MU's leadership

Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune

Soon after Elson Floyd arrived at the University of Missouri, he demonstrated a welcome, even exciting, flurry of leadership initiatives, assuming more direct control over MU Health Care, athletics and what used to be called Extension and now, for some unfathomable reason, is labeled Outreach and Extension.

These consolidations of management were generally well-received, particularly on the Columbia campus, where their impacts were most likely to be noticed.

It was not surprising, then, when the new president seriously suggested combining the offices of system president and Columbia campus chancellor. The primary reason given was to save money, but more direct control of flagship functions obviously was just as important to the hands-on leader and to his board of curators.

Sensing the opportunity for more dynamic campus leadership, faculty and staff in Columbia generally applauded the idea, but a familiar worry arose on other system campuses whose minions worried about the extraordinary attention Columbia might receive. ...

Needing support in so many other areas, Floyd & Co. decided not to struggle against legislative opposition easily generated among lawmakers more interested in St. Louis, Kansas City and Rolla than Columbia or abstract arguments in favor of the management merger.

So, Floyd will not become MU chancellor. Instead, he and his curators will conduct a nationwide search. ...

Floyd's assumption of the dual role of university president and Columbia chancellor would have made utter sense except for its political difficulties. ...

The Columbia campus will continue to have a chancellor, but the amount of presidential leadership relationship visited on MU activities probably will continue at a new level under Floyd. His influence is salutary. Too bad it's being stymied.