We have now received an oral opinion from the Office of the Attorney General that the agreement is a public document, thus freeing me to speak more openly.
It was my decision that it was time for a change in the structure of the legal office. After informing the Board of Trustees in closed session, I communicated my decision to Vice Chancellor Ehringhaus and asked her to work with me on a smooth transition.
I want to make it clear that there is not -- and never was -- any question about Vice Chancellor Ehringhaus' high level of competence.
She is an excellent attorney, and she has served this University with honor and distinction for 32 years. To assure a smooth transition, I asked her to remain as vice chancellor until Dec. 31, whereupon she would begin an off-campus assignment with the Association of American Universities and the American Association of Medical Colleges in Washington, D.C. I agreed to provide her with an office on campus and to reimburse travel at state mileage allowance or coach air travel rates and per diem expenses up to $40,000 so that she could honor existing commitments and cover weekly air travel and expenses while in Washington. This period of leave is not unlike the research leaves accorded to other senior administrators before they transition back to faculty status or to other responsibilities.
Following her off-campus assignment, she will return to campus in full-time service as a faculty member in the School of Law through August 2004.
I deeply regret the controversy surrounding this issue. Vice Chancellor Ehringhaus is a person of consummate legal skill, knowledge and integrity, and my desire was to allow her a transition to the faculty, where I believe she will continue to serve the University with skill and dedication.
In fact, I was so focused on that that I failed to take into account the impact of this arrangement on the campus community and the state at large. The use of private funds does not diminish the impact. The arrangement was an error of judgment on my part, and has undone the very purpose of the agreement itself.
It is important to admit mistakes, to learn from those mistakes, resolve not to repeat them and to move on. What can we learn from this? While the University has very clear policies and procedures for the non-reappointment of faculty and for SPA employees, the University has minimal guidelines for severance of senior administrators. I have discussed this with UNC-system President Molly Broad, and we agree that we need clear policies and procedures.
I realize that I have some fence mending to do in my relationships with faculty, staff and students at Carolina and, indeed, with the people of the state. This episode has reminded me of how much the University is loved by its people, here on campus and everywhere around the state. I too love this University, and I earnestly want your confidence and support to continue to lead it in these difficult times.
