Strine resigns: COO out as Sullivan begins restructuring

Strine just committed seppuku for his role in the failed Hoo d'etat like any defeated Japanese general of yesteryear. Good Luck with the job search

"The Board of Visitors' action is resolute and authoritative." were Strine's words to the Deans announcing Sullivan's ouster - well now Mr. Strine might say to President Sullivan, touche.

Dragas has about as much support as the pro Chloramine group in town.

one way to read that statement "I focused on working with our leadership across the University" would be as follows: "I went behind my boss's back in an attempt to curry favor with Dragas and it blew up in my face".

Just standard corporate speak for "he was canned". When I was with AT & T we used the phrase: "resigned to pursue other interests".

Not soon enough. Hopefully Dragas will follow.

Hoo's next?

would love to know details of the severance package, which surely was negotiated as part of this exit...

I had understood that Helen Dragas, while eligible for another term on the BOV, was NOT eligible for a second term as Rector, so I'm confused as to why she still has that role - can someone confirm/clarify?

Don't let the door hit you in the backside!

Strine might be very smart, but he has boundary issues and that can poison an organization. In this case his hubris got the best of him.

It's been a very interesting summer in Charlottesville. Usually it's pretty quiet with the students gone. Not this year :-)

Kington, Strine, Dragas, What's taking Dragas so long. Write the BOV, copy your delegate/senator, ask for her resignation, ask the legislature to block her confirmation. The more public pressure the more likely she will go with the other cabal members.

My bet is that Sullivan had to say nothing to Strine. Can you imagine what it was like for him showing up to work everyday, the stares, the whispering, the lack of respect. He made his own bed and it turned out not to be so comfortable, except for the 850,000 K. Why the hell are we paying for that?

Who are the "outliers" who need to "see their fit and the benefit" to whom Mrs. Strine refers? Those who might disagree with Sullivan's ouster?

Since the Vice Rector resigned, I believe she remained Rector by default.

Has anyone ever heard of a Rector who puts their name on official releases as Dragas has as reported above ?

McDonnell did the University no favors by reappointing her, and given the baggage she is carrying one has to wonder why ?

There is no Helen. Only Zuul.

@NancyDrew. I think McDonnell reappointed her because she did his bidding. McDonnell is an expert at milking the unholy alliance between social conservatives and Kochbrotheresque ( has a nice ring, doesn't it?) figures who will supply money and effort to fund a holy war for conservative Christians if they can get their backs scratched when it comes to fighting the EPA, the DEQ, or whatever stands in between therm and making more money. McDonnell wanted to get the "liberal" out of Liberal Arts and I suspect Dragas wanted something from McDonnell.

"The Germans have a name for people like Strine, a bicycle rider. He steps on those below him as he cycles up the corporate ladder and bows to those above him."

We do too--it was popularized about John Bolton: "A kiss up, kick down kind of guy."

The s**t should absolutely hit the fan over the severance packages.

Dragas has been defanged. The question now is can Sullivan hire someone good to replace him. The letter the faculty wrote supporting her in this debacle praised her recruitment of Stine, who was very respected at the time. Now that he turned out to be supporting her ouster people are claiming Dragas hired him. This is nonsense. Sullivan was the president when he was hired and it was a feather in her cap at the time.

He sat in on the meeting my daughter and I had with Pres Sullivan last fall and I immediately knew he was not interested in the truth or in the topic of campus assault, although the police report directly to him. I did not like nor trust him - and it appears, my initial instincts were spot on.

@red - You don't know what you are talking about. Dragas recruited Strine. Look up the Washington Post article detailing Dragas plan to hire Dr. Edward Miller as UVA President. Do some research before you comment.

You are either a public relations plant for Dragas or you just have not followed any of the threads relating to Dragas.

Dragas must resign.

...Dragas recruited "Stine"

The resignation of Rector Dragas will increase trust among faculty & staff, students & alumni. Dragas resignation will increase donor contributions, and provide Dr. Sullivan with a supportive path for leadership. What am I missing?

I have never read that Strine was recruited by Dragas. My research shows that Sullivan handpicked Strine.

