The Chronicle of Higher Education
August 11, 2003
University of Tennessee's Embattled President Resigns
The University of Tennessee's embattled president, John Shumaker, who had come
under fire in recent weeks amid allegations of financial and ethical improprieties,
resigned on Friday. It is the second time in as many years that the president
at Tennessee has left under a cloud.
Tennessee's governor, Phil Bresden, announced on Friday at a news conference
in Nashville that he had accepted the president's resignation, effective immediately.
The announcement followed a meeting of the two men the previous night, after
which Mr. Shumaker submitted a terse, five-sentence letter of resignation.
"I believe that this step is in the best interests of the University,"
the president wrote. "I simply cannot permit our students, faculty, staff,
alumni, and trustees to be distracted from their important work by letting the
controversies of the past several weeks continue."
Mr. Shumaker's troubles began earlier this summer, one year into his tenure
as president, when his use of a university aircraft came under scrutiny. A review
of travel records, which was initiated after the president asked the university
to buy a new plane, showed that Mr. Shumaker had used the old plane to take
personal trips, reported The Knoxville News. The newspaper also raised questions
about a $300,000 no-bid consulting contract that the university had awarded
to a friend of Mr. Shumaker's in Washington.
The president repaid $25,000 in questionable charges, and the university ordered
an audit of Mr. Shumaker's expenses, but before the controversy could die down,
more allegations surfaced.
Court records in the president's bitter divorce proceedings raised several
new questions. Mr. Shumaker testified under oath during those proceedings that
he had received $10,000 from Hyundai several years earlier. The "gift"
followed the company's signing of a $110,000 training contract with Central
Connecticut State University, where Mr. Shumaker was president, from 1987 to
1995. Connecticut officials said that the exchange violated the state's ethics
laws, but that the statue of limitations had expired, the Knoxville newspaper
reported.
Mr. Shumaker also testified that he and a nanny who worked for him, a former
Central Connecticut State student, had taken out a marriage license even though
they had no intention of being wed. The ruse was calculated to help the woman
resolve her visa problems, the newspaper reported.
In addition, Mr. Shumaker's former wife, Lucy, testified during the divorce
proceedings that her husband had become president of the university through
a rigged process. She said that a university official had provided Mr. Shumaker
with questions that were asked of him later during a job interview before a
panel of university trustees. Mr. Shumaker has denied the allegation.
Before his resignation, the president had said that he was "not giving
any consideration to resignation," according to reports by the Knoxville
news media. Those sources also reported that the governor had stated in a radio
address on Thursday that he wanted to see the audits of Mr. Shumaker's activities,
due later this month, before passing judgment on the president.
The governor said on Friday that he would call a special meeting of the executive
committee of the university's Board of Trustees on August 21 to seek "recommendations
as to who should step in and serve as interim president, as well as a timeline
and process for selecting a permanent president."
In hiring Mr. Shumaker last year, the board had hoped that he would restore
the prestige of the presidency, which had been tarnished following the resignation
of his predecessor, J. Wade Gilley. Mr. Gilley resigned in June 2001, shortly
before the public release of e-mail messages that suggested a romance between
him and a university employee, both of whom were married.
Mr. Shumaker, who was president of the University of Louisville from 1995 to
2002, resigned as one of the best paid presidents in higher education. His annual
compensation at Tennessee was about $734,000, including a base salary of $365,000
per year, deferred compensation, use of a university house and car, an expense
account, and other benefits.
Mr. Shumaker cleared out his office immediately, and agreed to vacate his university
house in Knoxville within 60 days. The governor, who also serves as chairman
of the university's board, has proposed severance that would pay the former
president's base salary and deferred compensation through the end of the year.
"The past several weeks have been very difficult for the University of
Tennessee family," the governor said on Friday. "I am hopeful that
today's announcement will put an end to the negative attention focused on the
university over the last several weeks."
Hazard Herald
August 6, 2003
Ron Daley named Interim Director of UCM
Ron Daley is very excited about his new duties to work with the two regional
universities to bring more bachelor and advanced degrees to this region as part
of the University Center of the Mountains (UCM).
Daley recently began his duties as the interim director of the UCM. The UCM
is a consortium consisting of the following originating partners: Hazard Community
College, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University and the Kentucky
Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The presidents of the partnering
institutions recently signed a memorandum of understanding creating the UCM
effective July 15.
"I am thrilled that Ron Daley has accepted my offer to become the Interim
Director for the University Center of the Mountains. Ron is well known in our
local communities and has served on regional and state committees. He is a visionary
who will help grow the UCM to the benefit of Southeastern Kentucky," noted
Dr. Jay K. Box, president and CEO of Hazard Community College.
