Todd Resigns (but not just yet)

his official notice to the UK community:

To all our loyal alumni and friends:

I held a press conference today announcing that June 30, 2011 will be my last day as President of the University of Kentucky.

This is a very difficult decision for Patsy and me. This University is the love of our lives, from the time we were undergraduates here and later during my time on the faculty. It has been an unbelievable honor to serve as President for the last 10 years. As I have said many times, this University is the essential institution to the future of our state, having the greatest capacity to improve the lives of Kentuckians, the strength of our communities, and the condition of Kentucky.

But 10 years is a long time. And the constant pressure and grind of a job that really is 24/7 has begun to take its toll. Our University needs and demands from its President a consistently high level of energy. To continue in this job without being able to give that level of effort would be a disservice to the institution I care about so much. So this is the right decision at the right moment.

I am proud of the accomplishments of this University over the last 10 years. We've made enormous progress - more Kentuckians enrolled, more research aimed at the tough problems facing our state, and greater outreach to touch the lives of every family and every community across our Commonwealth. And we've done it in spite of bad budgets and difficult challenges because of the faith and determination of students, faculty, and staff who have learned and worked and served here.

It's no secret that I've been frustrated with the economic and budget conditions that surround the University. But I have never been more confident in this University's ability to meet whatever challenges lie ahead and continue to make progress. The people of this University have the talent and energy to push our University - and therefore push our state - to new heights. Our alumni continue to support that mission. Together we've changed the way Kentuckians think about their state, their flagship university, and their future. We have helped them see what's possible. And we have helped them understand that the future of this University - their University - and the future of this state are one and the same.

Now, more than ever, we must continue to serve as a beacon of hope in a troubled time. There is much work still to do. That's what makes this decision very difficult. I want nothing more than for this University to continue to move forward and to continue to be a part of that. But the time has come for new leadership and energy and vision.

Patsy and I thank you for the privilege of leading this wonderful and essential institution.

Lee T. Todd, Jr.
President

UK a Little Top Heavy?

This came in as a comment to another post, but it's so good we're going to give it its own entry.

"Let's change the topic/entry to one about yet ANOTHER new assistant provost in undergraduate education, this one for Gen Ed oversight. A full professor with no doubt some sort of salary enhancement, while the rest of us aren't making SQUAT and haven't since the SALARY FREEZES went into effect."

Wasn't it Todd who said the university was too top heavy when he took over? Just before he started adding layer after layer of overpaid administrators, right?

Tuition Increase and No Raise for the Third Straight Year

According to Lee Todd's e-mail to UK folks today, UK "will not be able to provide across-the-board salary increases to faculty and staff."

Todd did acknowledge that "because hospital operations are generating sufficient revenue, the senior leadership of UK HealthCare continues to analyze whether they have the capacity to give a salary increase to their employees."

This story has been repeated so many times no one seems the least bit surprised.

Lest the students feel left out, Todd also announced a six-percent increase in tuition.

However, Todd did express some regret at being unable to give raises. "He said he would like to give the university's lowest-paid employees a raise of some kind — perhaps a one-time payment or permanent salary adjustment — but is not sure how to pay for it."

There now -- don't we all feel better?

Morale Might Suffer?

Today's Lexington Herald-Leader quotes Lee Todd as saying "The biggest impact would be to the morale," in response to a question about consequences to a possible cut to funding. There is a possibility that state colleges and universities will suffer more cuts to their budgets in the next two years.

Morale might suffer? Evidently Todd's been on vacation for the last 18 months if he thinks morale isn't already suffering.

Let's see -- Todd has "flattened" the organization of the university by hiring more and more administrators. Staff have been without raises for two years. Jobs continue to be cut, forcing the remaining staff and faculty to take up the slack. The Board of Trustees continues to trust Todd to keep them safe from unpopular issues by not allowing visitors to speak to them (this also helps the Board work more diligently on finding ways to pay Todd even more). Todd and the Board were thrilled to accept coal money for a new building required to be named after a fossil, guaranteeing Kentucky being showcased on Leno and David Letterman.

Morale might suffer? God help us all.

Cuts in Benefits and More for Todd

from another one of our alert readers . . . .

"The same day the administration decided to defer vesting the university contribution for new faculty and staff for 5 years to save money, they are considering ways to increase Lee Todd's pay. That certainly will help us attract the best new faculty and staff."

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/994111.html

King Coal!

The following e-mail has been circulating among staff and faculty today . . .

KING COAL

Old King Coal was a monied old soul


And a monied old soul was he;


He called for his cash, and he called up his Pres


who gathered his lackey trustees.


Three of the board had some spine,


But they had very little say;


And when there’s only a few who dare (or even care),


Old King Coal will have his way.

To no one’s surprise, the UK Board of Trustees took the low road and accepted $7 million to fund the new Wildcat Coal Lodge, beginning a new error, I mean era, in UK traditions by naming a building after an industry rather than a person. The Trustees took the coal money; we got the shaft (again).

In response to numerous complaints, President Todd (might have) said, “Look, Coach Cal has successfully recruited rock star players, so it is only fitting that we name the Wildcat Lodge after a rock, right? In fact, we in the UK Administration have had rocks on our mind (and in our head) ever since the Top 20 program ended up on the rocks. So, it’s time for the entire UK community to come together and support this decision by following the example of Billy G by having a few on the rocks.”

