisions which conflicted with the board's policies. The board oversees the seven public universities which make up the Oregon University System, and its 12 members voted unanimously to dismiss Lariviere.
The board chose to extend Lariviere's contract last June by only one year, and speculation that it would not be renewed seemed to be confirmed last Saturday when Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said the board "would be fully justified" in letting Lariviere go. Yet few expected that Monday's board meeting would result in a move to terminate Lariviere's contract within the next 30 days.
The board had criticized Lariviere for seeking more financial autonomy for the University of Oregon, including a proposal in January which called for the institution to have its own governing board of directors separate from the state. It was also revealed in September that the university had given salary raises to faculty members last spring even though Lariviere had previously agreed to the admonition of the board not to do so. Although Kitzhaber claims "[Lariviere's] actions show little regard for the needs of the rest of the university system, other campuses and the state," the president has gained the support of University of Oregon faculty and staff.
Our own University is governed by the 16-member Board of Visitors, which oversees no other institutions, but faces similar difficulties in maintaining self-sufficiency while working with persons appointed by the state government. University President Teresa A. Sullivan has undertaken initiatives similar to those supported by Lariviere, such as seeking higher wages for workers and advocating a new financial model which allows more flexibility in the directed use of allocated funds. Sullivan has proven more successful insofar as she has worked with, and not against or behind the back of, her governing Board.
Moreover, the Oregon board's structure has caused what some call policymaking by the "lowest common denominator": In directing the financial and legislative workings of seven universities, the board is not only inefficient, but also cannot adequately address the inequalities in enrollment and performance which arise between its institutions. The University, however, benefits from a Board whose specific focus makes for better and more streamlined operations.
Oregon's board was wrong in firing Lariviere as early as Monday, as no recent developments since the University of Oregon faculty and staff raises were discovered in September had occurred to justify doing so. Instead, the board should have honored Lariviere's contract extension to next June before making a decision; indeed, griping about Lariviere having ignored mutual agreements, before doing the same by terminating his contract, is not only hypocritical on the board's part but will serve to reduce trust in it for futurity.
As state appropriations for higher education decrease, governing bodies such as the Oregon board cannot punish those public universities which would seek fiscal responsibility. Although this has not been an issue at our university, Lariviere's firing nevertheless should be viewed as alarming. The Board of Visitors, in facilitating the procedures of only one school, is able to maintain a good working relationship with our University, but the scenario in Oregon serves as a reminder for the need of communication and transparency.
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