Daley was attracted to the job because it is working in a new realm. "God
has blessed me by allowing me to be a part of the beginnings of important ventures
which have positively touched people's lives," Daley said.
He has served for the past five years as the campus director for the Knott
County Branch of Hazard Community College in Hindman. Daley chaired the Knott
County educational committee which worked with state, local and college officials
to obtain the $5.6 million Knott County Opportunity Center primarily funded
by the state legislature in 1998. The dedication for the new facility which
houses the Knott Branch, the Knott Public Library, the Knott Adult Education
Programs, LKLP Headstart Daycare Center, Morehead State University and Centenet
distance learning classrooms, and two county offices will be on Aug. 27.
Daley was selected as the first chairman of the Knott-Hindman Community Development
Initiative (CDI) in 1997 which developed a strategic plan to rebuild the local
economy in part based on arts and craft. The Opportunity Center, the KY School
of Craft and the KY Appalachian Artisan Center are key components of this planning.
Daley was the founding publisher and editor of the Troublesome Creek Times,
a weekly newspaper in Knott County, in 1980. He published the newspaper for
20 years until he sold it to two members of his staff in September 2000. During
a 10 year stint, he earned the distinction of winning more state press awards
than any other journalist in the state. The Times won over 300 state and national
awards under Daley's leadership. He served as president and vice-president of
the KY Weekly Newspaper Association.
While at the Times, Daley edited special historical editions including the
history of Knott County, the contributions of Knott Countians in World War II
and the history of basketball in Knott County. He co-edited the hard bound Knott
County History Book.
Daley was one of the founding board members for the East KY Leadership Foundation
which hosts the annual East KY Leadership Conference. He was the founder of
the Knott County Gingerbread Festival and worked with the festival for several
years.
Daley worked at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes prior to starting the
newspaper. Among his duties there he administered the Appalachian Studies program,
the Appalachian Oral History Project, and taught.
Daley was born in North Dakota and lived much of his early life in New Mexico
and Texas. "I tried to get to Eastern Kentucky because I just know it was
meant for me to live here," Daley said. He graduated from London High School
in Laurel County, prior to graduating with a BA in History at Berea College
and a Master of Arts in College Teaching in History at Western Kentucky University.
Daley has two sons, Matt who is a student at the Hazard Community College
and Paul who is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky.
The goal of the UCM is to increase the number of bachelor and master degree
programs in the Kentucky River Area Development District (KRADD), which includes
the counties of Perry, Knott, Letcher, Leslie, Breathitt, Owsley, Wolfe and
Lee. Presently, only 8.5% of the eligible population in the service area holds
a bachelor's degree, compared to 17% statewide. The UCM interim offices are
located in the HCC Learning Resource Center. Gov. Paul Patton has recommended
a $396,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to renovate space in the first
floor of the new science wing at the Ky. 15 campus. Anticipated opening in that
new space is Fall 2004.
"The purpose of the center is for the university partners to have advisors,
faculty and staff in one central location to meet with most students and potential
students," explains Daley.
For more information about UCM, contact Ron Daley, Interim Director for the
UCM at 606-436-5721, 800-246-7521 ext. 215. Or write to Ron Daley at One Community
College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701.
Hazard Herald
August 6, 2003
Students attracted to HCC
Students attending Hazard Community College explain why they were attracted
to enrolling at the two-year school. Student Jaime Turner of Perry County is
working toward her Associates Degree in Applied Science. "I chose Hazard
Community College because it is local and more affordable than larger universities.
Shortly after I started attending classes here, I found that the classroom sizes
were small and the instructors had time to help if you needed help." Jaime
is also a participant in the work-study program at HCC and has been hired at
the receptionist and switchboard supervisor.
Kathy Turner of Knott County plans to graduate this December from HCC. After
graduation she plans to continue her education at Morehead State University
to work toward her bachelor degree in English Education. "I really don't
know what I would have done if it wasn't for Chestina Turner who works in the
Learning Center. I needed help with math and the Learning Center provided the
help that I needed to succeed." Kathy has been on the Dean's List and is
proud to say that she will be the first from her family to receive a college
degree.
Emmanuel Harris of Hazard is another successful student at HCC. He has been
attending classes for the past year and has also been on the Dean's List. Emmanuel
was the recipient of the Edward A. and Oneda M. Hughes Memorial Scholarship
in May 2003. "I encourage anyone who plans to attend college to stick with
it like I have." Emmanuel plans to graduate with a degree in Computer Information
Systems. He recently received a full scholarship from Union College to play
basketball.
Hazard Community College can be your first step in the beginning of your success
story this fall. Registration for the fall semester at HCC will be Wednesday
through Friday, Aug. 13-15. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 18.
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