Acting UH president
to get interim term

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is planning to name acting President David McClain the school's interim president for up to two years, a board member said Friday.

David McClain: The move would give regents two years to fill the officially vacant position

The board hopes to have a public meeting on the matter at its next regular meeting in Hilo next month, said Board Vice Chairwoman Kitty Lagareta.

"It looks like we're very close to finalizing a two-year interim agreement with Dr. McClain," said Lagareta, who added that agreement would also require approval from the full board.

The two-year period is the maximum amount of time the university can go without a permanent president before risking sanctions from accrediting agencies, she said.

The decision would give the university more time to conduct a nationwide search for a new president. That would be started sometime during the two years McClain serves as interim president, Lagareta said.

The board also had discussions with others in the academic community about whether McClain is eligible to be a candidate for the permanent spot, and the consensus was that "he can throw his hat in the ring," she said.

McClain was named acting president on June 15 after the board voted to fire Evan Dobelle for cause. The board later rescinded that decision in a mediated settlement that allowed Dobelle to resign and stay on the university faculty for two years with a settlement of about $1.3 million in cash and salary.