Is he interested in taking the job permanently or is he just a caretaker until they get a permanent replacement two years down the road? Caretakers rarely make their own mark.

Article I read gave the impression he’s just the care taker.

[/QUOTE]Caretakers rarely make their own mark. [/QUOTE]
Harry Crewson would disagree.

My sources tell me that the Board of Trustees by giving him a two-year contract wanted to make it clear that he wasn't just a "caretaker." They expect him to make meaningful and needed changes. They also are definitely not giving him the title of "interim president," which Harry Crewson was pinned with but which was later officially removed from his title. I knew Dr. Crewson. He was a neighbor when I grew up in Athens. One time in later years I was a guest in his home, and I referred to his presidency as "interim." Big mistake! He bristled at my statement and told me in no uncertain terms that he was not an "interim president." I then found out that though that was how his appointment was initially announced that university records now show him simply as president, not interim president. Semantics, maybe, but to Harry it was an important distinction. Though his term was short, he made meaningful changes and had the full authority of president while he held the office. Let us hope that Dr. Sherman does as well. And, I believe if the university begins to prosper again under his leadership that it's possible he might have his contracted extended to a longer, more typical term. The Trustees are not going to drop him if he appears to be the best person to guide our ship of state. The Trustees appear to be open to several different scenarios depending on how things unfold. Stay tuned . . . I think in terms of Alma Mater we live in interesting times.

Finally, I agree with my friend rpbobcat that kicking Nellis to the curb was the necessary first step in righting the ship. The jury is, obviously, still out on Sherman, but I'm cautiously optimistic that he will be the right person at the right time.

I agree entirely. I stuck up for Nellis in the past only because I felt he inherited a ticking time bomb from the last guy. It's clear now that he didn't forcefully dive into addressing those issues and instead viewed the role as some kind of caretaker while he cashed the checks. We really need a guy with some vision, a guy with the view that he needs to roll up his sleeves, get dirty and throw a few punches. Apologies in advance for the OSU analogy (it's my reference point from working in the Ohio Senate), but we need to find our Ed Jennings. Everyone in Columbus lionized Gee (at least until his comically disastrous second go around), but it was the guy before him that righted the ship and made OSU what it is today. McDavis would have been a good Gee 1.0; the only problem is that he wasn't preceded by a Jennings.

OCF, I agree with you on the “intent” with the two year contract and making him a “real” President, shows something positive towards commitment. Announcing the timeline for the search for the “next” President shows the opposite. He effectively is a lame duck.

I'm looking forward to hearing what Mr.Sherman has to say about this whole situation.

I would also think that,if he's interested,and doing a good job,he could be one of the candidates unearthed in a "Nationwide Search".

According to The Post,Nellis will be taking Paid Professional Leave and won't be
in a classroom until "at least 2022".

According to the article for about the net year,including the sabaticl,he gets a salary of $489,357.00.

Not a bad deal.

This is why Higher Ed gets a bad name, not to mention why tuition is so high. The exiled President of the university gets a salary roughly 2-3x that of the state's highest paid elected official. What lofty services are required for this most generous salary; a sabbatical. You can't make this stuff up.

So it operates just like a corporation, in other words.

No, not really, Higher Ed is pretty much paid for by those attending the university and the citizens of that state funding it.