This is the fifteenth post in an ongoing series as we file Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo 610) requests and investigate the non-renewal of the contract of University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky. Links to previous coverage are below the fold. BG and MB

At the October 29, 2009 University of Central Missouri Board of Governors meeting. From left to right: University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky, Board of Governors President Richard Phillips, board member Walt Hicklin, University Counsel Henry Setser. The empty chairs in the foreground were for board members Deleta Williams and Lawrence Fick, both who did not attend this meeting and who were in the minority in voting to renew President Aaron Podolefsky’s contract almost a month ago.

At 4:45 p.m. in the Friday news dump:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

UCM Begins Presidential Search Process

WARRENSBURG, MO (Oct. 30, 2009) – The University of Central Missouri Board of Governors voted Oct. 29 to enter a contract with Ken Hutchinson, president, Hutchinson Consulting LLC, Columbia, to lead the search for the university’s 15th president. The vote was unanimous by those attending the meeting. Hutchinson brings unique qualifications and credentials to the presidential search process, having served 42 years in higher education administration in Missouri, retiring at the end of 2007 as vice president of human resources at the University of Missouri.

An advisor and consultant on previous university presidential searches in Missouri, Hutchinson has extensive experience with regard to executive performance programs. Hutchinson was elected as a Fellow in the National Academy of Human Resources in 2000. In addition to his personal qualifications, he maintains a contractual relationship with the leading national search firm of Jerry H. Baker and Associates, which brings additional expertise and resources to the search process.

The presidential search process, now under way at UCM, will be highly collaborative and involve input from all major stakeholder groups, according to Richard Phillips, president of the UCM Board of Governors. More details on the complete process will be announced soon.

# # #

[emphasis added]

Was there an RFP (request for proposals) or bid process before the awarding of this contract? And what is the cost of the contract? We’ll try asking those questions.

“…The vote was unanimous by those attending the meeting…” Two of the three board members who voted to renew Aaron Podolefsky’s contract were not in attendance.

“…The presidential search process, now under way at UCM, will be highly collaborative and involve input from all major stakeholder groups, according to Richard Phillips, president of the UCM Board of Governors…” I’ll venture a guess of the names of ten faculty members who definitely won’t be appointed to that search committee.

Let’s take a look at some connections:

UM associate to retire in December

By Amy Brachmann and Elliot Njus

Published Sept. 14, 2007

Kenneth Hutchinson, the UM system vice president for human resources, said he plans to stay professionally active after he leaves the UM system, but still plans to enjoy retirement…

…UM system General Counsel Bunky Wright, who also works at the UM system office, said he and Hutchinson have been friends since childhood.

“I have the greatest respect for him,” Wright said. “He’s just an outstanding person.”

Hutchinson said that although he hopes to do some professional work at a human resources firm he started, he doesn’t want to do too much…

[emphasis added]

July 30, 2003

UM approves raise for administrators

by WHITNEY POOL  

The UM Board of Curators approved a 2 percent salary increase for five administrative officials during its executive session Friday.

Vice President for Human Resources Ken Hutchinson, Vice President for Academic Affairs Steve Lehmkuhle, Vice President for Finance and Administration Nikki Krawitz, UM General Counsel Marvin “Bunky” Wright and UM Board Secretary Kathy Miller will be receiving the raise.

[emphasis added]

University of Central Missouri

Board of Governors

Plenary Session Minutes

February 26, 2009

….Mr. Phillips….welcomed and introduced Mr. Henry Setser, UCM’s new General Counsel who will begin full-time employment on March 3, 2009. Mr. Phillips expressed appreciation to Mr. Marvin Wright for his service to UCM as Interim General Counsel….

[emphasis added]

Curators hold public forums

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Jack Rollins

….noticed that no representative from Baker-Parker, Inc. was present at the forum. “Does anyone from Baker plan on attending these forums?” he asked.

Ken Hutchinson, vice president for human resources for the university, assured Combs and others that a representative from Baker would be present at all the forums except the first one…

[emphasis added]

Jerry Baker

President

Mr. Baker has been an executive search consultant since 1976. Prior to establishing the firm in 2007, he was a partner with Baker-Parker, Inc. for 16 years….

[emphasis added]

Where everybody knows your name.

Connections are always interesting.

Let’s take a look at the biographies of the current board members who voted in the 4-3 majority to not renew President Aaron Podolefsky’s contract earlier this month:

Board of Governors

Richard Phillips was named to the Board of Governors in February 2005 and currently serves as the board president….He also worked at UCM as assistant football coach from 1970 to 1972….

Walter “Walt” Hicklin was named to the Board of Governors in June 2007, and currently serves as board vice president.   He retired in 2006 as Vice President emeritus of Student Affairs at the University of Central Missouri after having served the university for 31 years….

Weldon Brady was appointed to the Board of Governors in February 2008, and currently serves as board secretary….[1964] and since that time has been a strong supporter of the university and its athletic teams….

Edward L. Baker was appointed to the Board of Governors in April 2007….A strong supporter of UCM athletics, Baker has been a member of the Mule Train since 2002…

[emphasis added]

Mule Train, Mule Train? Where have I seen that before. Oh, yes, now I remember.

Well, three out of the four board members who voted to not renew Aaron Podolefsky’s contract expressed strong connections in their board biographies to the university’s athletic programs.

Oh, wait, make that four out of four with those strong connections:

….Hicklin joined Central in 1975 as an instructor of mathematics, spent five years as the head football coach and one year a
s head track coach….

[emphasis added]

Our previous coverage:

Three steps behind, and to the right (January 25, 2008)

Three steps behind, and to the right, part 2 – a microcosm of our universe (September 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? (October 15, 2009) (transcript of a portion of the live radio broadcast)

It wasn’t just about a tree (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: let’s not get cut out of the will (October 22, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: $87.75 will get you one sheet of paper (October 23, 2009)



“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: They’re not playing hardball, they’re playing cat and mouse  (October 23, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a cola and some scoreboards (October 24, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a few more pieces of the puzzle? (October 28, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your silence means consent (October 29, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: let’s not get cut out of the will, part 2 (October 30, 2009)

Old media irony impairment (October 30, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio, part 2 (October 31, 2009)