Chancellor John Wiley’s public response to the Steingass report

“Susan Steingass did an exhaustive job at uncovering the facts of the case and explaining them. I thank her for taking on this difficult job.

Paul was a longtime colleague and friend. He had a long record of achievement. I had no interest in ruining his career, and encouraged him to find a job elsewhere. As he searched, I continued to approve use of sick leave. While I requested medical verification in January, I was not diligent in following up to obtain documentation until June. That was a mistake, and I needed to be more attentive. I certainly will be in the future.

I took no pleasure in having to move Paul out of his role as vice chancellor. But this institution operates on trust and professionalism. I felt that he exercised poor judgment that called his professionalism into question, and it was clear to me that he could no longer serve in that capacity.

It also became apparent to me during this period that my trust in Paul was misplaced. That hits home on a personal level and leaves me with many lasting regrets.

One of my greatest regrets is that my handling of this situation caused the university to suffer in the public’s estimation. Although this was an isolated incident, we are working to ensure that similar cases do not crop up in the future.

Finally, I am also grateful for the challenging roles that System President Kevin Reilly and Provost Peter Spear have taken in reviewing this report and deciding on action.”