"Mr. Strine was handpicked by Ms. Sullivan in 2011. "

http://chronicle.com/article/Top-Executive-at-U-of/133431/

Sullivan Names Johns Hopkins' Michael Strine as University's Executive VP and COO

http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=15018

No question Strine was the inside stooge of the BOV. His disloyalty to the school who paid him and the person who hired him are legendary, even in hell.

@lift: Strine- Perhaps he can be Chancellor of UVA Wise.

This severance deal, exhorbitant executive salaries, the story about the BOV excessively expensive retreats are all just symptoms of corporate rot in higher education. The elites just scratching each others' backs. Why did Sullivan agree to this severance package?

Think of all the financial aid this could have been used for to bring in some deserving kids, from charlottesville who never get a chance to go bec. the expensesfor a UVA education have been passed on to the families while the Adminstrators, BOVs, governors, and legislators just lap it up in the elite life of luxury. Raise corporate and wealth taxes (not middle class taxes) in the Commonwealth and pay for public education. These elite types needa lesson in humility and reality.

If there is not a class war, may be there ought to be? The wall street types ripped off the people and now the equivalent of higher ed wall streeters are ripping off our middle class kids. We need a permanent public higher education public lobby group that keps on digging and pushing this issue state-wide, like PIRG. Don't get angry, make it fair.

@lift: ah so. An erstwhile Dragasian. That is some loyalty, I'll admit. Though for you to suggest politics is/was not in play is kind of an amazing statement.

As long as you raised it, I'll say I'd love a clear artiiculation of what the Dragas gang was looking for in terms of action or achievement that caused them to manufacture this fiasco. It was not my plan in early June to spend so much time trying to understand the motivations of my alma mater's Board of visitors.

@ Nancy Drew, I have always been suspect of your views. You site contrary to any Dragas' hands in this matter, YOU ARE WRONG. Dragas was behind hiring Strine only to bring in Miller as president of UVA. Miller would only become president if Sullivan stepped down. Sullivan was reinstated and NOW stands on firm ground.

Re-read Washington Post articles about the history and facts behind the DRAGAS - STRINE - MILLER debacle. Those are facts.

@Nancy Drew - You find only posts that support your viewpoint. Why have you not referred to the Washington Post article? You must think we are stupid. You reference what you want to see and learn, not the facts.

The "restructuring" of UVa's top administrative positions has begun. But it can only go so far. E-mails released under FOIA requests show that Michael Strine was complicit with the Dragas cabal to oust Teresa Sullivan. Now Strine is gone (but with a hefty financial send-off).

However, as I noted in other comments, McDonnell has strengthened his control of UVa's Board of Visitors with his recent appointments. He reappointed Dragas, which carries the implicit message that McDonnell approved of her deceit, deception, and conniving. He added uber-conservative Republican cronies Bobbie Kilberg and Frank Atkinson. And as other have cited, Edward Miller was appointed too...and this is a guy that Dragas had lined up to be interim president when Sullivan was out the door.

So Sullivan is limited in her "restructuring," although it will be interesting to see how the rest of it plays out.

What's also interesting is that released e-mails show the Albemarle county schools superintendent discussing a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) high school on UVA land with Michael Strine. One has to assume that since the superintendent is a technology "freak," this discussion was tied into the technology emphasis pushed so hard by Helen Dragas and her cadre.

See: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/aug/04/albemarle-eyes-possibilit...

The problem, however, is at least threefold :

1. The county school board was kept out of the discussions.

2. There is no need whatsoever for a STEM high school since there is no STEM shortage in the U.S. In fact, there is an oversupply of STEM college graduates now.

3. Technology is a valuable tool, but it is no educational panacea. Far from it. There is no solid research at all to show that technology improves learning. Moreover, the county schools superintendent presided over an expensive technology fiasco with SchoolNet, a software program that was very badly flawed. She continues to withhold from public scrutiny 268 SchoolNet-related e-mails.

The sad saga at UVa continues to unfold. One has to wonder when the light will begin to shine on the machinations that take place in the county schools.

Dear Democracy - don't know where you get your data on STEM education, but there most definitely is a shortage of STEM programs in this country because so many of those in university programs here are foreign students. US middle and high schools are way behind the rest of the world.

Interesting that the few "pro-Strine" and "pro-Dragas" posts appear to have ties to a small faction of BOV, who must be disgruntled. These few seem intent on moving this disruptive agenda forward and lament the departure of Strine. Based on the comments and responses iit is possible that Lift is the Director of the Board at UVA Wise (Aka as Clinch Valley College.). Where she graduated. Her husband who is on the BOv and Chairman of tthe Committe for UVA Wise. Is a huge financial supporter of the Gov, and a huge financial supporter of both UVA Wise and UVA. The response to the earlier post with the word "shame" is typical SW VA (shame on you) The power that is allowing Dragas to stay steady is likely related to this power couple. Perhaps WaPo or Hook ought to to look into this couple- not just the Darden School angle or John Tudor Jones.

UVA has become dramatically more insular in the last months. This is not a good sign. What is evident here is the emergence of a personality cult for Sullivan. She who can do no wrong and God help anyone who criticizes her. I suspect that these comments are largely made by females hiding behind their stage names, and a majority are faculty who want to have their puppet to control hereafter. Just drive out all vestige of objectivity and you have it made.

In reading this article and all the previous posts, it appears that none of the posters understand the concept of a contract. I am no supporter of Strine, but I am certain that he had a legally reviewed contract with UVA. The only reason that he is getting the severance package is that he was terminated. It would be hard to believe that a person who resigns voluntarily would receive a severance package.

With regard to his wife, clearly, a job was created for her. Not as unusual as one might think. Jobs for spouses of senior management employees are created all the time by the corporate world. Generally the created position is with a different company, but often a company where the head of the corporation has a relationship. This practice is usually done with a bit more thought than apparently went into Mrs. Strine's hiring.

If I were Dr. Sullivan, I'd look long and hard at splitting this position into a COO for each of the Universities main operations. A COO for the medical side and a COO for the academic side. That change alone might make this a easier to hire for job. There will be a line of people outside Madison Hall to apply for this position or positions.

Today's Washington Post strongly suggested a close personal relationship between Strine and Dragas Under the best of circumstances, this is not the way to run a business. Inviting the Strines for Thanksgiving dinner at Dragas' house appears to be a bit cozier than appropriate. However, do a little digging and you will find senior management employees at UVA with many questionable relationships with members of the BOV. Things like use of vacation homes, inside information about investments, expensive gifts and many other perks are as normal as heat in the summer in Cville.

Well, several conclusions: Dragas needs to go, the Virginia Legislature needs to veto her appointment, the governor needs to have his political career terminated as soon as his current term is over, a search committee and a restrucctiong composed of faculty, staff, community members and students needs to have a very transparent process, both for restructuring and hiring, an honest broker search consultant, not one of the good old boy firms, needs to be hired and that person needs to have extensive input from the entire university community.

UVA only heals when the players in this mess go away. To President Sullivan, a wish for the greatest possible success as you move UVA forward and continue to exercise the outstanding judgment and leadership you have shown since coming to Cville.

I like the "Hoo d'etat" statement as well. Note to Larry Sabato, use this term in all your communications going forward. It could be the best political phrase of the year.

My severance package from UVA was lunch from a Chinese restaurant.

@ George.

Sullivan's husband, Douglas Laycock, was a hiring coup for the School of Law. Should President Sullivan have stepped down the school would have lost one of its most eminent faculty members.

http://www.law.virginia.edu/lawweb/faculty.nsf/FHPbI/2210483

Douglas Laycock

Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor of Law
Horace W. Goldsmith Research Professor of Law
Professor of Religious Studies
J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1973
B.A., Michigan State University, 1970

Douglas Laycock is one of the nation's leading authorities on the law of remedies and also on the law of religious liberty.

Before joining Virginia's faculty in 2010, Laycock served as the Yale Kamisar Collegiate Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to that he taught for 25 years at the University of Texas and for five years at the University of Chicago.

Laycock has testified frequently before Congress and has argued many cases in the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the author of the leading casebook Modern American Remedies; the award-winning monograph The Death of the Irreparable Injury Rule; and many articles in the leading law reviews. He has co-edited a collection of essays, Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty, and he recently published Religious Liberty, Volume I: Overviews and History, and Volume II: The Free Exercise Clause. These two volumes are the first half of a four-volume collection of his many writings on religious liberty.

