1/20/04

AUBURN UNIVERSITY BOARD APPROVES RICHARDSON AS INTERIM PRESIDENT

Edward R. Richardson

AUBURN -- Edward R. Richardson was unanimously approved as interim president of Auburn University on Tuesday at a specially called meeting of the AU Board of Trustees.

Richardson, state school superintendent, succeeds William F. Walker, who resigned as AU president on Friday.

In remarks to the board following its vote, Richardson said Auburn's current one-year probation sanction from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the ongoing inquiry into the men's basketball program by the NCAA were two problems he would address at the outset of his tenure.

"The issues of the SACS probation and the NCAA investigation into the basketball program are of great importance and require a great deal of our attention at this time," he said. "But there are other issues that require our attention and demand a willingness to make difficult decisions.

"I am committed to getting us off (SACS) probation and making sure we have the policies and procedures in place to make sure we never go back on probation."

In addition to addressing governance issues that the accrediting agency cited in placing AU on 12 months probation in December, the campus is undergoing its regular 10-year accreditation review this year.

Richardson cited his familiarity with Auburn, borne of a 24-year association with the university, as preparation for the interim presidency.

"In accepting this offer, I want to say I will be in charge of this university within the established governance system," he told the trustees. "I think it's going to take some time to demonstrate that, and I think that's a critical issue to demonstrate to SACS and the NCAA -- that the president is in charge of the administration of this university."

He said he was pleased to receive the appointment, but had mixed emotions out of his respect for Walker, who he said had accomplished much in his tenure, and about leaving his job as state superintendent of education.

Richardson said he had no interest in becoming the permanent president of Auburn, but, in confronting the university's immediate challenges, he added, "I am prepared to lead Auburn."

Richardson, who abstained from the vote on his appointment, indicated he would resign as state superintendent of education at the state Board of Education's Thursday meeting and would assume his duties at Auburn on Monday.

Richardson will also resign his position on the Auburn Board of Trustees. An at-large vacancy on the board will be created by his resignation.

Gov. Bob Riley, who presided over the meeting and made the motion to approve Richardson's appointment, said his conversations with Richardson over the past few weeks made it increasingly clear to him that Richardson was the right person to lead Auburn and "unite the board, the faculty, the students and the alumni."

"Ed Richardson is a man of great knowledge and great character and I am convinced he is the right man to lead Auburn in this time of turmoil," Riley said.

Richardson has been state superintendent of education since October 1995. During his eight-year tenure, he led the state Board of Education's adoption of the highest high-school graduation requirements in the country and spearheaded the Board's efforts to establish school financial, academic, discipline and safety standards.

Richardson also implemented the issuance of easy-to-understand report cards on the performance of every school system in the state and the development of a comprehensive technology plan for all elementary and secondary schools. The plan included providing advanced courses via distance learning to schools that might not otherwise offer such courses.

Before he became state superintendent, Richardson was superintendent of schools for the Auburn City Board of Education for 13 years. He spent nine years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in the Montgomery County school system and served nine years as principal of Andalusia High School.

Richardson holds a bachelor's degree in science education, and master's and doctoral degrees in educational administration -- all from Auburn University.

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