President Todd (probably didn’t) continue his justification for the decision by noting: ”It’s important to realize that in the race to the bottom, our lead over the University of Louisville was in danger. Not long ago, we were way ahead; but that all changed with the exposure of Pitino’s poor table manners and the under-the-radar (table?) pension payoff to President Ramsey. But now we are again safely ahead and working on padding our lead.”

COAL WINS. SO, LIKE IT OR LUMP IT.

Well, I guess we have to just think of this as yet another lump of coal in our collective stocking. Even so, we have to move on and continue to make regress in our path to the Top 20. Perhaps the failure to stop the insertion of Coal into the name of the Wildcat Lodge occurred because faculty, students, and staff members did not object early enough; although to be fair, we have no evidence that the UK administration and Board of Trustees have ever listened to students, faculty, or staff complaints.

Even so, we must start now to protect the names of our next new buildings. The current top three building priorities on the UK list are:

1. New wing on the administration building

2. Board of Trustees annex to the Patterson Office Tower

3. Research—Ultra Science (R-US) building

The UK Administration and Board of Trustees have been working hard to find donors for these worthy projects. The Trustees Annex is particularly crucial because it will have a sauna and a state of the art exercise facility. This is a priority because the Trustees have not been getting enough exercise; after all, when is the last time the Trustees exercised good judgment? In addition, they have agreed to allow President Todd to have an honorary membership because he, too, has not been getting much exercise lately. When asked, he explained that he no longer takes walks since he now has two university cars and would feel guilty wasting university resources by letting them just sit in his driveway. In fact, since he is such an environmental advocate and strongly supports the UK green initiatives, he no longer drives his Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4 Hemi, but instead tows it behind his Avalon wherever he goes.

You are all aware that these are tough financial times. It is hard to raise money for worthy causes like hiring and compensating faculty and staff, or providing more scholarships to students. Still, our leaders have been able to find potential donors for our high priority buildings by focusing on industries that have been doing well during the recession and financial crisis. One potential donor, Joe Morally, President of the Association of Bankruptcy Lawyers, has done quite well helping the government take over bankrupt businesses. Another group that has profited from the current economic downturn is the American Association of Auctioneers and Liquidators. Finally, Kentucky’s agricultural industry remains recession-proof (at least the marijuana growing sector has).

At the next UK Board of Trustees meeting, the Trustees will be voting on accepting the donations from these groups. The only conditions imposed by the donors are that the building names include Bankrupt, Morally, Sell Out, and Dope. So, we’ll soon have the Board of Trustees Sell Out Annex, the Morally Bankrupt Administration Building, and the Dopes R-US Building. The only saving grace is that unlike the name “Wildcat Coal Lodge” (which suggests that the occupants are lumps of coal), these names don’t misrepresent the occupants. But, as President Todd (never actually) said, “That’s the way it is, so you can just like it or lump it.“

Lee Todd Underpaid?

So Lee Todd turned down his annual bonus of $168,000, which one Board of Trustees claimed was such a "tiny" amount. It's admirable that Todd finally got the message that none of the people who work at UK appreciate his outrageous bonuses while staff and faculty salaries continue to plummet.

Now the Board of Trustees, who apparently live on Mars, want to re-examine Todd's pay package in case he might be underpaid.

Perhaps they're on to something. Just how much is Todd worth to UK? Will the Board take into consideration that the Todd's live rent free, have all their medical needs and insurance paid for, as well as their transportation (remember that second car it decreed was necessary)? And what's the value of all that cheap labor supplied by underpaid staff members?

Let's get a real picture of what exactly Todd is worth.

What do you think? What is Todd worth to UK? What would be a good salary for him, minus any bonuses?

Performance Evaluation Time!

It's about time for Lee Todd's annual performance evaluation. What's your opinion of how well Todd has performed his duties this past year? Has he communicated well? Has he moved us closer to top 20 status?

If he does the absolute minimum required by his contract, does he deserve a bonus?

Do you think you should get a bonus for doing your job?

When Did She Get Hired?

The rumor mill has been busy this week and the issues are all sadly business as usual -- the UK Way.

Let's start with a simple one. Why is Patsy Todd allowed to interfere in HR's hiring and firing decisions for staff even though she is not a UK employee? Is she also interfering with faculty hirings and firings? Does she get a bonus for this (besides driving a university car)?

Of course, we all know that certain high-level administrators frequently bypass HR in hiring and firing. All they have to do is pick up the phone and say they want so-and-so hired at such-and-such a salary, and that's that.

The rest of us have to settle for being overqualified and underpaid to work at UK.

A Comforting Euphemism

Today's Herald-Leader printed three letters to the editor about Lee Todd and the university. The first one, by David Baynham, "UK Mistreating Faculty & Staff in its Cutbacks," highlights how UK has been eliminating jobs on one hand and on the other proclaiming "there haven't been firings at UK because of the budget."

Baynham goes on to say, "I'm sure everything Todd describes as accomplishments is accurate. What Todd omits is how UK is treating faculty and staff — the very people he extols for dedication, gallant efforts and determination, and refusal 'to use a troubled period' as an excuse to relinquish leadership.

"Too bad Todd and his cabinet don't hold themselves to the same high commitment."

How many people do you know who've lost their job due to these non-firings? What reason were they given?