UI announces hiring policy change

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho’s four vice presidents will now have to approve new hires as part of a plan to make sure the school is spending money wisely, officials said.

UI Vice President of Finance and Administration Lloyd Mues said the change in policy will help the university make better choices and become more efficient.

Interim President Steven Daley-Laursen announced the change Wednesday during a speech to faculty and staff.

“We are entering a pretty intense period for decisions,” he said.

Mues said the change is not a hiring freeze, even though there will likely be a delay in filling some positions, and some positions might not be filled at all if it’s determined that money would be better spent elsewhere.

“We will pause and go, ‘OK, let’s stop and look. Is this really the best use of our money?’ ” he said.

“We’re not short of cash,” he added. “We’re a healthy university. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have demands and wants and desires.”

He said the university gets 37 percent of its money from the state and must generate the remaining 63 percent.

“We are always looking to be more efficient,” he said of the hiring policy change. “That is what this is.”

Mues said he will be more active in making decisions about hires in areas outside academics. Doug Baker, executive vice president and university provost, will look at prospective hires in the various colleges at the university. Chris Murray, vice president for advancement, will look at hires involved in philanthropy, marketing and communication. And Jack McIver, vice president for research, will approve hires in that area.

Also during the speech on Wednesday, Daley-Laursen said the school needs to find a way to help its sports teams become more competitive. Some teams have struggled in recent years. The football team posted a 1-11 record last season.