Spouse employment spurs regents’ debate

Friday, June 18, 1999 | 10:31 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A New York woman has been hired as president of the Western Nevada Community College in Carson City, but the Board of Regents couldn't decide Thursday if her husband should get job preference in the system.

Carol Lucey, vice president for academic affairs at Alfred State College of Technology in Alfred, N.Y., was selected Thursday by the regents. She will be paid $130,000 a year with a $5,000 host fund and a $6,000 automobile allowance.

But the board deadlocked over whether it should spend extra money so her husband, Ken Lucey, can be hired in a job to be created in the philosophy department at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Regent Chairwoman Jill Derby of Gardnerville said this would be a precedent, but that the system must find a way to handle the cases of spouses.

The issue was whether the regents wanted to dip into its reserve fund to help pay Ken Lucey's salary at the Reno school. UNR President Joe Crowley said he does not have the money available for the new post.

Chancellor Richard Jarvis said the system has always done everything possible to be supportive in finding employment for spouses of those who land executive jobs. This, he said, would go a step further by actually committing money to help with the process.

Regent Howard Rosenberg of Reno said this is not a new idea. "They do it in other places," he said, adding that the practice is essential if the system wants to attract good candidates.

Regent Steve Sisolak of Las Vegas wondered if the proposed policy would extend to presidents who had a same-sex partner. He said he is concerned that the issue was being addressed now because UNLV President Carol Harter didn't receive the same treatment. Her husband, Mike Harter, is a dean at Sacramento State.

Crowley recalled that there had been talk of creating a position in the medical school in Las Vegas for Mike Harter, but that there was no money to fund the job. If this proposed policy had been in place then, he said, Mike Harter would have been hired.

Regent David Phillips of Las Vegas opposed creating jobs on campuses. "We're opening ourselves up to a can of worms," he said.

He wondered what would happen if the president had a live-in girlfriend or boyfriend. "I understand we may lose some talented people. But they should know the situation when they are hired."

Tom Ray, attorney for the regents, said the board, by allowing an employment policy for spouses, would be deviating from its policy of open competitiveness on job opportunities. He said the board would open itself up to criticism but it does have the authority to make special exceptions.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick of Las Vegas said the proposal's "timing stinks" and opposed taking any money out of the reserve fund. He said the fund could be depleted in a few years if it was forced to continue to pick up half the pay for spouses.

Regent Doug Seastrand of North Las Vegas asked how the regents would help if the spouse of the new president didn't work in higher education.

"I'm not sure it's our responsibility as a system to pay half the salary," Seastrand said. He added that maybe the school where the president is hired should put up the money for getting the spouse a job at an associated institution.

Lucey said after the meeting she was optimistic she would accept the job in Carson City but must consider her husband's career. The couple has been married for 35 years.

Time ran out on the debate Thursday.