MISSOURI U. CHIEF TAKES TOUGH VIEW

The University of Missouri system has had its share of problems. But with straight-talking, hard-nosed George Russell at the helm, the university system has achieved a measure of financial turnaround in the last four years.

Dr. Russell proudly traces his roots to Bertrand in Southeast Missouri's Mississippi County. This Massachusetts Institute of Technology-trained, rocket-propulsion scientist and retired Navy officer has proved a no-nonsense leader -- not just a manager. In his 70s, Russell took the job at a time many people would be thinking of retirement. Russell was hired as president of the University of Missouri system in November 1991. Not one to sit back and blame others, Russell has mapped out a plan of recovery. He has pushed through a five-year financial plan to enable the state's largest university system to solve its own problems and strengthen its competitive standing among the nation's 150 research universities.

Russell maintains that higher education in general has suffered over the past 50 years because no one has taken responsibility for the decisions that have been made. It is certainly a refreshing point of view. According to Russell, higher education has developed bad habits and blamed someone else because there wasn't enough money. Russell is directing the system to take responsibility for its own actions. He calls for more accountability and control. That is not always easy, especially when it comes to changing a half-decade of a particular mind set.

Russell says the University of Missouri is well ahead of schedule in realigning its available resources by generating and reallocating $124 million throughout the four-campus system in five years. The plan has exceeded 90 percent of its goal. Russell says no other university in the nation is making such massive voluntary adjustments. Specifically targeted in the five-year plan: pay competitive faculty salaries, repair and maintain buildings, replace equipment, improve libraries, increase student financial aid and meet campus-based priorities.

With 50,000 students on four campuses, the University of Missouri is by far the state's largest university system. What happens to the UM system affects the whole state, because a waste of finances there strains Missouri's entire higher education budget.

Russell has made a real difference in the future direction of the University of Missouri system. His years of service to the university will be long remembered as a turning point for both the University of Missouri system and the state.