University of

North Florida

Lessons Learned

Ground Rules•One Conversation•Listen To Hear Differences•Be Honest/Candid & Open•Be Tough On Issues/Concerns•Be Easy On Each Other•Parking Lot

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

LESSONS LEARNED

OVERVIEW • Attention to mission, goals and values should

drive university decisions and initiatives• Handouts for Pennsylvania State, Virginia,

and UNF for Mission, Goals, and values statements

PENNSYLVANIA STATECOMMUNICATE—NO SUPRISES

• “Spanier filtered issues. Rainbows but not rusty nails.”

• “The Board learned about it when it became public.”

• “ Presidents should share information of great weight at least with a subset of the Board.” Richard Chait

• Unafraid plain talk• Focus on Policy – Not personalities• Protocol for keeping people in loop• Boards – give favorable evaluation for being

candid• CEO works for Board not individuals• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATEFOLLOW PROCEDURES AND USE COMMITTEE SYSTEM• “No regular reporting procedures or committee structures to ensure

disclosure of major risks to the University.” Freeh Report• “Some trustees felt they were there to rubber stamp Spanier.” Freeh

Report.• “The Board did not independently ask for more information or assess

the underreporting by Spanier about the Sandusky investigation after May 11.” Freeh Report

• “The Board was unprepared to deal with charges filed against senior administrators and the football coach—and the firing of Coach Paterno.” Freeh report

• 119 recommendations for improvement—see a sample in handout• Engagement of all board members is essential• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

BOARD DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIAL•New board member orientation

▫Focus on responsibilities•Encourage in-service

▫Attendance at AGB meetings•Board self assessment

ALL MUST ABIDE BY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES•BIG KILLER ERROR—Football subject to discipline by Coach – not university• President allowed this to happen•No evidence of Board concern• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

IN RISK ANALYSIS FOCUS ON KILLER ERRORS• N0 evidence of athletics program

considered a risk• Other killer errors• Academic• Financial• Personnel

• We focus too much on less important• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

WHEN A KILLER ERROR ARISES DEAL WITH IT—IT WON’T STAY QUIET• Open discussion about Problem – including

Board• Objective Review• Change policies and people• Be as transparent as possible• If to be kept confidential have crisis

management in place when it goes viral (it will)• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

KNOW YOUR CULTURE• “Stay quiet or they will get rid of all of us.

Football runs this place.” One Janitor• “We should have had our antennae up. We

should have been risk managers in a better way.” Board Chair

• Beware of GROUP THINK• Absolute power corrupts absolutely – Lord

Acton• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

TRY TO GET ALL THE BAD NEWS OUT AT ONCE – DON’T FUEL THE FLAMES• Outside review• Credible public statements• Make changes• Communicate, Communicate• When it is over, make it over• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

DO THE RIGHT THING (VALUES) – THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT IMAGE• “A powerful president fought first to

protect his university’s image. Spanier and associates through actions and words showed little concern for the well being of Sandusky’s victims until after Sandusky arrest.” From Freeh Report

• Ask important questions• Why are we here?• What are our Mission, Goals and

Values?• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

A LITTLE HUMILITY HERE• Conflict and open discussion can be a positive force for change• People and institutions make big mistakes – sometimes huge. The sin is not dealing with them and allowing them to happen again

PENNSYLVANIA STATE

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own

way. TOLSTOY

3.1 Review the administrative and governance issues raised in this report, particularly with regard to the structure, composition, eligibility requirements and term limits of the Board, the need to include more members who are not associated with the University……………….The Board should make public the results and recommendations generated from the review.3.3.1 Rotate Committee Chairs every five years or sooner

Freeh RECOMMENDATIONS(NOT ALL 119)

3.44 Use the Board’s Executive Decision/Question Period with the president to make relevant and reasonable inquiry into substantive matters and to facilitate sound decision-making

3.7 Develop a critical incident management plan, including training and exercises, for the Board and University administrators

4.1 Establish and select an individual for a position of “Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer should….”

4.21 Establish a University policy for the implementation of the CLERY Act.

Freeh RECOMMENDATIONS(Cont’d)

TAKE HOME FOR UNF

COMMUNICATE – NO SURPRISES• “The Board might well have avoided such a backlash if members had publicly articulated their concerns. Instead, they hashed out their differences with Ms. Sullivan in the dead of night.” Former Governor James Gilmore III.• “These matters are for strategic dynamism rather than strategic planning.” Board member Kikernan, a strong supporter of firing President Sullivan• “Trust does not mean the absence of disagreement. But it requires that disagreements be frankly discussed. When you choose a president, tell him/her what you are thinking.” President Sullivan• The chief concern I have is the secrecy of what is supposed to be a public process…If the choice is between the ugliness of last week and the ugliness of a meeting where the board says what their concerns are, I think if I were a board member, I would take the public disclosure.” John Casteen, former President of UVA• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND USE COMMITTEE SYSTEM• “Good piece in the WSJ today. We can’t afford to

wait.” Chairman of Board to colleague• “Top executive resigns in wake of leadership crisis—

alleged to have been in communications with Board members, keeping president out of loop.” Recent Chronicle article

• Board did not meet regarding Sullivan firing• Chair said she had the votes• “Concerns of Chair and other valid – a way to use

governance system to address?• Engagement of all Board members essential• Board self assessment – are we targeting the right

things?• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

BOARD DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIAL• Board self-assessment• New Board orientation• Board in-service• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

KNOW THE CULTURE

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIAIS VIRGINIA THE PLACE TO BEGIN

STRATEGIC DYNAMISM?

“After leadership Crisis Fueled by Distance Education Debate, WVA will put free classes on line.” Recent Chronicle Article

“Six months isn’t going to kill the University. If the Board was worried about creating opposition to change, they couldn’t have done it more forcefully than they did.” Jane Wellman, expert on University cost structure

TAKE HOME FOR UNF

ONCE IT IS VIRAL – CLEAN IT UP• Once all the actors are back in place ask

– Can this work?

• TAKE HOME FOR UNF

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA