Herbert to look at VP roles

IU President Adam Herbert is evaluating the role of IU's eight vice presidents as part of his ongoing plan to restructure the University's administration. \nHerbert has indicated that his plans might include eliminating certain vice-presidential positions or possibly spreading the vice presidents evenly across IU's eight campuses.\nCurrently, seven of the vice presidents are located at IU-Bloomington. One is at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. \nIU's eight vice presidents are: Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, J. Terry Clapacs; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Judy Palmer; Vice President for Academic Affairs, Sharon Brehm; Vice President for Information Technology and Vice President for Research, Michael McRobbie; Vice President for Public Affairs and Governmental Relations, Bill Stephan; Vice President for Student Development and Diversity, Charlie Nelms; and Vice President for Long Range Planning, Charles Bantz.\nHerbert said having the majority of the vice presidents located in Bloomington weakens the administration. He said the University would function better if the other campuses were represented at a high level.\n"We need to be able to see the big picture, and we aren't doing that," Herbert said.\nHe also said tough questions need to be asked about the roles of the vice presidents.\n"I don't necessarily have a problem with the idea of having several vice presidents," Herbert said. "The question is 'What do they do?' and 'What value do they have?'"\nHerbert said he wants to speak with all the vice presidents at a later date.\nHerbert also said IU needs to examine its financial organization. The University employs 450 financial officers, which makes for a decentralized operation, he said.\nHerbert is an expert in public administration. He has spent his career studying it, after receiving his PhD in the field, and has twice served on the board of the National Academy of Public Administration.\nHe said he welcomes this latest challenge of studying IU's administration.\n"We are one of the most unique universities I have come across in regards to structure," he said.\nLast week Herbert halted IU's planned search for a provost, which was initiated last year. He said none of the IU campuses need one. A provost, which traditionally heads all campus academics, would make a Chancellor unnecessary, he said.\n"We're not structured in a fashion that makes the provost position a reasonable one," he said.\nHerbert and the IU Board of Trustees have not spoken about restructuring to date. Board President Fred Eichhorn said he looks forward to hearing Herbert's ideas.\n-- Contact staff writer Adam Van Osdol at avanosdo@indiana.edu.