The Ann Arbor Chronicle » administration

UM: Salaries

Chronicle Staff — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:47:49 +0000

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on a letter that University of Michigan faculty sent to UM regents on April 20, questioning the high salaries of university administrators. From the letter: “The University is in desperate and urgent need of fiscal reform. Arresting the steep increases in salaries to top administrators, reforming the secretive bonus culture of the Fleming administration building, terminating the toxic AST project, and refocusing the attention of the University on its core mission of teaching, research, and service should save the University many tens of millions of dollars per year. We urge you to work with incoming President-Elect Schlissel to introduce and implement these necessary reforms as soon as practically possible.” The 40-page document includes a detailed salary analysis and list of request from regents. The Chronicle of Higher Education article is behind a paywall. Here’s a full text of the letter: [.pdf of open letter to UM regents]

UM: Faculty Petition

Chronicle Staff — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 19:01:48 +0000

An online “open letter” from University of Michigan faculty to president Mary Sue Coleman and provost Martha Pollack asks that the proposed Administrative Services Transformation (AST) project – which aims to reduce costs by centralizing services – be terminated. As of early afternoon on Saturday, Nov. 23, the letter had received over 600 signatures. From the letter: “AST is a top-down program that eliminates the ability to retain corporate knowledge and leverage the unit-culture experiences of some 300 support staff while limiting their contributions to a series of transactional tasks in a call center.” [Source]

WCC: Faculty Discontent

Chronicle Staff — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:32:55 +0000

The Washtenaw Voice reports on reactions to the firing of Stuart Blacklaw, former vice president of instruction at Washtenaw Community College who was dismissed by WCC president Rose Bellanca. The article states that “members of the Washtenaw Community College Education Association were angered by what they called a ‘cowardly move.’” [Source] A separate article reports on concerns raised by the faculty union at a recent WCC board of trustees meeting over “communication breakdowns” with Bellanca. [Source]

County’s No. 2 Administrator Resigns

Mary Morgan — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:54:50 +0000

David Behen, right, talks with Gene DeRossett before Thursday's working session of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.

David Behen, one of Washtenaw County’s two deputy county administrators, has resigned and will leave his job at the end of May. Washtenaw County commissioners and department heads were informed of the decision in an email sent Thursday morning from county administrator Bob Guenzel. In that email, Guenzel stated that he does not plan to fill the position after Behen’s departure.

The county is struggling to balance its budget in the wake of declining revenues and a projected $26 million deficit over the next two years. Behen’s salary is $144,000 – the total compensation for that position, including benefits, is roughly $200,000.

Behen told The Chronicle that it was his decision to leave and that he has other opportunities. “Maybe by me leaving, I save someone else’s job,” he said. He said he’s been contemplating the decision for a while.

Behen joined the county administration in 1999 as a management analyst and has been promoted several times over the years. In late 2002 he was named director of information technology, and was promoted to deputy county administrator in early 2007. His responsibilities in that role cover the county’s support services, economic development and land use. He also acts as a liaison to the public defender’s office and public safety and justice departments. The other deputy county administrator is Verna McDaniel.

In 2007, Behen was named to Crain’s Detroit Business 40 under 40, a listing that recognizes young community leaders in southeast Michigan. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Michigan University and is involved in several community groups. He is a board member for the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce and on the leadership team for the Ann Arbor Region Success initiative. An Ypsilanti Township resident, he also has a leadership role in the Eastern Leaders Group and led a recent meeting to kick off a revitalization plan for that part of the county.

In his email to commissioners, Guenzel praised Behen’s work with the county. ”David has had many accomplishments over his ten years with the County and has had a tremendously positive impact on the organization and within the community, and for that, we will miss him. Personally, I have appreciated his leadership, hard work and support. I wish him the best in his endeavors and I’m confident that David will go on to do great things.”

Behen said he plans to take some time off but will remain in this area.