Laycock is vice president of the American Law Institute, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the 2009 winner of the National First Freedom Award from the Council on America's First Freedom.

He earned his B.A. from Michigan State University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Scholarship Profile: "A Towering Figure" (Virginia Journal 2011)

@George, with regards to your opinion about Professor Laycock, I think you're simply wrong. Yes, there may be other law schools, but why would UVA want to pass up on a *truly* eminent legal scholar? In no way is it inappropriate. UVA was able to recruit and hire Theresa Sullivan and George Laycock? That's about as good a hire as they come.

@ Webster52: Ahhh, I know what you mean. Busted my butt for 23 years and what did I get? A photo album for God's sake. Too many unwarranted big buck severance packages going around UVA.

!!~: there seems to room in here for only one view, all others are dismissed as PR flaks, trolls, or presumed to be someone identifiable.
Citizens Party: your comment echoes the very lament of the BOV with regard to the President. She's the elite running the school, let's hope that she's now inspired to bring some change. No more status quo.

@Lift,

My point exactly. I certainly supported Sullivan's reinstatement. I also hope this episode is a springboard for many internal changes that break elitist, top-down control of the University. From the bullying case of Kevin Morrissey, to the Living Wage Campaing, to the recognition of the Uiversity's role in Salvery and making changes pursuant to that recognition.

I like President Sullivan but let's move off the personality issues and look at more faculty shared governance, a greater role and voice for the Staff and Students. The students, fauclty, staff, alums, and citizens were the ones who took to the streeets and letter writing campaigns to get Sullivan back, there is power there, let's harness that power to make internal changes in the culture of UVA.

So while we are busy working for Dragas' resigination/nonreappointment, reforming the BOV selection process, and the representation on the BOV, let's also work for internal changes at UVA that the President should be held accountable for. Let's democtratize UVA.

It's been kind of funny to read about the validity of contracts and buy outs. But when it happens with a Union, it's all considered dirty and a bailout and some sort of socialist entitlement.

"many of you need to review the organizational chart and the silos of responsibility before you call people disloyal"

Please enlighten us -- Strine was hired by and reported to Sullivan; just what silo was his loyalty supposed to be housed in?

@Seeking Veritas - I suppose I'll treat your message as a serious question, though to those of us who've worked in large companies it's really not.
Hiring couples as a package deal is common in Universities, or companies for that matter, that are out in the middle of nowhere. Charlottesville is a nice place, but there's no easily obtainable, meaningful employment outside the one large employer for a spouse. So, if you want the "star" you have to create a job for the spouse. It's a package deal. Ms Sullivan wasn't coming to Charlottesville without a meaningful job for her spouse.
The firing is the same as the hiring. Since the article is silent regarding Ms. Strine's contract or lack thereof, I don't know whether she had one or not. Even if she didn't, it's in the University's best interest to get her out the door as soon as possible, otherwise she might hang around for a few months, collect a paycheck and be a distraction while her spouse finds another job. Six month's severance really isn't that big a deal to remove a potential sore spot. It also lets future candidates for top jobs know that the University has a bit of class, It says that if you have a disagreement, the U isn't going to toss your spouse out on his/her butt with a "better luck next time".
Corporations do the same thing when they transfer one of a couple overseas or to smaller towns in the US. Couples come and go together, and despite the disagreements, you treat them with as much respect on the way out as you did on the way in.

"One should be dedicated to institutional excellence, not to a superior. Otherwise you have an organization full of Yes men/women."

That's fine and all, but it really is not at all what comes across from your previous 'silo' comment.

Michael I referred to a silo of responsibility, not loyalty, you did. His responsibility silo included reports to BOV with regard to budget.

P.S. Whom will the BOV now award residence at the UVa-owned mansion 'Sunnyside'?

Agree with Citizen Party. You can be a backstabber and still make nearly a million. Sucks to be a hardworking smart person.

I think this was a little more than Strine resigning under duress. He was summarily kicked to the curb. I was relieved when I heard the news, but I think the current balance of power is troubling. Dragas is still present. And there is a disproportionate level of affection for Sullivan. Let's not forget that Yoke San Reynold's (retired) position is still open. On a positive note, Simon appears to have the trust of most of the faculty. Collette Sheehy seems to be doing her usual yeoman's work in quiet fashion.

