UA deans to direct fundraisers

9 senior-level positions shifted out of Advancement unit

FAYETTEVILLE -- A fundraising reorganization at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville gives academic deans as well as the university's central administration more control over personnel.

Nine senior-level directors of development -- part of the front line at UA in contacting and courting donors -- now report to deans or unit leaders and have their salaries paid entirely by colleges or similar units within the university.

Previously, the university's main fundraising division, known as Advancement, supervised these directors of development and also paid half of their salaries. The salary restructuring, which also involves additional employees, becomes official today, the beginning of UA's new fiscal year.

In September, UA plans to kick off what Chancellor Joe Steinmetz has described as a $1 billion fundraising campaign. Laura Jacobs, Steinmetz's chief of staff, said in an email that the chancellor made the decision to reorganize the division.

"A big part of the campaign fundraising will fall on the shoulders of the deans," Jacobs said. "We want to ensure that they are closely aligned to the development officers. We also expect that the units will work closely with central advancement in our fundraising efforts."

Jacobs said the change shifts the university more closely to what was in place at Ohio State University, where Steinmetz served as provost before joining UA at the beginning of this year.

The reorganization has nothing to do with the 2013 legislative hearings that followed the discovery of a $4.19 million deficit within UA's Advancement division, Jacobs said.

Brad Choate, the Advancement leader at the time of the deficit, lost his job and was criticized by auditors for failing to monitor spending.

Now, the Advancement division is "in great fiscal shape," Jacobs said.

Neither does the reorganization affect the public charities supporting the university and UA's Razorback athletics, with those nonprofit foundations having their own employees.

In total, 18 UA positions are affected budgetwise, according to UA spokesman Mark Rushing. The other nine positions are associate-level directors of development who will continue to report to senior-level directors of development.

Money will be shifted from Advancement to the appropriate college or unit to cover "lead DOD [director of development]" salaries, according to a document released by the university in response to a public disclosure request from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Top directors of development at UA have earned salaries in excess of $100,000.

Todd Shields, dean of UA's J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, said in an email that he was pleased with the move, but he downplayed the restructuring.

"The offices for the development officers in Fulbright College are located just down the hall and we work closely on a daily basis -- making travel plans, meeting with prospective donors, setting goals, etc." said Shields, who heads UA's largest college. The changes "reflect that reality," he said.

Rushing said another 12 senior-level and associate-level directors of development will continue working within the Advancement division. Jacobs said Advancement also will continue to have a working relationship with the senior-level directors of development affected by the change, even without having direct supervisory oversight.

UA's Advancement division is led by Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for university advancement. Its fundraising-focused development unit had about 75 employees as of October, a total that included those positions affected by the changes. The Advancement division also oversees UA's alumni association, special events workers and community relations staff.

The document released to the Democrat-Gazette details "Development procedures," including the supervisory changes.

Wyrick's role also has been clarified, according to the document. The vice chancellor of university advancement directs campaigns and high-level strategy while ensuring "high-level prospects are being stewarded and solicited," the document states. Supervisory responsibilities for the position include assistant and associate vice chancellors within the Advancement division.

The vice chancellor for university advancement will meet at least twice a year with deans and unit directors to review their progress, with the chancellor or provost also in the meetings, according to the document.

It also states how pay raises are to be given out.

"A unit's annual budget for salaries may increase no more than the percentage determined annually by central administration," the document, dated Tuesday, states.

This affects directors of development and other staff members, according to the document. Raises for the affected directors of development will be determined by deans or unit directors but "in concert with" associate or assistant vice chancellors.

Deans will be "held accountable" for fundraising goals in annual reviews from the university provost, the document states. UA currently is searching for its next provost, the second-highest campus administrator, with Steinmetz expected to make the hiring decision.

The "Development procedures" document makes clear that "all unit funding priorities are determined by the dean/directors."

Rushing said the statement does not refer to a change, however, with the strategic objectives having always been determined by the colleges and units.

A Section on 07/01/2016

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