University of Central Oklahoma

[Jersey Boss]

This is a great hire for the University!

Curious as to why you feel this is a great hire? His professional life has solely been as a politician. Fundraising potential?

[Rover]

Curious as to why you feel this is a great hire? His professional life has solely been as a politician. Fundraising potential?

And he hasn't been that great as a public servant.

[Rover]

Guess this follows in their tradition of rewarding politicians. George Nigh is another past president of UCO

[scottk]

Guess this follows in their tradition of rewarding politicians. George Nigh is another past president of UCO

Gov Nigh was there a short time and did massive amounts of fundraising to transform the University and new construction or renovations of the academic buildings. During his tenure there was split support from faculty due to him having a stronger political background versus education, and split support from students who dealt with a handful of years of walking across a campus in mud and plywood as most of it was under construction. His political background probably helped in the fundraising endeavors and potentially getting more money from the legislature.

[Rover]

Gov Nigh was there a short time and did massive amounts of fundraising to transform the University and new construction or renovations of the academic buildings. During his tenure there was split support from faculty due to him having a stronger political background versus education, and split support from students who dealt with a handful of years of walking across a campus in mud and plywood as most of it was under construction. His political background probably helped in the fundraising endeavors and potentially getting more money from the legislature.

I kinda knew Gov Nigh and liked him. Todd Lamb is no George Nigh.

[Rover]

Guess this follows in their tradition of rewarding politicians. George Nigh is another past president of UCO

Looks like Chad agrees with me.

[MagzOK]

Curious as to why you feel this is a great hire? His professional life has solely been as a politician. Fundraising potential?

Well among many things, he's proven to be effective in fundraising of which the university is in desperate need. Also from what I understand politically speaking, the university has been waning from legislative support and he can bridge some of those issues and strengthen relationships within state leadership. The decline can be seen across the board including declining enrollment over the past decade.

This is a step in the right direction.

[Rover]

Well among many things, he's proven to be effective in fundraising of which the university is in desperate need. Also from what I understand politically speaking, the university has been waning from legislative support and he can bridge some of those issues and strengthen relationships within state leadership. The decline can be seen across the board including declining enrollment over the past decade.

This is a step in the right direction.

Lol. He’s already losing a major donor in Richeson. His fund raising experience is for political causes…elections. He’s known more for political ambition than leadership. Nothing about him indicates he can be appealing to high school students. He has no academic management or leadership background, and one can argue that by his political affiliations is actually anti-academic. So what about him screams “I know how to lead a university and its students into the next decade”?

[MagzOK]

Lol. He’s already losing a major donor in Richeson. His fund raising experience is for political causes…elections. He’s known more for political ambition than leadership. Nothing about him indicates he can be appealing to high school students. He has no academic management or leadership background, and one can argue that by his political affiliations is actually anti-academic. So what about him screams “I know how to lead a university and its students into the next decade”?

Time will tell, Rover. Have a good day.

[Rover]

Time will tell, Rover. Have a good day.

So, I guess that should be the answer for every time politics gets in the way of good judgement or appropriate performance….”oh well, time will tell”. When people get actually fed up with the good ole boy political machine in Oklahoma maybe we can progress as we should and elect good stewards of the public realm.

[MagzOK]

So, I guess that should be the answer for every time politics gets in the way of good judgement or appropriate performance….”oh well, time will tell”. When people get actually fed up with the good ole boy political machine in Oklahoma maybe we can progress as we should and elect good stewards of the public realm.

No, I just am not here to get into a political discussion. However, obviously the majority of the state is fine with its elected leaders as evidenced by nothing ever changing.

[Laramie]

No, I just am not here to get into a political discussion. However, obviously the majority of the state is fine with its elected leaders as evidenced by nothing ever changing.

Very well stated.

[Midtowner]

Lol. He’s already losing a major donor in Richeson. His fund raising experience is for political causes…elections. He’s known more for political ambition than leadership. Nothing about him indicates he can be appealing to high school students. He has no academic management or leadership background, and one can argue that by his political affiliations is actually anti-academic. So what about him screams “I know how to lead a university and its students into the next decade”?

The nice? thing about UCO is that it has historically been a dead end job. For its past presidents, its been their last job prior to full retirement. So if he wants a bigger job, he has to absolutely knock it out of the park. As a candidate, I couldn't stand Lamb. He seemed to feel entitled ot be the governor of the State. He's a career politician, even a nepo baby as the heir of a multigenerational political family.

But the guy is reasonably well connected. He may even be connected enough to increase UCO's standing among regional universities, and we can dream.. he could even push for it to become a comprehensive university, although I would expect Tulsa to get a comprehensive university campus before Edmond.

I could also see him making a push to D-1 sports for UCO. Even with its shrunken enrollment, it is larger than a lot of D1 schools.