Open Letter from the Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System
June 22, 2009
NOTE TO EDITORS, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS, OP-ED EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: The following is an open letter from Michael D. McKinney, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, to Texas A&M University students, faculty, staff, former students and friends.
Dear Students, Faculty, Former Students and Friends of Texas A&M University:
I love Texas A&M and our students. It is this love that drives my motivation for serving as chancellor.
While some have impugned my motives and reputation related to the recent events at our flagship university, they have done so in many cases without even knowing me, and certainly not knowing my heart. They have based their assertions on half-truths, innuendo and grand conspiracies. While I have mostly remained silent about these critiques, I believe for them to go unanswered any longer is damaging to the university.
I not only support shared governance, I also practice it. I have a very active and vocal Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board. I have a team of independent thinkers who work at the System Offices, and I encourage new ideas and frank discussions. I interact with and listen to faculty and students at every campus visit around the state. More exactly, I strive for “integral leadership,” the next iteration of shared governance, which is further defined as “collaborative but decisive leadership.”
My annual reviews of all who report directly to me are for the purpose of identifying needs and setting goals. Everyone that works for the A&M System and all the CEOs, including university presidents, know this. My cover letter to each of the CEOs requesting his/her self evaluation clearly states, “I see this process as a collaborative opportunity to review past achievements, evaluate the challenges that you face, set new goals and objectives, and develop new ideas on how we can continue progress toward excellence in education, research, and service for the state of Texas.” I do face-to-face verbal evaluations annually. I make notes before the face-to-face meeting so I remember to mention some positive things and some things requiring attention. What some have termed as an “unprofessional evaluation” consisted of my notes.
All of my executive staff and all of the CEOs have heard me say that the annual review is not the only time to evaluate and provide feedback. I meet with all the presidents many times during a year. I always provide feedback on issues including an assessment of his/her needs and issues that need addressing. Dr. Murano received positive feedback for some of her performance during the year. She also received comments from me encouraging more collaboration and cautioning her to be careful in taking counsel from others who had previously had their own difficulties. Dr. Murano also received feedback from a number of the regents encouraging her and evaluating her performance as president.
Scripture says in Matthew 18:15 if you have a problem with a brother or sister you must go to them and attempt to fix it, just the two of you. Earlier this year, I went to Dr. Murano’s office. We had a frank discussion, shook hands, hugged and agreed to a “do over,” putting aside past differences, knowing Texas A&M is bigger and more important than any one individual. We both still believe that today.
Now some are laying claim to a gubernatorial conspiracy. To be clear, Gov. Rick Perry is a devoted Aggie and my friend. But any idea that he is involved in the day-to-day operations of Texas A&M is flat wrong. In the 25 years that I have known Rick Perry, he has never once mentioned even a thought about being president or chancellor of A&M. He likes serving as governor of Texas, and he fully intends to be elected for another term. Neither Gov. Perry nor I have a desire to run Texas A&M University. I do have a desire and a commitment to provide the kind of oversight a chancellor and a university system are supposed to offer as envisioned by the legislature.
My motive is simply what is best for Texas A&M, and that holds whether we are talking about serving our students, attracting top research and teaching talent, reducing the cost of administrative services, or recruiting the leadership of any of the 11 campuses in our A&M System. I love Texas A&M, and the success and well-being of our students remains near and dear to my heart.
Michael D. McKinney, M.D.
Chancellor
The Texas A&M University System
