Daily memo: higher education:

Praised where it counts, but criticized for X factor

UNLV president gets high marks, though some say he needs to be more passionate, visible

Tiffany Brown

UNLV President David Ashley speaks to a committee of regents and other stakeholders last week at Lied Library during an evaluation of his performance. Ashley was praised as “thoughtful” and as a man of “high integrity,” but some on campus have found fault with his communication skills.

By Charlotte Hsu (contact)

Thursday, May 7, 2009 | 2 a.m.

More stories about Education

As budget cuts loom, UNLV lacks requested program rankings (2-8-2009)
Quiet man about campus (8-10-2008)
Schools cut, leaders collect big paychecks (12-21-2007)
Q+A: David Ashley (3-18-2007)
Ashley called 'total package' (5-20-2006)
No honeymoon for UNLV boss (7-02-2006)

UNLV President David Ashley sailed through the first phase of his performance evaluation last week, with a consultant labeling him a “quiet, brilliant leader.”

People lauded Ashley for hiring a strong executive team, the consultant said. They thought the president had handled UNLV’s budget crisis well.

But it’s perhaps an indication of the difficulty of a university president’s job that for many members of the campus community, that alone isn’t enough. Praised where it counts, the president lost some points on style.

Many people interviewed by the consultant hired to evaluate Ashley’s performance indicated their leader could improve his visibility on campus and in the community. Others wanted the president to communicate more, to keep stakeholders better informed about how he spends his time.

Hannah Brown, president of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and a member of an evaluation committee that had gathered to hear the consultant’s comments, defended Ashley, saying the community knows and respects him.

But the criticisms the consultant raised about communication were difficult to ignore. They must have seemed familiar to the man who has led the university since 2006.

After the 11-year presidency of the gregarious Carol Harter, many stakeholders on and off campus find Ashley and his quiet manner mystifying. The terms that members of the campus community use to describe the president are sometimes unflattering: shy, socially awkward, “an enigma.”

Last summer one longtime faculty member said of Ashley: “I don’t see him, I don’t hear from him, I don’t get e-mails from him.”

Cognizant of the criticism, Ashley has taken steps this academic year to improve communication. He has held town hall meetings on budget cuts and visited regularly with a newly established advisory council including faculty, staff and student leaders.

Those efforts, while helpful, miss the point in some ways. What many people want to see is a more organic form of communication. They would like to see Ashley lunching in the student union and walking around campus, not just answering questions at forums.

They want to see passion and anger over budget problems that have resulted in layoffs, as well as anxiety among students who worry the university won’t offer the classes they need to graduate.

But Ashley is not a man who publicizes his emotions. Even at his evaluation, with the consultant describing him using glowing terms such as “thoughtful” and “high integrity,” it was difficult to tell what he was thinking. He allowed himself a few reserved smiles, but for much of the time sat largely expressionless, blinking calmly.

Some employees have interpreted their president’s measured approach as a sign that he is aloof. Many offer Ashley slight praise for his handling of the budget crisis while expressing something near reverence for Jim Rogers, the fiery chancellor of Nevada’s higher education system who has lambasted the governor over budget cuts.

Improving communication might seem trivial, especially because Ashley appears to have strong support for the direction he wants to take UNLV. But setting aside more time to mingle and talk could bolster campus morale.

Some people simply want to know more about Ashley — his hobbies, who he is outside the office — so they can view him as a fellow human being and not just a distant administrator. Revealing such details does not always come easy for the president, who has said he sees his private life as clearly separate from his public. He even refused, for some months, to say whether he was married.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By General_Viewpoint

5/7/09 at 5:06 a.m.

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The article states "Revealing such details does not always come easy for the president, who has said he sees his private life as clearly separate from his public. He even refused, for some months, to say whether he was married." However, it was disconcerting to many of us at the recent George Stephanopoulos Barrick Lecture series speech how overly-involved his non-UNLV employed spouse was when a high profile speaker came to speak. So, is it separate or is it not, or only when convenient? This is only exacerbated by Ashley's spouses' ability to use UNLV offices at will, again, as a non-UNLV employee. And again, his private life is separate or just when it's convenient? This is not allowed unless of course you are the president of UNLV and no one will challenge him or his spouse's endeavors. And then there is the new parking spot he created for his new spouse directly in front of UNLV. To ward off any suspicion, the parking spot was (not-so) cleverly directed to name it as the president's visitor.