I work at UVa and administrators frequently refer to Dragas's 10 points as the jumping off point for taking action and setting goals at UVa. Who is the president? There is no vision. People are fatigued. The quiet presence of Sheehy and focus of Simon are not enough to build confidence. I think many of us are waiting for President Sullivan to bring it, i.e. force Dragas out. Maybe Strine was Sullivan's version of throwing down the gauntlet. I hope so. It's all so enervating . . . borderline demoralizing.

Strine should have resigned when the other kingpins quit. The incompetence of the BoV is quite telling. Dragas is the person who should resign.

@Who'sAHoo - you are completely wrong about Strine resigning under duress. Duress implies an illegal action by one or both parties. If duress was involved, UVA could be subject to legal action. The Strine couple resigned because they had no future with the university after they were found to be part of the small group attempting to force President Sullivan's resignation. Get over it. Dr. Sullivan is in charge. Enough said.

@Coriander - understood; however the signature line was specifically for Rector Dragas' signature (as I read the document). Dr. Sullivan signed on her behalf.

If anyone can prove me wrong about Dragas, please do so. Otherwise get off the feed. Serious allegations against Dragas and the UVA reputation are at stake. Dragas has been supportive of the demise of Dr. Sullivan. Dragas has been supportive of the demise of Dr. and Mrs. Strine. Dragas is the goat of all evil at the UVA but she still has a voice. Who is supporting Dragas publicly, besides Governor McDonnell? Enough said by myself and other posts.

Let's get on with unifying the University as opposed to speculation regarding anything Dragas has had a hand in...right?

When is enough actually enough?

I believe the answer is "enough is enough; particularly when all parties have exhausted their resources"...which means the UVA has a lot more to spend to defend Dragas' position(s) - which are completely ludicrous due to the fact that President Sullivan had actually complied with ALL of Dragas' recs...sheesh!

Do(es) Dragas and McDonnell really believe the UVA faculty is that stupid? Come on! Dragas is not going to win unless this is some covert McDonnell process. What is happening to higher education?

Should we look to the communistic rule of China's education format and forgo all that the USA has stood for in the past few hundred years; maybe so?

China educates 50 students per educator (no aids whatsoever) in lower and middle school. Only the top 1, 2 and 3 percent succeed & progress to the high school and college level. And so on ...USA primary education is so screwed up that by the time college arrives, parents are thought to believe...fill in the blanks. The USA education system is horrendous and not worth my time...

@ andy:

There most certainly is no STEM shortage in the U.S.

Try reading the Lowell and Salzman study:

http://www.urban.org/publications/411562.html

Or try reading Beryl Benderly's piece in the Columbia Journalism Review:

http://www.cjr.org/reports/what_scientist_shortage.php?page=all

Here's an excerpt:

"Leading experts on the STEM workforce, including Richard Freeman of Harvard, Michael Teitelbaum of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Paula Stephan of Georgia State University, Hal Salzman of Rutgers, Lindsay Lowell of Georgetown, and Norman Matloff of the University of California-Davis, have said for years that the US produces ample numbers of excellent science students. In fact, according to the National Science Board’s authoritative publication Science and Engineering Indicators 2008, the country turns out three times as many STEM degrees as the economy can absorb into jobs related to their majors."

And a RAND study of potential STEM shortages in the federal government cound this:

"there is little evidence of such shortages in the past decade or on the horizon. Economic indicators, notably the low levels of unemployment and rising wages that one would expect to accompany shortages, have failed to materialize. Likewise, “underemployment patterns” — for example, indications of STEM workers involuntarily working out of their fields — suggest that underemployment of STEM workers is relatively high compared with that for non-STEM workers. Engineering is the one exception — underemployment in this field appears to have been lower than that for non-STEM workers. These indicators suggest neither an inadequate supply of STEM workers for the nation’s current needs nor shortages in the near future."

