The student member of the Board of Higher Education says there is an attitude of mistrust among students, current and former board office employees and members of the Legislature concerning the governance of the board – and specifically University System Chancellor Ham Shirvani.
Sydney Hull gave board members a packet of information that he says contain allegations of secret meetings and ignorance of system policies. He asked the Board for a special meeting in April – to give the board members time to investigate those claims.
"I believe, right now we have an environment of mis-information and distrust," Hull told the Board. "I believe there is a large disconnect that we have to fix if we are going to have a unified system. Our vision of a unified system is in jeopardy."
Board president Duaine Espegard declined to call an April meeting -- but he says the matter will be discussed at the May board meeting.
"I want to tell you, we're going to look at every one of these allegations," said Espegard. "Every one of these items I want vetted out."
Shirvani says he was shocked by the allegations. He declined further comment.
The North Dakota Student Association voted “no confidence” in Shirvani’s leadership – and asked that the Board consider buying out Shirvani’s contract. Hull says he did not bring the buyout up – because an amendment to fund such a buyout is still pending in the Legislature – and the Board needs to more carefully look at the allegations.
