November 30, 2010
TO:
Campus Community
FROM:
Jeffrey A. Sine, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
SUBJECT:
Conclusion of Periodic Comprehensive Assessment of President Neil Kerwin
________________________________________
The Board of Trustees has completed the periodic comprehensive assessment of President
Kerwin which, as previously announced, commenced after the September 2010 board
meeting. The purpose of the assessment was to give constructive feedback to the president
and to provide the board with insight that will improve its performance. The board used a
process recommended by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
(AGB) that included interviews with over 50 faculty, staff, student, and external
stakeholders. Kenneth A. Shaw, the AGB consultant we engaged to facilitate this process,
has over 25 years of experience as a university leader, serving as president of the University
of Wisconsin system from 1985 to 1991 and chancellor of Syracuse University from 1991 to
2004.
Dr. Shaw completed the interviews in October and has since sent us his report; we used this
information along with substantial input from board members to obtain a full understanding
of Dr. Kerwin’s performance. Dr. Shaw’s report contains sections dealing with general
leadership, personal qualities, finance, fund raising, and external relations. He also offered
advice to the president and to the board.
Since receipt of the report, its contents have been discussed with the full board.
Conversations with the president were constructive and straight forward. While specific
details of the report will remain confidential, we want you to know that we are very pleased
with the president’s performance as well as the campus community’s active participation in
this critical aspect of AU’s governance process. We are grateful for President Kerwin’s
leadership at this important point in AU’s history.
Our feelings can best be stated by the ending comments of the Shaw report:
“One participant observed that, ‘This could be the start of a golden age for AU.’ And
all of the components are in place: a president ready and able to lead; a board that
has positioned itself to be high performing; a faculty and student body of
demonstrated achievement; a university community ready to help make things
happen; and a financial position that allows for positive change to occur. There will
be bumps along the way and disagreements as to what should be done. With a strong
commitment to AU and mutual respect, these can be overcome. We truly believe
that good things will happen.”
Together, we can build an even better future for AU.