Interim chancellor asserting authority

Friday, June 4, 2004 | 10:34 a.m.

ELKO -- Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers has been on the job less than a month but is already asserting his authority, rankling at least one regent of the University and Community College System of Nevada.

The board Thursday approved, with on dissenting vote, the hiring of Dr. Trudy Larson of the University of Nevada, Reno to a new position of assistant chancellor, a job created by Rogers.

Regent Howard Rosenberg of Reno said the position was established without the board's approval and there was no notice posted to allow others to apply.

Rosenberg said he received a lot of telephone calls from people "saying this is not a good idea."

Rogers, hired last month, said he should be able to appoint those administrators who report to him.

Larson, who will be paid $165,000, has a background in the health, and regents pointed out she did not have extensive administrative experience.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick of Las Vegas said he wanted to make sure that Larson doesn't get between the board of regents and Rogers. Rogers replied he has always been available to the regents during his first month, but he needs an assistant so he has time for fund-raising.

Rogers also is recommending a change that regents do not have to approve the appointment of all administrators that report to Rogers.

Rosenberg complained the "responsibility and authority (of the regents) is being eroded. I don't like it one bit."

Regent Mark Alden said the regents have "got to get out of mini-management" and give the chancellor the right to appoint administrators.

In other business, the board approved student fees for those taking upper division courses in the four-year Dental Hygiene program at Community College of Southern Nevada, which is to begin this fall.

For a resident upper division student, the fee would be $70 per credit. Part-time non-resident fees for upper division classes would be $140 per credit.