Trustees Begin Evaluation of UW President

Wyoming residents and members of the University of Wyoming community will have an opportunity to participate in the evaluation of President Laurie Nichols by the UW Board of Trustees.

Nichols was appointed by the Board of Trustees in December 2015 as UW’s 26th president. She began her duties May 16, 2016. Her three-year contract included the stipulation that the trustees conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation after the university president had served 18 months.

As part of its responsibility to recruit, appoint, support and evaluate the university’s chief executive officer, the board has retained professional evaluator Steve Portch to assist in the assessment of Nichols’ performance. Portch, retired chancellor of the 34-campus University of Georgia system, regularly consults with universities for presidential evaluations.

He is scheduled to be on the UW campus Wednesday, Feb. 14, to hear from leaders of the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Associated Students of UW, administrators and other stakeholders on their perspectives of Nichols’ performance.

Additionally, an open meeting for the campus community and the public will be scheduled that day -- and broadcast on UW’s WyoCast system -- for Portch and the board to receive input. Details of that meeting will be released later.