I am currently in my fifteenth year as a president of a historically black college or university. While at 52 I am a decade younger than the average college president, in terms of seniority I easily make the top 10 for HBCUs. The latest study by the American Council on Education on the American college presidency, the average tenure of a president is now down to 6.5 years. In 2006, it was 8.5 years.
So I was concerned to see that the Board of Regents for Texas Southern University decided to fire the president, Dr. Austin Lane. Yes, I know Dr. Lane. As the president of a private institution we didn’t have many opportunities to interact, but when we did we had a collegial relationship. In fact we had a conversation last December during the accreditation meeting in December, which was in Houston. We also shared some moments last summer as Texas Southern, along with my institution Dillard University, and Spelman College were recognized by KIPP for our outstanding commitment and support for those students enrolled on our campuses. Texas Southern enrolls more KIPPsters than any HBCU in the nation, and one of the highest numbers of any institution.
I said I was concerned, but not surprised by Lane’s ouster. I’ve watched a lot of presidents come and go. More often the cause is not retirement or incompetence, but rather the egregious acts of an egomaniacal board. It is usually the worst with politically appointed board members who see these positions as superior to the president. They often expect to be served rather than to serve the institution. In the case of HBCUs, these types of board members are literally killing the schools.
The news reports from this situation were revealing. One regent complained about where he was dropped off to attend a football game, and not having prime seating during the presidential debate. Another boldly articulated that they have the ability to hire and fire everyone, including the janitor. I looked on the university’s website to see if I could find the donor roll. I hope someone publishes it because my hunch is these folks don’t give much at all to the university.
We need to see the receipts.
The amazing fact about these board comments is that they should know better. Looking at the board’s calendar for 2020 they highlight several board development opportunities through the Association of Governing Boards (AGB). Anyone who has participated in AGB trainings or any basic board orientation would know the not only are these acts inconsistent with the role of trustees, but in terms of accreditation, it sends major red flags. Unfortunately, I expect an accreditation sanction following this event, as Dr. Lane clearly articulated how the rules have been violated.
The board handled this entire situation haphazardly. The president hears second hand that his employment is in jeopardy. That alone signaled that the move was suspect. Soon, breaks in the ranks provide more evidence that the move had unspoken motives. Regent Ron Price, during an interview with journalist Roland Martin, raised a number of red flags, with Martin highlighting a number of accomplishments during Lane’s tenure at TSU.