So, since there is no STEM shortage, why would the county schols superintendent be discussing a restricted-population STEM high school with Michael Strine? And how might that discussion factor into the technology push at UVa by Helen Dragas and her cronies on the Board of
Visitors? (and why does the county superintendent continue to withhold 268 e-mails about SchoolNet, the expensive and badly-flawed software technology that was supposed to "remake" instruction?)

I have no reason to believe that Dragas would resign now. Her narcissism seems to be fully functional and my guess is that she believes that in the end, what she did was good for the university, she has the support of the board and the university community(and the governor) and that it would hurt the university for her to resign. Rather than pr fluff, I bet she actually believes that her ten talking points, hastily compiled by a pr firm, are a path for the future of the university and that she is the only one with the courage to lead. As preposterous as this sounds, if she believes it, and her actions and statements seem to back that up--why would she even consider resigning.

God, I wish they would go on strike. Then at least, we would have a chance to fire these incompetents.

@ Andy - that's because it's elitist to get an education at a higher university in subjects like that, dangerously liberal. You might challenge the right wing think tank and their corporate sponsors. It's also really expensive and no one wants to pay you. The foreigners get it paid for by their governments and then can work for half the price of an American.

0

I think the Alum letter is a good sign thatr more public pressure now might have an effect. Write/email the Gov/BOV/Legislator today and ask them to 1)demand Dragas' resgination/or vote of no confidence for the reappointment in January, ask for a full investigation and report of the epsisode, ask for a reform of the BOV appointment process. If there is a flood, who knows maybe she will resign.

Ahhh, the wonderful phrase comes to mind: "Be careful for what you wish. You may get it."

And none of you female faculty members and students have even mentioned much less discussed the alleged failings which caused the initial vote to remove her. You don't talk about it because this is really aggressive, nasty sexism, isn't it?

I believe the first quote was taken from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I guess somethings are timeless and don't change, more specifically the human character!

The reason the PR about Strine lacks credibility is because everyone knows it is spin. It's expected and accepted as normal. Clearly it's untrue and UVA indulges in lying to the community and the public.

If one resigns, quote " has resigned his post as the University's chief operating officer" one does not get severance/compensation. I have yet to see a contract that compensates any officer in an amount of $850,000.00 upon resignation, unless it is a capital distribution. So this statement is a bold face lie. He must have been asked to resign (modern day terminology for fired) with the provision of the $850k as the "hush" money as he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Since Sullivan is the President she must have approved this PR (LIE). Why is there a need to lie? Why not just say we don't feel Strine is the right person to continue in this position. Why lie? Actually, Dragas' (hate to defend her) PR when Sullivan resigned was more truthful and yet everyone was outraged at the lack of transparency in her case! Is there a double standard here because we collectively perceive Strine as being disloyal? Since we have no clue what goes on behind closed doors at UVA, despite accessing some emails (we have not heard any of the private conversations between the conspiring parties, the BoV, the Governor etc.) we really don't know who is truly looking after the interests of the institution. Right or wrong as Winston Churchill once said "... In order to protect the truth, you would need to surround it with lies". This should be UVA's overt jingle.

Just listened to the Penn State 32 member voice PBS broadcast of the BOT non commitment to NCAA Sanctions (at best). Where were these back up systems and lawyers for the children who were raped by Sandusky and now a Trustee is implicated as of 8/12/2012 in rape charges? Where were all these questions from the BOT when children were raped? None could be found. Everyone attempted to serve the University reputation. Is this what to expect from UVA? I guess so.

What losers! They did not once comment upon the molestation of children, and they did not once say they were sorry.

I see correlations with Penn State and UVA.

UVA has an opportunity to correct itself from the past mistakes of its BoV, in attempting to oust its' President. Please learn. UVA is a higher ed institution correct?

@ Andy........so, what's your point?

The fact is that there is no STEM shortage.

By the way, the World Economic Forum makes clear why the U.S. has dropped in economic competitiveness rankings, and it has absolutely nothing to do with public education in general, or math and science education in particular. The main reasons are poor business ethics, weak auditing and reporting standards, high deficits, and unsustainable levels of public debt.

And guess what? The same conservative and corporate interests that push more tax cuts and policies that undermine the American standard of living are also the same ones that peddle the STEM myth, blame public education for America's economic problems, and make every effort to privatize public education for their own profit.