August 23, 2004: Headlines: COS - Peru: University Administration: Lansing State Journal: President Peter McPherson could opt to stick with the university after he leaves office at the end of this year

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Peru: Special Report: MSU President and Peru RPCV Peter McPherson: August 23, 2004: Headlines: COS - Peru: University Administration: Lansing State Journal: President Peter McPherson could opt to stick with the university after he leaves office at the end of this year

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 8:24 pm: Edit Post

President Peter McPherson could opt to stick with the university after he leaves office at the end of this year

President Peter McPherson could opt to stick with the university after he leaves office at the end of this year

President Peter McPherson could opt to stick with the university after he leaves office at the end of this year

McPherson has job options at MSU
Departing president could be consultant for up to five years

By Sharon Terlep
Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING - MSU President Peter McPherson could opt to stick with the university after he leaves office at the end of this year.

McPherson, who this spring announced he's leaving Michigan State University after 11 years, has a provision in his contract that allows him to remain employed there for five years as a consultant on academic or administrative affairs.

That would make McPherson eligible for retirement benefits, which include university and personal contributions to a retirement fund. His salary would be half the average of the five highest-paid deans and directors at the university. Today, that translates to about $130,000.

McPherson, 63, now makes $285,000 a year in salary and deferred compensation.

McPherson, who didn't return phone calls throughout the week, will decide in the next few months what to do. He could opt to take the consulting job immediately after leaving, or he could wait until later to come back. McPherson has yet to announce his plans after leaving MSU but has said he doesn't intend to retire.

Provost Lou Anna Simon is taking over his post Jan. 1.

The Board of Trustees must approve any arrangement.

"We're just looking at what he might propose to do," MSU Trustee Colleen McNamara said. "I want to hear what his ideas are."

Unlike most Big Ten university presidents, McPherson does not have an academic background and is not tenured, which means he does not have a university teaching job to which to return after he leaves office.

McPherson's duties, if he stays, could range from outreach to public service to research.

McPherson is leaving in the midst of two major projects at the university: moving large parts of the College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids and trying to persuade the federal government to build a $1 billion Rare Isotope Accelerator on campus.

The university also is undergoing a $1.2 billion fund-raising campaign.

University spokesman Terry Denbow said it is not clear whether McPherson will continue to have a role on those projects after he steps down.

It's not uncommon for leaders to hold a post after stepping down. Cecil Mackey, who was president from 1979 to 1985, still works at MSU as an economics professor.

Leo Sell, who heads MSU's administrative-professional union, said having a university president stay after his or her term could benefit the university by adding stature and expertise.

"McPherson can continue to be an asset to the university," Sell said.

"There's also an opportunity to having a completely new beginning."

Contact Sharon Terlep at 377-1066 or sterlep@lsj.com.





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


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Story Source: Lansing State Journal

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Peru; University Administration

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