As the Board of Governors’ “president in residence,” the University of North Florida’s John Delaney won’t receive a salary and will stop by the Tallahassee office a few times a week.
When interviewed, he also expressed surprise that anyone would see the position as a conflict of interest.
According to the Jacksonville Times-Union:
“Delaney said can't imagine any conflict of interest in representing the Board of Governors and UNF. He said his university won't get preferential treatment and if there are any issues that conflict, he'll recuse himself.”
But now, take a look at this line:
“[Delaney] will help make recommendations for allocations of funds and work with the legislature.”
Every year, public universities compete against one another for funding and programs. Now, UNF’s president may get direct input into which project proposals from competing universities make it into the BOG’s system-wide legislative request.
Like every other SUS institution, UNF has its own legislative agenda to pursue. When Delaney goes up to the capitol, he won’t stop being UNF’s chief lobbyist. He’s already bragged about how “UNF’s strategy in Tallahassee has always been consistent with the Board of Governors’ priorities.” With Delaney now lobbying on behalf of both the BOG and UNF, it's difficult to see how he'll avoid mixing messages.
When interviewed, he also expressed surprise that anyone would see the position as a conflict of interest.
According to the Jacksonville Times-Union:
“Delaney said can't imagine any conflict of interest in representing the Board of Governors and UNF. He said his university won't get preferential treatment and if there are any issues that conflict, he'll recuse himself.”
But now, take a look at this line:
“[Delaney] will help make recommendations for allocations of funds and work with the legislature.”
Every year, public universities compete against one another for funding and programs. Now, UNF’s president may get direct input into which project proposals from competing universities make it into the BOG’s system-wide legislative request.
Like every other SUS institution, UNF has its own legislative agenda to pursue. When Delaney goes up to the capitol, he won’t stop being UNF’s chief lobbyist. He’s already bragged about how “UNF’s strategy in Tallahassee has always been consistent with the Board of Governors’ priorities.” With Delaney now lobbying on behalf of both the BOG and UNF, it's difficult to see how he'll avoid mixing messages.
These shenanigans aren’t unprecedented for the BOG. Back in 2005, the board gave its blessing for then-BOG member Castell Bryant to apply for FAMU’s interim presidency. No one thought it was conflict of interest for an SUS governor to seek employment from the very trustees she supervised (and could help vote out of office). No chance for intimidation there.
The Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) priority list could become one of the biggest areas of controversy this year. PECO dollars, which come from utility taxes, fund construction and renovations on public university campuses. The BOG is in charge of ranking the proposed PECO projects from all universities and then submitting that list to the Legislature.
Here's how the BOG described the process it used last year:
"The Board of Governors Office staff has evaluated the projects proposed by the universities for consistency with the campus master plan and educational plant survey recommendations. Also, reasonableness of cost estimates and project schedules have been examined. All projects and amounts requested for funding are thus recommended by the Chancellor. The list reflects a statewide plan for program growth and quality improvement."
The Florida Senate, which has done the best job of directing tough questions to the BOG, needs to hold hearings and find out exactly what role Delaney will play in this process and the rest of the BOG's funding request deliberations. What exactly is the criteria for determining whether a conflict of interest is present or not? Will the "president in residence" be able to strike off proposed projects from competing universities before they are presented to the full BOG for a vote? How much weight will his "recommendations" hold?
Millions in taxpayer dollars are at issue. This means that the highest level of transparency is required.
I'm writing a letter now. I cannot understand why there is no other person in the state of Florida who can do this job. This does not pass the smell test on many levels. The bOG is already an intellectual and financial question mark.
ReplyDeletedelaney is lying and he knows it!
ReplyDelete