PSU Magazine Winter 1988

Edgington named interim president R oger N. Edgington, appointed Ex– ecuti ve Vice Pres ident of Portland State October IO by the State Board of Higher Education, will become Inte rim PSU Pres ident on January I, 1989. Until then, Edgington will assume the autho rity, duties and responsibilities of president as Executive Vice President. The appointment , which was recom– mended by State System of Higher Educa– tion Chancellor W.T. Lemman, followed board acceptance of the resignation of Natale A. Sicuro as university president. Board Pres ident Richard Hensley accepted Sicuro's resignation "with deep regret over the present situation at Portland State University." Reading a statement from the board , Hensley added , " In its evaluation of the performance of Dr. Sicuro, the review panel found no evidence of mi suse of university or foundation funds or of any other wrongdoing. The chancellor and the board concur in this finding." Sicuro's perfo rmance as PSU pres ident had been reviewed by a fi ve-member panel appointed by Chancellor Lemman in PSU 2 response to a request by the University Faculty Senate. The panel, fi ve former state board presidents, met with dozens of faculty, students and community members during its rev iew. While the panel found no wrongdoing on Sicuro's part, it did find that relations between Sicuro and the academic community were so badly damaged that they might never be repaired . In appointing Edgington to the position of Executive Vice President (Interim Presi– dent after January I), Chancellor Lemrnan indicated that the expectation was not " that things stand still " at the university pending appointment of a permanent president. Those thoughts were echoed by Edg– ington who, meeting with the Faculty Senate in November, outlined several areas of immediate concern . Among them will be continuation of four major personnel searches for a Vice Provost and Dean of Students, Director of Physical Plant , Dean of Continuing Education and Summer Ses– sion, and Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Research . Edgington also will be meeting with state legislators from the metropolitan area in preparation for the 1989 Legislative Ses– sion which begins in January. The Executi ve Vice President has pledged himself to increased communica– tions with fac ulty, staff and students as well as with the community. He said he will work with PSU Provost Frank Mar– tino and the academic deans in an effo rt to reassure the community of the university's stability and to reestablish communica– tions. "We have a good deal of bridge building and fence mending to do,'' he said . Chancell or Lemman said he would ap– point a search committee fo r the PSU presidential post prior to the end of December. The committee will consist of four members of the state board , as well as representation from PSU 's fac ulty, stu– dent body, alumni and the Portland com– munity. Lemman hopes the search process can be completed by the summer with a new pres ident on campus for the opening of Fall Term . 0