Flying is hard

[NWICY]

He covered up the land purchase. I know everyone thought that was a great thing, but he certainly didn't disclose that. I'm probably the only one, but I think the land thing is worse than the plane.

The land thing was a transaction between 2 private parties. Unless he can justify the trip(s) you have misuse of university property, and not just like borrowing the dept. pick up to move your stuff, and making sure it's filled up with gas when you bring it back.

In the past I have thought our university presidents have had the university's interests 1st. This one seems to make sure he gets an additional piece of the pie on top of his salary. It is troubling but I'm not a big enough donor to make a difference. It'll be the big money people who'll decide if he stays or goes.

 

[throwittoblythe]

I'm all for the university president getting some perks. The guy basically runs a $1.4B business according to FY2016 budget. However, i don't like the idea of him using university vehicles/planes and "paying it back". If you're going to do that then why not just rent your own plane? By not being forthcoming, he has now put many things up for debate. In today's world, you have to win in the court of public opinion. He seems to be failing st that.

 

[jsb]

I think the best part of this story is that he got the university to send new pilots back from Ames to Bloomington, Illinois after the crash. I mean, seriously, Steve...rent a car!

 

[jsb]

I'm all for the university president getting some perks. The guy basically runs a $1.4B business according to FY2016 budget. However, i don't like the idea of him using university vehicles/planes and "paying it back". If you're going to do that then why not just rent your own plane? By not being forthcoming, he has now put many things up for debate. In today's world, you have to win in the court of public opinion. He seems to be failing st that.

Yes, he is running a $1.4 billion organization. But it is a public university. When you take a job in the government/non-profit, you accept the fact that you give up some perks.

He gets $1,500 car allowance. That leases a pretty nice car. Especially if you fly everywhere!

 

[throwittoblythe]

Yes, he is running a $1.4 billion organization. But it is a public university. When you take a job in the government/non-profit, you accept the fact that you give up some perks.

He gets $1,500 car allowance. That leases a pretty nice car. Especially if you fly everywhere!

I agree. $1500 leases a very nice car. I'd even be ok with him using the university plane provided there is some sort of business purpose tied to his personal use (ex: fly to NC for a business meeting and stay a few days for personal stuff). Just because he works for a public entity doesn't mean he's not deserving of some perks given the demands the job calls for. That being said, he still has to exercise good judgment which he doesn't seem to be doing.

 

[khardbored]

The fact that he flys a plane alone does not bother me. Really, if an employee on a business trip is a qualified pilot and can fly himself, that just saves the money of hiring a pilot. And it's not like it's a Lear jet.

HOWEVER, it seems like he had terrible judgement related to what happened after the incident (covering it up, having the university pay to come pick him up in a different private plane, etc.).

 

[cloneswereall]

I haven't looked into the Iowa situation, but what is really the problem with him? I feel like really people are just mad he isn't an academic. I don't think a non academic is a bad thing either.

Either way Leath has made questionable decision after questionable decision. He should hit the road.

Because public education isn't a ******* business. That's the problem with him.

 

[jkclone]

Because public education isn't a ******* business. That's the problem with him.

It's the same concept of why companies don't hire from within all the time. Getting new ideas is good. I don't know if that guy will be good but it won't be only because he is a non academic.

I know Iowa State could use an awful lot of reform in certain areas that I don't really think is going to come from academics.

 

[SCNCY]

Because public education isn't a ******* business. That's the problem with him.

But the university is just more than educating, it is also about research. He seems to be pretty active in developing busiess relationships that involve ISU researchers. If the regents have a goal for ISU to increase there research with business applications than maybe he is the guy for that.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Because public education isn't a ******* business. That's the problem with him.

Except it is. I'm not saying it should be, but public education is a business. Plain and simple.

 

[BoxsterCy]

 

[cloneswereall]

It's the same concept of why companies don't hire from within all the time. Getting new ideas is good. I don't know if that guy will be good but it won't be only because he is a non academic.

