Ouster Of Bennett Surprised Other Presidents Idaho Board Of Education Votes To Establish A Departure Policy For College And University Presidents

Idaho’s college and university presidents say the forced resignation of North Idaho College President Robert Bennett after 10 years at the helm caught them off guard.

“It was an absolute surprise,” LewisClark State College President James Hottois said Friday.

LCSC, which offers several programs in Coeur d’Alene, is in the process of moving its center on campus at NIC. Hottois and the other college and university presidents statewide were in Lewiston Friday for the Idaho Board of Education’s monthly meeting.

Although the board did not take action specifically on Bennett’s ouster, it did vote to establish a process easing the departure of college and university presidents.

The board voted to consider establishing an exit policy for top officials.

“It’s not a topic managers feel very comfortable talking about, but we don’t treat presidents very well in this state when they they are exiting,” said Rayburn Barton, outgoing executive director of the board of education. “It’s sort of like a funeral. If you aren’t prepared for it, it is a difficult time for the bereaved.”

The board will consider a process that allows institutions and managers to talk about options such as salary adjustments and going back to teaching.

“Even if it’s time and both parties realize that, it’s still awkward when it gets to that level,” said University of Idaho President Robert Hoover.

All college and university presidents at Friday’s meeting said Bennett’s resignation came unexpectedly.

The subsequent resignation of two trustees and the continued reluctance of NIC trustees to disclose reasons behind the unpopular move is fueling speculation.

“I was completely surprised and I still have not heard any reason why,” said Idaho State University President Richard Bowen. “I have no insight whatsoever, but sometime I’m going to find him and make him tell me.”

College of Southern Idaho President Gerald Meyerhoffer, head of the state’s only other community college, worked closely with Bennett over the decade on community college funding and legislative efforts. He speculated that the new members of NIC’s governing board prompted the change.

“He’s been very successful there as president so I was very surprised,” Meyerhoffer said. “Any time you work for a board, though, you certainly know there are different personalities on the board and he had a lot of turnover, which meant he had a lot of work to do.”

Coeur d’Alene state board member Judy Meyer praised Bennett’s collaborative work with other institutions and said she too was surprised by the swiftness of the board’s action.

Claims that Bennett wasn’t communicating effectively conflict with his open and collaborative style elsewhere in the state, said board member Curtis Eaton.

“As far as with this board he was always straightforward and there was always good communication,” Eaton said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Decision delayed COEUR d’ALENE

North Idaho College will not announce an interim president for at least a week, college officials said Friday. The NIC Board of Trustees interviewed two finalists to temporarily take the helm Thursday. They expected to make a decision by early next week. One of the finalists wants to visit campus, but cannot travel to Coeur d’Alene until late next week. The Board of Trustees now anticipates announcing an interim president next Friday.