U. Colorado president resigns amid controversy

BOULDER, Colo. (U-WIRE) - University of Colorado President John Buechner offered to resign Wednesday following months of controversy surrounding his administration and his hiring of a personal friend, Fran Raudenbush, as his executive consultant.

Buechner announced his offer of resignation a day before the University of Colorado Board of Regents was expected to quiz him about the controversy, which arose as a result of a Colorado Daily investigation begun last May.

Buechner made no mention of the controversy in his letter of resignation, which was addressed to Peter Steinhauer, the chair of the regents.

But he did refer to a perceived lack of support from some regents. A few regents had recently called for a discussion of the Raudenbush matter.

"I have not reached this decision in a hasty manner," wrote Buechner, who was appointed to succeed former CU President Judith Albino in 1995. "As you know, some members of the board have nagging questions about the process for a fifth year review of my presidency and have asked whether or not I intend to undergo review.

Moreover, some members of the Board of Regents have discussed directly with the print media their concerns about my performance as president. It would be most difficult to continue to lead this $1.4 billion dollar university without the complete 100 percent commitment and confidence from each board member in my role as president." Buechner wrote that he would resign "no later than June 1, 2000," although it was not clear whether he intended to stay in office until that date.

Buechner, who has refused to speak with Colorado Daily reporters since the newspaper first launched its investigation, did not respond to a message left on his voice mail Wednesday.

CU spokesperson Bronson Hilliard said Buechner ordered his resignation letter released to the media on Wednesday.

Most members of the Board of Regents - several of whom have also refused to make comments to the Colorado Daily recently - were meeting in Colorado Springs and also did not respond to messages. Only two regents, Jim Martin and Tom Lucero, could be reached by the Colorado Daily.

Martin said he was disappointed at the way Buechner went about his resignation.

"I'm shocked, really, at the manner in which this was handled by President Buechner," Martin said.

According to The Denver Post, Buechner on Wednesday singled out an Oct. 11 memorandum, written by Martin, as an example of sagging confidence among regents.

But Martin said Buechner hadn't even discussed with him the concerns raised in the memo. Indeed, Martin said, Buechner hadn't talked to him in two weeks.

Rather than going straight to the media with his announcement, Buechner should have discussed the matter with regents first, Martin said.

"I would have appreciated John contacting me personally with his concerns," Martin said. "Maybe the word 'betrayal' is a little harsh, but I feel betrayed."

Martin's memo had expressed dismay with the university's response - or lack thereof - to questions raised by the Daily concerning Raudenbush.

Martin wrote that instead of allowing CU to stonewall the media, it was time for the regents to seriously discuss the issues raised by the Daily.

"I plan to bring up not only what is in the best interest of the university and the board, but what is the proper role that a regent should play in its support of university administration," Martin wrote. "I have not nor do I and the board, but what is the proper role that a regent should play in its support of university administration," Martin wrote. "I have not nor do I ever plan to be a 'cheerleader' for this university. We are all elected to be fiduciaries for the citizens of the state of Colorado. I personally feel we have not been doing our job."

Other regents besides Martin, while expressing general support for Buechner, had also told the Daily in recent weeks that they felt it was time to formally discuss the Raudenbush matter. Among them were regents Tom Lucero and Maureen Johnson Ediger.

Lucero and Ediger have both said they were concerned about the way Buechner handled Raudenbush's hiring.

Raudenbush, a former lobbyist and a friend of Buechner's, was hired as a consultant in 1997 to help Buechner implement his Total Learning Environment initiative, touted as a "blueprint" for CU's future.

Raudenbush, who had no formal background in higher education

administration, was placed on the payroll of the CU Foundation, a private organization that raises funds for CU. She was initially paid $115,000 annually to work 30 hours per week. Her workload eventually grew to 40 hours per week, for which she was being paid $141,000 annually - more than most of CU's deans.

10-15-99