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Two people, not one,
By Susan Kreifels
may replace Mortimer
Star-BulletinNot who, but how many they will hire is the first question the University of Hawaii regents must answer, and soon, in the wake of UH President Kenneth Mortimer's announcement that he will leave his job a year from now.
In his first meeting with faculty since his announcement last week, Mortimer told the UH-Manoa Faculty Senate yesterday that regents must decide if they will reinstate a separate chancellorship at the campus, a job the president now holds, before they conduct any search for his successor.
The senate passed a resolution a year ago that called for a separate UH-Manoa chancellor, saying they needed a stronger advocate for the campus. The resolution asked that the senate be involved in developing the new office, that a national search be conducted, and that there be no increase in the number of UH administrators as a result. Resolutions have no binding power but the administration considers them.
One of Mortimer's first decisions when he became president in 1993 was to nix a separate chancellorship. He still has concerns: He estimates it would cost $250,000-$500,000 to create a chancellor's office. And the job has had a history of adversarial relationships with past presidents. UH-Manoa has not seen a separate chancellor since the 1980s.Mortimer said he must be convinced the job would be structured so that it wouldn't pit the chancellor against the president, and would be worth the cost, before he makes a recommendation to the regents.
"If the job is to fight with the president all the time, and after two-three years get fired ... it's not healthy."
Mortimer said he will push the regents to make a decision on a chancellor in June or July because it will take nine to 10 months to find a president. He leaves his job in July 2001, and that date is firm, he said.
Harold Masumoto, who recently joined Mortimer's office in a chief-of-staff role, will draft a design for the chancellor's job if regents decide to reinstate the position.
Masumoto carried the title of senior adviser to the president as executive director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii. He retains the senior adviser title, but Mortimer assured the faculty senate that Masumoto "is not running the university."
Masumoto will also oversee the commercialization of intellectual property and the management of Mauna Kea development if regents pass the plan this summer.
Regarding the search for a new president, Mortimer said regents would probably have to adjust the salary. Mortimer makes $167,184 a year plus gets a UH house and car. He said a president at an equivalent university on the mainland makes $200,000-$250,000. Gov. Ben Cayetano said regents should consider paying up to $1 million a year to get the best person.
"Very few people qualify to run a university like this place," Mortimer said.
Although some in the community believe it's better to choose a president from the mainland who would not be burdened with local political connections, Mortimer said there were people at the university who could be considered. "It doesn't mean a visionary doesn't exist here."
Mortimer said he would focus his final year on educating the public about the advantages of UH autonomy. This fall, voters will be asked if regents should have "exclusive jurisdiction" over the internal affairs of UH.
"The university will be accountable and responsible but free from external interference," Mortimer said. "This is a significant public policy statement.
Mortimer said the "finest universities" have such autonomy: the University of California and University of Michigan are two. He also wants to raise another $25 million to $30 million this year in private donations.
Ka Leo O Hawaii
