Underwood resists idea of potential Baylor presidential draft

Posted: 10/28/05

Underwood resists idea of
potential Baylor presidential draft

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

WACO–Two groups representing past and present Baylor University faculty have written to the school's board of regents affirming Interim President Bill Underwood, and their leaders want the regents to retain him as interim for at least a full year.

At the same time, other Underwood supporters have raised the possibility of a campaign to draft him for the permanent president's post. But Underwood, who told the regents at their September meeting he wanted to remove his name from consideration for the permanent position, firmly insists he has not reconsidered.

“From the beginning of the presidential search process, I have thought that the best thing the committee could do would be to find a candidate to lead the university who has not been involved in any of the disputes we've had here. I think that's the best thing for the university,” Underwood said. “I am not a candidate for the presidency, and I will not be one.”

Underwood became Baylor's interim president June 1, after Robert Sloan left the post to become the university's chancellor. During the last two years of Sloan's 10 years as president, the Baylor Faculty Senate twice gave him “no confidence” votes, and regents voted three times on Sloan's continued employment–once reportedly coming within one vote of removing him from the president's post.

At its mid-October meeting, the Baylor Faculty Senate voted 31-0–with one member absent and one abstention–to approve a statement affirming Underwood and his leadership.

“Over the past four months, he has demonstrated an attitude of acceptance and respect for all faculty members, provided sound and transparent leadership, encouraged and modeled administrative efficiency, and undertaken concrete and intentional actions toward healing the university community. Interim President Underwood has the respect and appreciation of the Faculty Senate,” said the motion of affirmation mailed to regents.

More than 200 former faculty and staff also signed a letter to regents commending Underwood.

Baylor's Retired Professors and Administrators Program sent the letter, which noted, “The last several years have been characterized by great difficulties and much tension within the Baylor family.”

The letter commended regents for selecting Underwood as interim president, adding, “We strongly endorse your decision to allow him to continue in the restoration of trust and confidence” at the university.

Underwood's “quiet, level-headed leadership” has “created a very large measure of stability and greatly enhanced campus morale,” the letter stated. “Since his becoming the interim president, the spirit of cooperation and fellowship among all constituents of the Baylor family have improved significantly. His knowledge of Baylor, his sincere churchmanship and his generosity of spirit are qualities which are proving invaluable to Baylor's future.”

Faculty Senate Chairman Eric Robinson and Baylor University Retired Professors and Administrators Program Director Rufus Spain insisted their organizations' actions were not part of any effort to draft Underwood for the presidency.

“We're not trying to tell the regents what they should do,” Spain said.

But both Robinson and Spain expressed their desire to see the regents give Underwood an extended interim of one to two years.

“I believe Bill Underwood has done a good job up to this time, and he needs to be interim for at least a year or so,” Spain said. “We've got to get things settled here before we'll ever be able to get a good man in here (for the permanent president's position). I think Bill Underwood is the right person to do it for the interim. Who the right person is beyond that is up for grabs at this point.”

Many faculty members would like to see Underwood as the permanent president, Robinson said.

“This being said, it is obvious that many senators–and faculty–would like to see him remain as interim for an extended time because he is doing a great job,” he added.

Faculty report “a more comfortable work environment” and improved morale this semester, he noted.

“There was some discussion in the senate about how President Underwood's approach to faculty governance, attempts at organizational transparency, general respect for faculty and staff, and realistic outlook should be a model for the type of person the regents seek for our permanent president,” Robinson said.

Most faculty members believe Underwood is leading Baylor in the right direction and contributing to the university's organizational health, he observed.

“In addition, most faculty members understand that as the university becomes healthier, the quality of our applicant pool will improve,” Robinson said. “Therefore, it makes sense to me for the regents to give President Underwood more time–one to two years–to continue as the interim so we can ultimately get the high-quality president that Baylor deserves.”

Underwood expressed confidence in the regents' presidential search committee, saying, “I don't think they feel the need to rush. I am willing to serve for however long it takes.”

However, he added he hoped it wouldn't be two or three years. “Hopefully, the search committee can find someone sooner than that who can unite Baylor,” he said.

In the meantime, he plans to continue working on the goals of Baylor 2012 and meeting with faculty and staff to create an open and trusting climate on campus. As a symbol of that desire for transparency and openness, Underwood even ordered one of the doors removed from the president's office.

“I think we've made a lot of headway in improving the spirit on campus,” he said.