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MU Chancellor Richard L. Wallace, left, laughs with UM
System President Elson Floyd at a July 10 news conference
where he announced his plans to retire at the end of August
2004. Photo by Brian McNeill
Read
Chancellors Wallace’s message to campus.
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MU
Chancellor Announces Retirement Plans
University of Missouri-Columbia Chancellor
Richard
L. Wallace has announced his intention to retire effective
Aug. 31, 2004, after 38 years of service to the University of
Missouri.
“I am proud to have played a small
role in the transformation of a good state university into one
of the nation’s great land-grant research institutions,”
Wallace said. “During this year of transition, I look
forward to working with University of Missouri President Elson
S. Floyd and MU Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Brady
Deaton as we seek new ways to address the serious fiscal challenges
that lie ahead while preserving the quality of our educational
programs.” Wallace said he also plans to focus his remaining
time as chancellor on fundraising initiatives.
Wallace was appointed an assistant professor
of economics and community health and medical practice at MU
in 1966. He served in a variety of academic and leadership positions
on the MU campus, including professor of economics, chair of
the Department of Economics, associate dean of the Graduate
School and associate provost. He also served as associate vice
president and vice president of academic affairs at the University
of Missouri System from 1985-96. He was named interim chancellor
of the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1996 and became chancellor
in 1997.
During Wallace’s time as chancellor,
MU experienced record-breaking enrollment, sharply increased
federal research support, and national awards for the quality
of its undergraduate programs. Wallace recently completed a
term as president of the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education,
which includes the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
“Chancellor Wallace has served the
University of Missouri with distinction for nearly four decades,”
UM System President Elson S. Floyd said. “Richard is a
recognized leader in higher education, and his contributions
will have a positive impact on the lives of Mizzou students
and alumni for years to come.”
Floyd announced that he would use the transitional
year to explore consolidation of administrative positions and
functions between the UM System and MU, including combining
the positions of UM President and MU Chancellor when Wallace
retires next year.
“The University
of Missouri System as it is currently organized has added
value to the statewide system of higher education since 1963,”
Floyd said. “It remains an ideal organizational model
for the delivery of higher education programs in our state;
however, in view of recent budget reductions and our continuing
commitment to quality, we are focusing on consolidation.”
During the past two years, the University
has absorbed cuts in state appropriations and mid-year withholdings
totaling $126 million. In fiscal year 2004, which began July
1, the University will be faced with additional reductions of
$32.4 million.
“We have reduced administrative overhead
about as far as we can given our present structure and missions,”
Floyd said. “Bold steps must be taken if we are to position
the University to address budgetary constraints in FY05 and
beyond.” Floyd said that mounting fiscal pressures, coupled
with Wallace’s decision to retire next year, presented
the University with a window of opportunity to consider adopting
a new model for higher education to better serve the needs of
the state’s citizens.
The UM
System Board of Curators has authorized the president to
conduct a comprehensive review of organizational entities within
the UM System and the MU campus and to make such changes as
he deems necessary and in the best interest of the University
to streamline or consolidate administrative positions and functions
of the two organizations. Floyd said that the organizational
structure initially would remain intact, with reporting relationships
of administrators remaining unchanged.
“My primary objective in considering
consolidation is to create a university organization that is
relevant to our times. We will streamline University operations
while preserving the quality of the educational enterprise and
the unique strengths of each of our four campuses and University
Outreach and Extension,” Floyd said.
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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