Regents to discuss future of UNLV president at July meeting

Monday, June 22, 2009 | 5:12 p.m.

David Ashley

One on ONE with University System Chancellor Jim Rogers

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University System Chancellor Jim Rogers is stepping down June 30, ending a five-year stint as the leader of Nevada's higher education system. News ONE's Jeff Gillan talks with Rogers about his legacy and his plans.

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Letter from Rogers to the Board of Regents

David Ashley’s future as president of UNLV will be debated — and maybe decided — July 10 at a 9 a.m. hearing before the regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

The hearing will be open to the public. Its location has not yet been announced.

Ashley was out of town today on personal business and not available for comment, his staff said.

Ashley came under harsh criticism from outgoing Chancellor Jim Rogers for his apparent lack of community involvement, poor communication skills and his wife's perceived rude behavior toward university staff.

Rogers called for Ashley's dismissal in a letter to the board of regents earlier this month. Ashley's contract is set to expire next summer.

President Ashley became the eighth president of UNLV in July 2006.

Prior to his work in Nevada he served as the executive vice chancellor of University of California, Merced and Dean of Engineering at Ohio State University.

He has also served on the engineering faculty of the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Texas at Austin; and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

If Ashley is dismissed or his contract is not renewed it will likely create a leadership vacuum in the university's executive office a time when the school is undergoing significant financial difficulties.

The college has had its budget slashed in recent years as the state faced massive budget shortfalls.

The Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education last week approved tuition hikes at all campuses, including UNLV, and mandatory furloughs for staff, administrators and non tenured faculty.

Meanwhile, the campus is in the sunset stage of a massive fundraising campaign. The UNLV Foundation announced in December it had fallen short of its $500 million fundraising goal and would extend the campaign for another year.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By neiman1

6/22/09 at 8:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Maybe he could have his wife testify as a character witness for him?
By UNLVStud

6/22/09 at 11:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

Ashley needs to GO!
By Edith_Victoria

6/25/09 at 9:44 a.m.

Suggest removal

All I know is that Ashley has been one of the leading voices amidst the budget crisis by holding town hall meetings and even dedicating an entire website to the issue. As far as community involvement, I find it better that education administrators not make headlines. His wife already apologized and has since stepped off, so exactly what has he done (but not corrected) that deserves such a harsh punishment?