Husband of UNLV president offered job in university system

Friday, Feb. 25, 2000 | 10:34 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Acknowledging it will cause controversy, an official of the University and Community College System of Nevada said today that the husband of UNLV President Carol Harter has been offered a $120,000-a-year job.

Mike Harter, now dean of the College of Health and Human Services at California State University in Sacramento, applied for a position that splits between the medical school and the chancellor's office, dealing with health issues.

Dr. Jane Nichols, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the system, said today she expected Harter to decide next week whether he will take the position. She said the decision to hire Harter was made by a search committee Feb. 11 and the written offer was mailed this week.

"It will cause controversy," Nichols said. "People will think he was hired as a way to unite him with Carol. There is no question that is probably the only reason he would come to Nevada and accept the job."

The position will be stationed in Las Vegas. If he takes the job, Nichols said, Harter will suffer a pay cut from his present position. She said he has 20 years experience as an academic administrator and planner in the field of health.

The new position in the medical school is associate dean for planning to help in forming the new health sciences center in Las Vegas. In the chancellor's office, he will be health education coordinator, which was formerly a full-time position until the Legislature failed to provide money for it.

Nichols said a search committee that included her and the medical school dean, Dr. Robert Miller, was ready to start a national hunt. She said Michael Harter heard about the position from his wife. And the search committee interviewed him, without starting a search.

"That's the controversial part," Nichols said. But she added, "In our opinion he has an outstanding resume and fits the job."

She said Harter is "over qualified" for the position.

"It did not make sense to spend the money on a national search. He would emerge as the best candidate anyway."

Nichols said the university is fortunate to fill this senior-level position with a person of Harter's experience.

She said approval of the Board of Regents is not required.