Question of the day
Friday, Jul 26, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Apparently, Poshard wanted to wait until he had matters under control before stepping down…
SIU President Glenn Poshard will step down from his post next summer. The long-time administrator says it’s time for him to slow down, and he’s ready for the next chapter in his life.
Poshard says he wants to make sure there is a seamless transition as he moves out of the office, and hoped to give Trustees plenty of notice to find someone new. He says stability is important.
“We had had a succession of Presidents who had been here three, two years at a time. I’ve been here 7 ½ years, will be here 8 ½ years. I think we’ve stabilized that arena.”
Poshard also pointed to new stability on the Board of Trustees, after months of turmoil, as one thing that made his decision easier. He says Randal Thomas’ leadership as Chairman of the Board is a great asset.
Thomas passes credit back to Poshard, and thinks the transition to new leadership will be made easier because of how things have been organized.
I’m betting that Gov. Pat Quinn will try his best to make sure he has as much influence as possible on who the next SIU president is. Stay tuned. For now, though…
* The Question: Glenn Poshard’s legacy? Make sure to explain.
- walkinfool - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 11:40 am:
“stability” has been achieved?
That’s some wishful thinking! Hope it becomes correct by mid-2014.
Politicization and unnecessary turmoil have been Poshard’s legacy to date. He has kept SIU in the news.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 11:45 am:
I personally like Glenn Poshard, but under his administration tuition has gone up and enrollments have plunged, forcing cuts and program consolidations. The Carbondale-Edwardsville campus rivalry/feud festered and morale among faculty hit a new low.
I don’t think Poshard is responsible for all of that, and I don’t know that there was much anyone could have done to change some of the macro-issues behind it (cuts in state operating support, pension problems, etc.) but all of this happened on his watch.
To me he seemed more pre-occupied with maintaining his position than developing a strategy to lead SIU through some very troubled waters.
- Andrew Szakmary - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 11:46 am:
I left SIU in 2000, so I cannot speak to his Presidency of the university system, but I had nothing but respect for him as a Congressman and gubernatorial candidate.
However, Poshard’s recent avid support of the universities pension plan, which if enacted would decimate the pension of every current and former employee at SIU, mystifies me and in my mind greatly diminishes his legacy.
- Jake From Elwood - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 11:48 am:
Korean War Vet.
Respected legislator.
Wish he would have defeated George Ryan.
Gracious individual, seems like good family man.
Only negatives on him is that he was a Blago appointee to SIU board and if I recall there was some kerfuffle over a plagiarism allegation that I think he fended off.
- Flippy - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 11:50 am:
“President Sheila Simon” has a nice ring to it.
- Ghost - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 11:53 am:
Posahrd helped SIU’s edwardsville to flourish.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
Any chance he’d run for LG on Daley’s ticket?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
No matter what he did post-1998, Poshard’s legacy will always be showing all other candidates that capping their own contributions is a stupendously idiotic idea.
That…and waffling.
- DanL60 - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
No legacy = no explanation needed.
- Dr Karen - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:13 pm:
I work at SIUE where enrollment is growing and morale is good. Poshard has done well. Given the steep decline in state support for all state universities, tuition has to go up to cover expenses in a high tech era. Having attended SIUE in the late 1960s and late 1970s, I find the campus rivalry minimal.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:29 pm:
Glenn has done a good job in tough times.
Expected more, but thought after the muffed gov. campaign too.
Got way too close to Blagoof. But he was not alone there.
Eville prospered. Cdale got a lot of facilities back on track.
Chancellor Rita Chang is a very logical pick to step in Save the national search firm fees.
- Bigtwich - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:30 pm:
–Korean War Vet.–
He was in the army and in Korea but it was in the 60’s.
In any event he has great integrity.
- ANALYST - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:34 pm:
Glen Poshard has been totally dedicated and a hard worker for Southern Illinois and SIU. It is a mystery as to why Governor Quinn had to meddle in the university’s affairs and seriously tried to undermine Poshard’s leadership. Budget cuts have taken a big toll on the capacity of SIU to flourish. NYT today underscores the fact that most universities’ enrollments are suffering.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:40 pm:
We made a small mistake…the chancellor is rita cheng…sorry
- Downstater - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:44 pm:
When Poshard retires, with a very very nice pension, he can write about his time at SIU!!!! Let’s hope they are original thoughts.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:00 pm:
Well, this probably won’t be his legacy, but I’ll remember his governors campaign for the moment when I learned how small many Illinois state dems were. Basically, even though Poshard was running in 1998 (i.e., he would be in office during the 1990’s census/remap/gerrymandering process) because Poshard was pro-life and against broad gay rights legislation (though he supported gay equal employment legislation), some state Dems supported George Ryan even though he held the same positions if not worse, and with the nascent corruption charges emerging. IIRC, there was a lot of party jumping going on downticket as well (AL Salvi backing Jesse White?). In any event, “The Combine” was quite visible back then, though it would soon be eclipsed when Daley/Hassert tried to put to the kibbosh on Patrick Fitzgerald’s nomination to US Attorney.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:15 pm:
The best ‘Shoulda Been Governor’ in Illinois history. Honest and able. Rare specie of political creatures
- Joe M - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:21 pm:
The SIU students are now so well-behaved that the campus doesn’t have to be shut down during Halloween, and students sent home. Nor do all of the bars have to be closed during Halloween. In fact, the Carbondale city council just voted to allow three bars on the strip to be open next Halloween.
- Stones - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:29 pm:
Glenn Poshard’s legacy? He should have been Governor of Illinois instead of George Ryan. Super nice guy - I wish him nothing but the best!
- Failure - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:40 pm:
Joe M. Friday
Not enough students left to cause any problems at Halloween. Drive down the strip, very few business are left in business. SIU even has a special program to recruit students with lower scores. Its a shame that SIU has fell this low. Unless they get some leadership and a miracle, its already destroyed.
- SIUPROF - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 2:31 pm:
Failure
“SIU even has a special program to recruit students with lower scores.” All schools have special admit programs. SIU has a responsibility to provide an opportunity for an education to the generally under prepared students who come from many southern Illinois towns. Despite this responsibility, the average ACT score of the freshman class the last three years has gone up. This fall, SIU will have one of the largest freshmen classes in its history.
Glenn Poshard is one of the few state leaders who is committed to maintaining access to higher eduction for all Illinois students, not just the rich. He is one of the few champions of higher education in Illinois. And people still listen when he offers his opinions.
Bottom line-He is a good guy with good intentions that has been forced to feel heat from those who are uninformed or pursuing agendas of low tax and low appropriations.
- x ace - Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 4:11 pm:
Decent Guy who found that politics ain’t fought fair.
Under Term Limits it should say: Congressman Glenn Poshard Honorably Kept His Promise - And Shimkus dishonorably welched.