Decision aids Herbert's plan to restructure IU

IU President Adam Herbert's restructuring plan for the University took its first steps Thursday, with the announcement of IU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm's resignation.\nBrehm said her departure as chancellor, effective Dec. 31, is due in part to Herbert's vision for the organization of IU. Brehm said she resigned because Herbert is looking to change the role of the chancellor.\n"I think we all know it's difficult to do a really thorough review of an administrative structure and a particularly critical position in that structure -- such as the chancellor for the Bloomington campus and vice president of academic affairs -- when you have a person in the position," she said. \nBut administrators close to Brehm said differing ideas on the role of the chancellor may have led to her resignation because Brehm wasn't compatible with Herbert's plan.\nBrehm denied this, saying her decision "truly is structural and it is not personal."\nHerbert said there are questions he has about the role of the chancellor position. He said the fact that Brehm served both as chancellor and vice president for academic affairs caused him to look further.\n"The practical reality is that as you look at the position restrictions, there's just a lot of uncertainty as to who has responsibility for what," he said. "Who reports to whom with regard to certain functions, what percentage of the time does the Bloomington chancellor devote to academic affairs versus affairs of the campus, to what extent is the chancellor the chief operating officer of the campus versus the chief academic officer; there's just a number of issues like that."\nHerbert has said in the past he's considering changing many positions. He announced IU will not begin any search process for retiring administrators, including Director of State Relations Don Weaver and Dean of the Faculties Moya Andrews, because he sees their retirements as an opportunity to re-examine their roles.\nHerbert recently changed the job description for Vice President for Student Development and Diversity Charlie Nelms. Herbert has said he hopes to expand Nelms' role to encompass student welfare on all of the regional campuses. Nelms said he will simply be a vice president and will no longer hold the title "vice chancellor for academic support and diversity" for Bloomington. As a result, the chancellor won't be his superior.\nHerbert said his restructuring will not just be administrative. He said officials are looking at the School of Continuing Studies.\nVice Chancellor and Dean of Students Richard McKaig said he isn't overly worried about his position, but realizes that sudden changes should always be expected.\n"When Chancellor Brehm was selected as chancellor, I was vice chancellor, but I knew that in a couple of years, I might not be vice chancellor," he said. "Those key administrative positions that surround an administrative person always go through a state of reaffirmation." \nMcKaig said he is not sure what his role will be in the future.\n"With the new chancellor, it might be the end of the role of the relationship I've been in, because they have new ideas and we have to stand ready to serve in any way we can," he said.\nDespite her departure, Brehm said restructuring will be beneficial.\n"I view the impending review of the administrative structure as being one of the most important elements for President Herbert's presidency and for the future of this institution," she said. "IU is a very complex organization, and I will be frank, I think that some changes in that organization would be helpful. What is important though is that the president be able to fully review all of the positions." \n-- Contact campus editor Adam Aasen at aaasen@indiana.edu.