BOT needs to outline the new chain of command

With the announcement that Provost Dr. Ali Houshmand has taken over the daily activities of university president, rumors are circling that Dr. Donald Farish is not even on campus to perform any duties at all.

The president’s office did not return phone calls from the Whit, but last week Joe Cardona, Director of Media and Public Relations said that Farish is still considered president, but Houshmand’s “duties have expanded.”

Cardona would not elaborate on Houshmand’s duties, but said, “(Farish’s) roles are assigned by the Board of Trustees.”

The question stands: who is really running this place?

The Board of Trustees revised Farish’s contract in December, and in the contract it states, “President Farish agrees to continue to perform any and all duties as may be reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees consistent with his position as president, be cooperative in working with Rowan employees and abide by all policies, procedures, rules and regulations of Rowan during this time period.”

But what happens if the BOT doesn’t give Farish anything to do?

With all of the politics and personality conflicts involved in Farish’s contract being terminated a full year early, it wouldn’t be surprising if the BOT let Farish skate by on a no-show job just to take the decision making away from him. But is that what is best for the university?

According to Cardona, Houshmand is currently acting as president for day-to-day duties on top of his job as provost. When it comes to jobs, like creating the university’s budget for the next academic year, Houshmand will be pulling double duty. Something as delicate as the budget, especially in a time of state-funding cuts, should be handled by as many experience people as possible. Having Farish and Houshmand on the same team during the process could make a world of difference.

Through this entire process, the BOT has been quiet. There has been little word about the formation of the transition team to find Farish’s replacement. There has been little outreach from the board to the faculty, staff and students. All of this is echoing exactly what got the university into this mess: zero communication down the ranks.

If nothing else, students and faculty deserve to know who is in charge. Splitting the duties of president doesn’t sound like an efficient way to run a university, and paying Farish to do very little is certainly not helping anyone.

The board needs to come out with a clear plan, outlined for the students. Not communicating leaves room for rumors and uncertainty, and fear of the future. The BOT needs to start turning the view of the campus towards the future, but that can’t happen if we are uncertain of the present.