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page 6
daily nebraskan
Wednesday, September 24, 1975 - f
NU administrators :
uncomfortable Dot
Why do they stay or leave?
Editors' note: In the past year-and-one-half,
several NU administrators have resigned-most
recently UNL Chancellor
James Zumberge, who will leave Oct. 1 to
become president of Southern Methodist
University.
This is the first in a series of articles
examining the NU system in the light of
Zumberge 's and others' resignations.
The persons interviewed were admini
strators from the NU Systems Office,
which governs the entire University of
Nebraska (NU). NU comprises UNL, the
University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)
and the University of Nebraska Medical
Center (UNMC).
Also included are administrators and
college deans at UNL.
Sources were guaranteed anonymity to
encourage them to speak as frankly as
possible.
The next part of this series will report
on the Legislature's and governor's
thoughts on and relationship to the NU
system.
By Ann Owens
The University of Nebraska in the mid
1970s has not been the most comfortable
administrative spot in the country. That's
just one UNL dean's opinion of the
university.
But a Daily Nebraskan straw poll of 34
NU administrators and college deans last
week indicated that others share his
thoughts. The poll showed that of the 34:
-Nine now are being considered for
employment elsewhere. Seven of them are
NU employes and UNL administrators.
-32 have been approached during their
employment at NU by. search committees
or individuals to take jobs at other learn
ing Institutions. Of these 32 persons, 24
said they have seriously considered or ex
plored leaving.
-29 said that depending on the contract
details, they would consider leaving if an
opportunity arose.
Salary, advance cited
A chance for professional advancement,
a salary Increase and a greater challenge
, were three main considerations of NU ad
ministrators and deans.
The majority named family Concerns,
location and the university's organizational
structure as prime factors, followed in im
portance by salary.
NU President D.B. Varner said that he
now is being considered for another job. ,
"But it wasn't instigated by me and I'm
not Interested in the lob," he said. Varner
added that "giving details about the job
would not be appropriate."
He sild that he is happy at NU and has
no desire to leave.
One administrator said, "of course if
one were offered several thousand dollars
instead of this he would be foolish to say,
No, I will not take the job under any
circumstances. But my family is the main
reason I haven't left before."
Another administrator said before
resigning, he would first consider organiza
tional structure and the opportunity for
professional development.
"But naturally, it's just ducky if you
double your salary too, he said.
Higher salary, quality education and
opportunity for a new adventure are key
factors, according to one dean.
Want to stay
, "My preference is to stay at UNL, but
things arc very uncertain here," one dean
said. "Many people are considering' leaving
even though they really don't want to
leave."
According to one administrator, many
factors are involved in deciding whether or
not to leave.
"Pay is only part of it. There is no
question that salaries at UNL are poor, but
pay is not my primary concern," he said.
He said he believes a job must be fun,
challenging and productive, or it is 'not
worth doing.
"There are some competent people at
UNL, but there comes a time when it's
time to move on," he said.
According to .another administrator,
what he called the major concern already
has been expressed by UNL Chancellor
James Zumberge who is leaving UNL Oct.
1 to become president of Southern
Methodist University (SMU).
"That is, 'Who is running UNL?' As an
administrator, I think the UNL administra
tors should control UNL," he said.
' Too much bureaucracy
He said he believes there are too many
levels of bureaucracy at NU to have
decisions made efficiently and that the line
of authority is not clear-cut.
"There is an inability for UNL admin
istrators to actually be administrators, as
witnessed by the Legislature," he' said.
An example of this, he said, is determ
ination of UNL salaries by the Legislature
on a basis other than merit.
He said NU's central administration and
the Legislature are taking decision-making
power away from administrators.
"Administrators are hired to make
decisions," he said.
Another administrator voiced the so
called problem in a similar way, saying that
there is a certain amount of confusion
among UNL second-level administrators
(those below the chancellor and vice
chancellors) as to how much influence a
central administrative body should have.
He said lie believes that administrators'
key decisions should not be controlled by
the NU Board of Regents or the NU
Systems Office.
Who controls?
Along with administrators, some UNL
deans expressed concern about administra
tive authority at NU. One'dean said he be
lieves campus administrators have little
Impact on policy-making decisions within
NU and that most decisions are made by
the systems office or . the Legislature.
, "We're pretty much shut out of it," he
said.
A second dean said there is uncertainty
of administrators and faculty at UNL as to
what the university's future is.
He said he worries about financlng
"thc support we're not getting, which
could cause a loss of faculty and make it
very hard on deans."
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It is necessary- to talk about the issues,
according to another dean. Second-level
administrators are under direct pressure
from faculty and indirect pressure from the
financing system, he said.
"I'm not seriously complaining, but this
makes it less comfortable than when I
came to UNL," he said. "Let me put it this
way, it makes other opportunities look a
lot less unattractive."
Opportunities
And, according to administrators and
deans, there arc other opportunities.
As bne administrator put it, "those
opportunities drift through here weekly."
While some of those polled said they
would leave the university, a majority of
NU administrators expressed satisfaction
with their situations and listed several
reasons for staying.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
(UNMC) Chancellor Robert Sparks said the
NU administration, the NU Board of
Regents and the Legislature have supported
programs carried out at UNMC.
Four NU administrators said they enjoy
the challenge of their jobs.
"Organized structures are rarely ideal,"
one said. "They are manifestations of the
people who make them work. People of
good will can make any kind of a situation
work."
Hans Brisch, assistant vice president for
academic affairs, said he came to NU last
year and is "still in the honeymoon
situation.
Future here
"I project my future to be here and like
to look forward to the role I can play and
how can be of service to NU," he said
njj My ego and being are wrapped up in
Brisch said issues such as salaries and the
faculty and administrative turnover rate
present a challenge but "priority should be
placed in the interest of NU. I consider
myself a public servant." r
He added that it is frustrating at times
but here Isn't a job without frustrations
Although Brisch named personnel turn
over as a challenge he said that Xcn
people leave, others show a willingness to
come to NU.
"I look at a university and feci that
faculty and administrators are natural re
sources," he said. 'Turnover among them
should be considered a natural
occurrence."
Brisch said he believes people like to
move on, not necessarily because they are
discontented with their current situation,
but because they enjoy having a different
life mission.
Floating commodities
"Faculty and administrators should be
considered free floating commodities," he
said.
Brisch said the NU salary issue Is real,
but as a "comprehensive university," NU
should be able to do something about it.
"If' in Ire... itonK In rtiir ftrp (lailv. I
only hope we have the understanding to
address the question positively." ,
"A UNL dean said "if one accepts the
that NU is a complex organization, one
must also accept as fact that there cannot
be such organizations as universities
without some . problems being involved.
As well as expressing problems at NU,
some UNL administrators and deans listed
what they said were positive aspects which
prevent them from actively seeking
employment elsewhere.
A majority said they enjoy their jobs
and colleagues, UNL students and Lincoln
as a community in which to raise a family.
The good life
According to one UNL dean, Nebraska
is one of the nicest places in the country to
live. ;
'That's why w get a lot of god
people," he said. "It's hard to lure them
licre, but once they arrive they like H.
One dean said he wouldn't leave NU
because it was his alma mater and he is
loyal to It.
Another NU administrator said that
because NU was his alma mater he is
actively seeking a new job, because others
expect it of him. .
However, another said, "I'm sorry to
say, at this time I'm not being considered
anywhere for a new job."
