<p>"University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers was given an ultimatum Friday: quit or be fired, a source with knowledge of the situation said ... Allegations of undue influence, including the admission of family and friends of legislators otherwise not qualified ..." ...</p>
<p>This extraordinary event seems to be part of longstanding political pressure on President Bill Powers spearheaded by Wallace Hall, a regent who has tried to oust Powers for several years. Hall has been under investigation by a Legislative Committee that is preparing articles of impeachment for him. The alumni magazine offers fuller reporting on the matter noting that the Legislative Committee “told the UT System and the Board of Regents that they were not to fire anyone while their investigation was on, a directive that this ultimatum appears to contradict and that one of the committee chairs has since reminded the regents about.”</p>
<p><a href=“Powers Given Ultimatum: Resign or Be Fired | The Alcalde”>http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2014/07/powers-given-ultimatum-resign-or-be-fired/</a></p>
<p>This makes me really sad. Powers is a good guy. My dad has been a UT prof since 1965 and thinks very highly of him (he has worked with him on several issues).</p>
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<p><a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/07/07/u-texas-austin-president-being-forced-out#sthash.8ULURF9M.dpbs”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/07/07/u-texas-austin-president-being-forced-out#sthash.8ULURF9M.dpbs</a></p>
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<p><a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/07/09/u-texas-austin-leader-wont-be-forced-out-immediately#sthash.fHIX6CCP.MadPAxGS.dpbs”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/07/09/u-texas-austin-leader-wont-be-forced-out-immediately#sthash.fHIX6CCP.MadPAxGS.dpbs</a></p>
<p>Whew. This is an insane story. </p>
<p>I can’t imagine who would want to accept this job now!</p>
<p>Yep, makes it even worse. Maybe the leg will impeach Hall? That would send a message. </p>
<p>Maybe UT will have a good football year…I have heard the issue with Board of Regents hurt recruiting for a new football coach. </p>
<p>That would be fantastic! What a nutcase.</p>
<p>I’m not following either story all that closely, but isn’t what’s going on here similar in a lot of ways to what happened at UVA last year, with a board chair trying to force the ouster of a very well-respected president? Didn’t that kind of backfire on their chair?</p>
<p>It’s just amazing to me, in general, that state flagships–especially ones of such high stature–are getting caught up in these kinds of power struggles. These are battles that could have serious negative consequences for their long-term reputations outside their respective states. </p>
<p>Maybe this kind of thing is nothing new in the higher ed world, and coming from PA, NOTHING compares with the scandal that’s beset Penn State over the last few years, but none of these situations are things I ever would have imagined happening, and I’m a pretty cynical person! </p>
<p>It doesn’t help that the Texas governor, Rick Perry, is an Aggie! Aggies hate UT (or tu, as they call it - we always reply, “Yeah, The University!”).</p>
<p>Boards/regents forcing out College Presidents isn’t anything new. The folks that do the hiring, also do the firing. Normally it’s done with little fanfare, with the president taking a buyout (much like what happens in the corporate world, when boards replace CEO’s). UVA and UT-Austin, however, are a lot higher profile, and the UT drama has been going on for a while with no end is in sight. </p>
<p>The likely next Governer (Greg Abbott) is a UT grad, for whatever that’s worth :)</p>
<p>PS: I’m VERY happy Bill Powers is getting his year, UF is in the middle of it’s presidential search and we don’t need competition from UT-Austin (and all that Texas $$$)!</p>