I know Iowa State could use an awful lot of reform in certain areas that I don't really think is going to come from academics.

But the university is just more than educating, it is also about research. He seems to be pretty active in developing busiess relationships that involve ISU researchers. If the regents have a goal for ISU to increase there research with business applications than maybe he is the guy for that.

Except it is. I'm not saying it should be, but public education is a business. Plain and simple.

Let me guess. None of you have any background in education except for going to school.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Let me guess. None of you have any background in education except for going to school.

False. Taught several classes while in graduate school and I have a great passion for teaching others. I have a huge amount of respect for educators and coaches. The greatest leaders have all been great teachers.

All universities should be about education first. We have no disagreement there. There's a vast difference between what something is and what it should be.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

Because public education isn't a ******* business. That's the problem with him.

When the state starts funding the institution at a proper level, it can maybe talk about it not being a business. Just because its a nonprofit doesnt make it not still a business. It absolutely is a business, with a two-thirds of a billion dollar annual budget. It absolutely should be operated like a business to generate revenue that helps the primary education goal.

 

[cloneswereall]

When the state starts funding the institution at a proper level, it can maybe talk about it not being a business. Just because its a nonprofit doesnt make it not still a business. It absolutely is a business, with a two-thirds of a billion dollar annual budget. It absolutely should be operated like a business to generate revenue that helps the primary education goal.

That's why schools have CFOs. The problem with treating education as a business is that there are too many intangibles. How are you going to evaluate educational practices? How are success rates going to be determined? What is going to be looked at regarding how valuable a program is to the university? If you were to take a business look, any of the Liberal Arts and Sciences should be cut because they aren't profitable. They don't create rich alumnus, because the field isn't a rich one. Literature, Foreign Languages, Social Sciences, Education, Arts, Music, (not to mention traditional fields of science and mathematics) will always run at a deficit. Why keep those programs?

 

[Luth4Cy]

This is bad, but until Rastetter goes I envision Leath, Harreld, and whoever else on the top getting away with crap like this. I wish somebody in the Legislature who is a Republican would stand up to Rastetter. Unfortunately they want his money, which is the only reason he got this job in the first place.

 

[cyclonestate]

I know a former ISU staff member who was fired because she used the university vehicle she had checked out for the fall semester for a personal weekend trip. It was discovered because she got into a minor accident that weekend, and she was immediately terminated.

I get so disgusted when the same rules don't apply to those in leadership positions.

 

[cyclonestate]

So today the university spokesman puts out a statement that the trip was for both personal and business purposes because Leath supposedly made some donor contacts.

I sincerely hope that some investigative reporter will dig into this to determine what donor contacts, if any, we're actually made.

 

[SpokaneCY]

That's why schools have CFOs. The problem with treating education as a business is that there are too many intangibles. How are you going to evaluate educational practices? How are success rates going to be determined? What is going to be looked at regarding how valuable a program is to the university? If you were to take a business look, any of the Liberal Arts and Sciences should be cut because they aren't profitable. They don't create rich alumnus, because the field isn't a rich one. Literature, Foreign Languages, Social Sciences, Education, Arts, Music, (not to mention traditional fields of science and mathematics) will always run at a deficit. Why keep those programs?

Management of budgets, management of funding priorities, management of investments... ALL those things are key to both for-profit companies and ESPECIALLY non-profits. If you can't make sound decisions with your limited resources, you are doomed to fail.

I used to work for a non-profit museum and the folks that ran it took that to heart. It is no longer around. They had zero financial sense, zero budgeting acumen, zero ability to make resource decisions.

 

[cyclonestate]

So Leath is reimbursing the university $125/hour to use the university plane for his personal use when private companies charge $300/hour to use the same model of plane.

Leath informs Rastetter well after the accident occurs and Rastetter keeps it quiet.

This is wrong on so many levels.