Just as recent as recent as August 10, 2008, the same Sun reporter demonstrated Ashley's lack of attention to financial details with a small but stunning insight how Ashley had an 'ornate' $16,000 desk and $4,000 in accompanying lounge chairs ordered for his office. The reporter referred to UNLV President Ashley as 'shy' and perhaps introspective in that piece as well. Read more at http://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/10/.... While not as outlandish as other presidents the piece reads, Ashley once again had the Public Affairs Director Tonelli clear up the 'miscommunication' once again.

The consultant cited one person that used the phrase 'high integrity'. And the consultant labeled Ashley as a "quiet, brilliant leader" while numerous faculty and staff have no idea what he does day-to-day. It's droll that Hannah Brown -- regardless of her standing good, bad, or indifferent - who is not a UNLV member, defended Ashley as to why he does not communicate to members of UNLV but apparently to her.
By General_Viewpoint

5/7/09 at 5:08 a.m.

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It would be interesting to see the full results of the hired consultant's questionnaire, methodology for his seemingly cherry-picking commentary and apparent dismissal of staff and faculty comments. How many were interviewed? The university community did not receive any e-mails or open notices of appraisal input to the best of my recollection. Who was asked?

Ashley doesn't lose points solely on style, he loses substantively as a leader. His hiring of a 'strong executive' team as cited in the article really does dove tail into another part of the article that reads "" not just a distant administrator." When those he supposedly supervises on paper commit grievous errors that violate university policies and NSHE policies, Ashley's lack of communication skills are revealed as a lack of integrity and accountability. Unfortunately, Ashley's milk-toast ability to head a university has been noticeably absent and during this difficult time of budget cuts, his limited attention to staff and faculty devastating. Perhaps Dave Tonelli can spin this too.
By BonnieA

5/7/09 at 9:24 a.m.

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I find the comments interesting.
First of all, I can only speak for myself. I have always been very up front with anything I have been asked. I cannot speak for David, but I will tell you, he simply is a very wise man and knows how to focus on the job given him, which is something you all should be very appreciative of considering the current climate. You needed someone who knows how to keep his cool, evaluate and act. He's not the theatrical one in the family! He's just sheer genius who can FOCUS.
I am asked to come to events to support my husband. I believe that is a very big part of what marriage is about, and I will always be by his side whenever possible. I, however cannot always be there when asked, but I do my best. I have all but given up a very lucrative career to do my best to fulfill the role of the President's wife, and perhaps you should look to other Universities and the level of involvement expected of that role. I have stood back, being at times criticized for not being more involved. I, however, have given of my own resources and time, volunteered to assist in many areas where I have been needed. I personally have taken care of the holiday and other events and parties at my own home...I would have been more than pleased to have someone else do the work, but as the President's wife, it is generally expected, and I have done so, and taken great pleasure in entertaining so many wonderful people. It's never noted that I did the decorating, cleaning, used my personal space and supplies, many times paid for all the food and everything MYSELF. Apparently I cannot please all of the people all of the time...
all I can do is my best. Thank you to those of you who do appreciate it. I will not apologize for supporting my husband and standing by him - ever. I love this University, I love this city, and let's focus on what is important.
By Mary

5/7/09 at 9:54 a.m.

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President Ashley has always come to my journalism classes to have press conferences with students when asked and has been generous with his time in talking to them at regents' meetings and other places. He sets the tone for his administration and others are equally accessible to students. This week the provost came to one of my classes.

Mary Hausch
Associate Professor
By williamboldt

5/7/09 at 11:35 a.m.

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I would like to clarify the role of a president's spouse in higher education. I have worked in higher education for over 35 years, the last 15 as vice president at three public universities. I have worked directly with three presidents and their spouses. I presently serve as vice president of advancement at UNLV. The main role of the president's spouse is to support the president in hosting and interacting with donors, alumni, students and the university community at university and community functions. The spouse serves an important role as an ambassador for the university. I have attended numerous university and community events with David and Bonnie Ashley and appreciate the important role that Bonnie plays, along with David, in building strong and positive relationships with our donors, alumni and students. Bonnie serves unselfishly as one of the university's most active volunteers.
By bremskraft

5/7/09 at 4:05 p.m.

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Mary, do you think that has anything to do with your husband, Bob Coffin?
By bremskraft

5/7/09 at 4:14 p.m.

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or rather that your husband *is* Bob Coffin, a state senator, and someone they'd hope to give a good impression to...
By marianevans

5/8/09 at 7:55 a.m.

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When it comes to protecting UNLV from getting gutted, Ashley has been at least as effective as one of the paperweights resting atop his snazzy credenza.