SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY Trustees, townsfolk rally for president

The state wants to get rid of the president but won't say why.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- This community doesn't plan to let its popular university president go without a fight.
On Friday, the Slippery Rock University Council of Trustees overwhelmingly reaffirmed its endorsement of University President G. Warren Smith II's employment contract extension.
Townspeople, businessmen, students, union representatives and academics turned out to praise Smith and express displeasure over his contract nonrenewal.
Smith, whose leadership has reversed a decade-long enrollment slide and raised millions for the university, has been informed by state officials that once his contract is up June 30, 2004, he's out of a job. No specific reasons have been given.
Allowed by law
State law allows this despite the trustees' consistent recommendations that his contract be renewed.
Act 188 designates trustees as advisory and allows them to make recommendations to Judy Hample, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's chancellor. The chancellor then makes recommendations to the state board of governors, which oversees the 14-school state university system.
Hample recommended Smith's contract not be renewed and the board of governors has accepted her recommendation.
Many speakers testified that the university was stagnant in many ways before Smith took over in 1997.
Accomplishments
A few of his accomplishments include:
UInstitution of strategic planning.
UIntroduction of a five-year capital campaign which exceeded the $11 million goal in 18 months.
UIncreased efforts to recruit and retain minority students.
UReversal of a decade-long decline in enrollment with aggressive marketing.
UImproved financial planning and budget development.
UFormulation of a facilities master plan.
UOpening off-campus instructional centers in Allegheny and Lawrence counties.
UReorganization of academic departments and programs.
UBringing the university into regional economic development and equipping all classrooms with Internet access.
Supporters
Tony Caldarelli, representing State College and University Professional Association, which represents nonteaching professionals, commented that the once low morale among university employees is so high under Smith's leadership that he finds it hard to recruit union members.
Ken Harris, mayor of Slippery Rock, presented a letter of support signed by him.
Dr. Bill Williams, president of the SRU chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State, College and Union Faculty, which represents the SRU faculty, lauded Smith for leading the university to physical and academic growth.
Smith thanked all for their support. After the meeting, he would only say that he hopes the state officials change their mind and he doesn't think they understand what obstacles SRU faces or what it has accomplished.
Trustee Kenneth Blair who chairs the trustee council, said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the decision might be reversed. He said Smith has two years left in his term, and this gives trustees another opportunity to try and sway the board of governors when they file a written review of his performance.