Following a recommendation by Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner, the State Board of Higher Education moved yesterday in a public session to terminate UO President Dr. Richard Lariviere’s contract with 30 days notice. Lariviere’s contract was set to expire on June 30, 2012; his last day in office will now be Dec. 28, followed by six months’ forced sabbatical.
The State Board of Higher Education—comprised of 12 volunteer, governor-appointed directors—voted unanimously to fire Lariviere. An interim president for the University of Oregon has not yet been selected.
In what was clearly a contentious and difficult situation for the board and its president, Matthew Donegan, audience members gave public testimony unilaterally in support of Lariviere, begging that the board slow down its decision-making processes and calling into question the motives of announcing Lariviere’s contract non-renewal just before the Thanksgiving break. Board members were heckled as they explained their long-standing issues with Lariviere and his leadership style.
The main complaint lodged against Lariviere is that his actions since instatement as the UO president in 2009 reflect an allegiance to UO rather than to the OUS as a whole.
“We cannot be a great state without a great University of Oregon, but we also cannot be a great state only because of a great University of Oregon,” said board director James Francesconi after the 18 public testimonies from UO students, alumni and faculty members. “Our state needs more.”
Brian Obie, the founder, president and chief executive officer of Eugene-based Obie Media Corporation and the former mayor of Eugene, was the 14th to give public testimony in support of Lariviere. “What you’re tinkering with here is a world-class organization,” Obie said to the board. “This is not your average deal. And you’re going to screw it up.”
“Ultimately, this is a matter of very little consequence,” Lariviere read from a prepared statement, before the board’s vote. He said that whether he remains the president of UO is nowhere near as important as whether UO continues to develop secure funding sources and its commitment to excellence.
Lariviere is a tenured professor and will likely return to UO for the 2012–13 year in a teaching capacity.