Ed:

That is exactly the reason I believe that someone wanted new leadership, plus that the top three resigned.

But the question is WHY ... since everyone seemed to appreciate Andreason and have nothing but good to say regarding his leadership?

Lesser known: the academic advisor of the theology department is leaving too. He told me when I contacted him about going over my transcript etc. to see what I should take for classes in order to graduate. He said he was waiting to hear about a position in the Phillippines which makes me wonder whether he was bailing on AU for some unknown reason or whether he simply saw an opportunity elsewhere and felt called there instead. I didn't ask, because at the time I didn't know anything was amiss, but (much to everyone's dismay) I can often "read the air" on things and I "read" that something more was going on than met the eye.
People generally don't like it when I "out" the "something more" and so because he was a stranger to me I didn't pursue it. But now -- as usual! -- more info comes to light giving me cause to think no, that was NOT all in my head ... so yeah some FACTS rather than just wondering (without even a sufficient groundwork for speculation to keep my brain occupied! ) would be a good thing right about now ...

Nico,

Two of my best friends are dept. heads at the Seminary. Both are on sabbatical right now, but will be returning soon.


As far as your plans, I doubt this will have any significant impact on undergraduates in the short term. The key word in all these announcements is "strategic." Those are long term objectives which shouldn't affect undergrads, especially in areas like Religion.

If it were my kids planning to go there, I wouldn't hesitate to follow through on those plans over this.

Understand, Andrews is like an large SDA center. You get all kinds there, and doing business with Adventists can test your faith. I personally hate the humidity.

At the same time, the seminary makes Andrews one of our most cosmopolitan schools; people from all over the world attend there. And just as you can find the cranks, you have the opportunity to meet beautiful Christian Adventists from all over the world. I enjoyed my time there.

My source is a retired staff member, who attended the Faculty/Board/Retirees' dinner and who heard the news first-hand. She emailed me Monday night. I didn't want to be the first to break the news here.

But it was a total shock and surprise when the president arrived at the board meeting, submitted his letter of resignation and then left the meeting. At first they thought he had moved away. It's obvious he's been planning this. But as Stan says, the spring board meeting is always the meeting at which faculty and staff hiring is done.

The president and his wife are friends of mine. I have not called them about this since I know it must be a very difficult time for them right now.

Nico, I would not worry about your education. The university has strong credentials. Hopefully your department will remain pretty much intact, even though the advisor might leave. Let me assure you, that university is a cosmopolitan campus, with the brightest and best students from around the WORLD. They've recently raised their admission standards [SAT scores, for example] and are also giving scholarships to undergrads who remain for the entire four years. They are doing very creative stuff there.

The graduate schools have always been strong.

OK, thanks for the input, Ed & Jeannie. I'm glad, because I'm rather looking forward to going there.

Update:

I've now heard from another friend on campus, a high-level administrative assistant, who says there's such a sense of sadness on the campus - it is hard to describe. It feels as though there has been a death in the family. Please remember us [them] in your prayers.

Also: I have registered my vehement objection to the language used in the press release prepared by University Relations and reprinted in the Adventist Review. It implies that the Board asked Dr. Andreasen for his resignation -- which is a total fabrication. It was Dr. A's resignation, along with his suggesting to the Board that there could/should be a new "realignment" which caused the [shocked, surprised] board to reluctantly accept his resignation.

My contact there on campus said my feeling is shared by many, and that University Relations may be coming out with a correction. (I have no assurance of the latter -- but they should.)

Nico, I also think this primarily involves the Seminary, and not the undergraduate college.

Update from another forum


Dr. Niels-Erik Andreasen to Serve as President of Andrews University until June 30

A specially called meeting of the Andrews University Board of Trustees convened on March 9 at 7:00 pm. The Board took an action asking Dr. Niels-Erik Andreasen to continue serving as president of the university for the remainder of its fiscal year, ending June 30. Andreasen agreed to the request.

Andreasen had served as president of the university for 12 years until his resignation at the regular Board meeting on March 6.

At a break during that meeting, the leadership of the board asked Dr. Andreasen for his resignation and he agreed. When he wrote his resignation letter, Andreasen stated that it would be "effective immediately." Apparently, it was that phrase which was the root of a misunderstanding between Andreasen and the Board. Andreasen thought the Board was wishing for his resignation to be immediate while the Board, upon receipt of his letter, assumed that it was Andreasen's wish for a quick conclusion.

After that meeting, some trustees talked further with Andreasen and recognized the misunderstanding that had emerged. They, in turn, asked Elder Gerald Karst, chair of the Board of Trustees and general vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, to call a special meeting to ask for clarification.

The meeting was called and the Board voted overwhelmingly to ask Dr. Andreasen to serve in his current capacity until June 30, to help ensure stability and continuity in the university's operations as new leadership is identified and put in place.

"Dr. Andreasen is a gifted thinker and servant leader who has given valuable leadership to Andrews for more than a decade," says Elder Karst "Although the board has determined that Andrews needs some of the opportunities that could be offered by new leadership, I'm pleased that Dr. Andreasen will be staying by for the remainder of this school year."

On March 6, the board's requested resignations of Dr. Andreasen, along with two vice presidents, followed a number of years of strategic discussions that began following significant financial losses for the university during the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 fiscal years.

While improvements had been made, the board felt that the modest growth in revenue and student populations during these years did not match the scope and speed needed to equip the university for successful long-term operations and growth.

A 13-member presidential search committee will now be appointed, and will be made up of board members, university faculty, staff, alumni and student representatives.

The full board will meet again before the end of March to complete voting and endorsement of new faculty and staff appointments, the budget for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, and other unfinished business from its March 6 agenda.

The speech

http://adventistforum.com/Andreasen.mp3

if you want to email that link to a friend use
this

http://adventistforum.com/ubbtreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/209415/an//page/0/vc/1