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Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363 Date: August 23, 2002 |
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UT System News Release |
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Yudof Announces Major Staff Changes for U.T. System Administration
AUSTIN -- Chancellor Mark G. Yudof announced major staff changes and a reorganization of the University of Texas System administration today (August 23). Searches for new leaders for key offices in health affairs, academic affairs, governmental relations, and community relations will begin immediately, according to Yudof. A new office for educational system alignment is being established to improve the U.T. System interface among higher education, community colleges, and elementary and secondary education in the state. In addition, a new position for accountability and performance assessment has been created for the first time at the state's largest higher education system.
"This is an opportunity to bring a new leadership team together for the U.T. System," Yudof said in making the announcement. "We have great challenges and opportunities ahead of us in higher education, and I want a leadership team that reflects our values and aspirations for higher education in general and for the entire U.T. System." Today's announcement is Yudof's first major staff change since becoming the ninth chancellor of the U.T. System on August 1.
With today's announcement, searches will begin for an executive vice chancellor for health affairs, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, vice chancellor for governmental relations, and vice chancellor for community relations for the U.T. System.
James Guckian, M.D., currently the acting executive vice chancellor for health affairs, will continue in that position on an interim basis until a replacement has been named to succeed him.
Edwin R. Sharpe, the current executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, will assume new responsibilities as vice chancellor for educational system alignment. In his new position he will be responsible for the U.T. System K-16 program including the "Every Child, Every Advantage" initiative, a variety of collaborative efforts with other universities, community colleges, public schools and state agencies; and the U.T. TeleCampus, the web-based distance learning program which serves the component institutions of the U.T. System.
"This is an excellent opportunity to focus on issues in education that have become a passion for me in my time here at U.T. System," Dr. Sharpe commented. "We will be able to concentrate on programs that integrate and align educational institutions from preschool through college graduation and beyond. The U.T. System is uniquely positioned to make an enduring impact on the education system of the state and to help achieve the ambitious goals of the federal and state education initiatives."
Tom Scott, currently vice chancellor for governmental relations, will resume his duties as associate vice chancellor for governmental relations with responsibility for budget and financial matters. Scott, an expert in higher education finance said, "I look forward to concentrating my works on the vital finance and appropriation issues confronting public higher education in Texas. This is a critical time in our state's history and the success of public higher education is key to Texas' future."
The position of vice chancellor for community relations, vacant since June, will also be filled through a search, according to Yudof.
In addition to these moves, Chancellor Yudof also announced two new appointments. Amy Shaw Thomas has been promoted to associate vice chancellor for health affairs. Shaw Thomas has been an assistant vice chancellor for governmental relations and assistant vice chancellor for health affairs at the U.T. System.
Chancellor Yudof also announced the appointment of Geri Malandra as executive associate for accountability and performance, reporting directly to the chancellor. Malandra held a similar position at the University of Minnesota where Yudof was president before being named chancellor of the U.T. System.
"It is crucial that we establish at the highest level an office charged with responsibility for system-wide accountability, performance, and benchmarking," Yudof said. "As I did at Minnesota, I intend for this office to work with all of our component campuses, executive offices of the System, and agencies of the state to establish a system of accountability measures and performance data. We need accurate, objective data from this office that will provide a clear picture of the quality of education and health care we are providing and to report that information regularly to me, to the Board of Regents, and to the people of Texas. It will be vital to the decision-making process and essential to improving quality, saving dollars devoted to education and research, and improving student services at all of our component institutions."
The promotions, appointments, and reassignments are effective immediately.
"I am pleased that Tom Scott and Ed Sharpe have agreed to remain with the U.T. System Administration in these new capacities," Yudof said. "I believe they will continue to contribute in ways that draw on their vast experience and dedicated service to the state, the U.T. System, and higher education. Jim Guckian will continue his excellent service as acting executive vice chancellor until a search is concluded for a replacement."
In addition to these appointments, another major executive appointment was made in July with the creation of the position of vice chancellor for administration. Tonya Moten Brown, an administrator at the University of Minnesota since 1997, was appointed July 25 by then-Chancellor R. D. Burck in consultation with incoming Chancellor Yudof.
Brown will be the primary contact from the chancellor's office for administrative matters related to the U.T. System's operations and planning. She will represent the chancellor's office on governmental committees, collaborate with system officials to ensure organizational effectiveness, direct the analysis and evaluation of system activities for the chancellor's office, and carry out other administrative functions for the chancellor. She began her duties in Austin on August 19.
The executive vice chancellor for academic affairs is responsible for the U.T. System undergraduate, graduate, and research programs conducted at the nine academic institutions in the U.T. System. Through the presidents of the component institutions, the executive vice chancellor has responsibility for academic planning and programs, budgets, facilities planning and construction, and personnel (both academic and non-academic) of those components.
The executive vice chancellor for health affairs has primary responsibility for the oversight of the six health institutions of the U.T. System. Through the presidents of the component institutions, the Health Affairs Office has responsibility for the budgets, academic planning and programs, health care delivery, facilities planning and construction, and personnel (both academic and non-academic) of those components.
The vice chancellor for community relations works with the component institutions and serves the principal liaison to the various statewide community-based organizations and professional associations operating in Texas to further the mission of the U.T. System. These efforts include on-going collaboration programs benefiting small businessmen and women in the U.T. System construction program and adult and youth educational leadership scholarship programs. Recent work has focused on developing international programs between the U.T. System and various higher education institutions in Mexico including student and faculty exchange programs, research, telemedicine, and distance education. |
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Every Child, Every Advantage: www.utsystem.edu/everychild/
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The University of Texas System Office of Public
Affairs || 210 West 6th Street, Suite 2.100
Austin, Texas 78701 || p: (512) 499-4363 || f: (512) 499-4358 || email: adebruyn@utsystem.edu |
