Des Moines Register
05-27-06
Legislators to investigate Iowa Board of Regents
ERIN JORDAN
REGISTER IOWA CITY BUREAU
Iowa City, Ia. — The Iowa Legislature's Government Oversight Committee will
investigate concerns over whether "micromanagement" by the Iowa Board of
Regents played a role in the departures of the University of Iowa president and
athletic director, lawmakers said.
"We're wondering why we're having this kind of turnover," said Senate
Republican Leader Mary Lundby of Marion.
Lundby said she has been approached by citizens concerned that the board's
hands-on management style may have factored into U of I President David
Skorton's decision to leave for Cornell University and Athletic Director Bob
Bowlsby's choice to go to Stanford University.
"It may be the view of some people that there is micromanagement going on,"
said Rep. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, co-chairman of the House Government
Oversight Committee.
Michael Gartner, board chairman, disputed the micromanagement charge, but
said he would testify before the committee if asked.
"I would be happy to answer any questions," said Gartner, who was appointed to
the board in 2005.
Some U of I faculty have said the board slighted Skorton last year when it gave
him a lower salary increase than the presidents of Iowa State University and the
University of Northern Iowa. The board has also taken a much more active role in
the U of I's presidential search- and-screening committee, which will choose
finalists to succeed Skorton. Past committees had included no regents; this one
has four.
The regents inquiry is not on the Oversight Committee's June 19 agenda, Alons
said, but could be added later. The committee plans to first finish hearings on the
Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium, he said. The regents issue
will come before the committee this summer, Lundby said.