Interim chancellor leaving post

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Tom Anderes, who has been interim chancellor at the University and Community College System of Nevada since last July, is leaving to take a job at the University of Oregon.

Anderes will become vice chancellor for finance and administration at the 50,000 student university in Eugene and his resignation is effective June 30.

In a letter to the board of regents, Anderes said, "I do regret leaving in a period of transition, but it does give the new chancellor the opportunity to identify someone they would like to work with and the Oregon position is an exciting opportunity that I might not have in the future."

Regent Mark Alden said Anderes did an "excellent job under tough circumstances." The university system is going through change, Alden said.

Alden said Anderes was developing a new budget but was not getting cooperation from some campuses, especially UNLV.

"Some campuses were fighting the new budget," he said.

Alden said there were people in the system who can step into Anderes shoes and will be strong representatives before the 2001 Legislature.

Anderes, 50, was hired into the Nevada system in 1994 as vice chancellor for finance and planning and was praised for his handling of that position.

When Chancellor Richard Jarvis resigned, the board of regents elevated him to the interim position. Anderes initially said he would be interested in the job as chancellor permanently.

After he was named interim chancellor, the regents split whether to begin a search for a permanent replacement. Some wanted to continue with Anderes as interim head of the system, possibly until after the 2001 Legislature. But the board then voted to begin a nationwide search. And Anderes then decided to drop out of the running for the top job.

Before coming to Nevada, Anderes was vice chancellor at the University of Connecticut.

Anderes has had to work with a regents board that is widely divided on a number of issues. Some want to go forward with the new state college in Henderson, but others fear that the money for the project might dilute programs at UNLV and the Community College System of Nevada.

Anderes' departure is another example of the shifting sands among top administrators. Richard Moore left as president of CCSN to become founding president of the state college at Henderson. Carol Harter applied to become president at the University of South Florida and then changed her mind.

Anderes said his June 30 departure will ensure that financial areas "are well covered." The financial activities of the system, Anderes said "are strong and built on a good deal of experience. I will work with Larry Eardley, Tim Ortez and Sandi Cardinal to establish a means for both pursuing and communicating key issues in the absence of a permanent vice chancellor.

"I would also be happy to help solicit good candidates for the vice chancellor position if that is desired by the board," he said. "I think we could identify a vice chancellor replacement in advance of the legislative session and in parallel with the chancellor's search."