Regents expected to promote Nichols to interim chancellor

Valerie Miller

Tuesday, May 9, 2000 | 11 a.m.

The university Board of Regents was expected this morning to appoint Jane Nichols as the state's new interim chancellor, replacing Tom Anderes, who has accepted a job at the University of Oregon.

The regents also were expected today to decide whether to extend the contract of UNLV President Carol Harter to 2004.

Nichols, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, is the only candidate being considered for the temporary chancellor post, though other potential candidates were approached, according to regents contacted Monday.

"I don't know if they are even considering anyone else at this point," Regent Tom Kirkpatrick said. "We need to move quickly to replace Tom Anderes, who is leaving July 1."

Anderes has served as interim chancellor since September 1999, replacing Chancellor Richard Jarvis.

Nichols has been the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs since 1997. Before that she was an associate dean of of the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1995 to 1997.

Regent Mark Alden said Monday he had talked to two other candidates about the interim position -- University of Nevada, Reno, President Joe Crowley and Truckee Meadows Community College President John Richardson. They both turned him down, Alden said.

He said he planned to seek an amendment to Nichols' selection that would prohibit her from being a candidate for the permanent position. Alden cites what he says is too much influence that interims hold over the people who may be selected for the permanent position.

Regent Steve Sisolak disagreed with Alden's stance, saying that he felt "all interims should get a shot at the permanent jobs."

Kirkpatrick praised Nichols' past achievements and said he was confident she was up to the tough task of being interim chancellor.

"She has done an excellent job as vice president of academic affairs, and I'm sure that she would do an excellent job as interim chancellor," Kirkpatrick said.

The job of interim chancellor will be made harder by the number of major positions now vacant in the university system, he added.

"We are also losing our vice chancellor of finance," Kirkpatrick said, referring to the other post most recently held by Anderes. "It is a rough, tough job."

Valerie Miller is a reporter for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2319 or by e-mail at valerie@lasvegassun.com