Marshall’s Advisory Board Urges Ouster Of USC Board Chair Caruso

USC Marshall Dean Jim Ellis

BOARD OF LEADERS HAD EARLIER UNANIMOUSLY OPPOSED THE DISMISSAL OF DEAN ELLIS

This is not the first time the board has weighed in on the decision by Interim President Austin to terminate Dean Ellis by the end of this academic year, three years short of its third consecutive five-year term. On Dec. 4th, the board unanimously opposed the early termination of Ellis. “We explained the reasons why the Interim President’s actions were misguided, misinformed and lacked basic integrity, transparency and best practices of shared governance,” added Hillgren. “We asked the Board of Trustees to intercede in the best interests of the university and the Marshall School, but you failed to act.”

USC Interim President Wanda Austin

Then, on Dec. 10, the board provided trustees with what Hillgren calls “the true facts concerning Marshall’s metrics and trajectories in the landscape of diversity, inclusion and equity. They are far different than the misinformed scenario claimed by USC’s current administration…We asked you to intercede. Again, you failed to act.”

In fact, two days later on Dec. 12, the trustees voted to support Austin’s decision to fire Ellis. “Since our last communication over one month ago, we now have learned that things were even more broken than we knew,” added Hillgren. “Over the past month, new and alarming facts about the behaviors and actions of the university’s top leadership have been publicly brought to light. Worse yet, we have a Trustee Chairman and University Interim President who are governing on the principles of self-interest, false innuendo, omission and intimidation.

“As a Trustee, certainly, you have also become aware of the plethora of recent disclosures, the uncovering of facts concerning this unwarranted, reckless termination decision and the now-exposed fact gaps in the discredited “Cooley Report” and other information that drove an opaque and predetermined outcome. Certainly, as a Trustee, you are now carefully reevaluating the merits of this crisis and objectively looking at the true and complete facts. If so, you must be as alarmed as we are.”

CHAIRPERSON SAYS THE BOARD OF LEADERS WILL INVESTIGATE IF USC FAILS TO DO SO

On behalf of the board of leaders, Hillgren is calling on the trustees to stay the decision to terminate Ellis’ term as dean and to share the Cooley Report with Dean Ellis and the entire Marshall community.

“Find the truth,” urges Hillgren in his letter. “Commission a comprehensive, independent examination of Marshall’s current culture and trajectory of diversity, inclusion, equity and fairness, and examine Dean Ellis’ role and performance in promoting and leading that effort. If you should fail to do so, the Board of Leaders is prepared to immediately act in your vacancy, as establishing the complete truth – independently and verifiably – on this subject is critical to the future merit and trajectory of the Marshall School of Business.”

If it is determined that the search for a successor to Ellis is necessary, the board of leaders is also asking for “a legitimate, global search performed by an oversight committee comprised of respected Marshall stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students and Board of Leaders members. No other process, no circumvention of this, can be tolerated.”

There was no immediate reaction to the letter by USC officials.

RELATED COVERAGE:

USC OUSTS A HIGHLY POPULAR BUSINESS SCHOOL DEAN 

THE MBA LEADING THE FIGHT TO SAVE A BUSINESS SCHOOL DEAN

COMMENTARY: HOW USC’S PRESIDENT AND BOARD CHAIR FLUNKED THEIR FIRST LEADERSHIP TEST

DEAN’S DISMISSAL MAY COST USC UP TO $40 MILLION 

AT USC’S MARSHALL SCHOOL, AN ENRAGED FACULTY TRIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR DEAN’S OUSTER

USC PRESIDENT DEFENDS DECISION TO OUST B-SCHOOL DEAN BUT OFFERS NO SUBSTANTIVE REASONS FOR THE DECISION

USC TRUSTEES SLAM BOARD CHAIR CARUSO OVER B-SCHOOL DEAN’S DISMISSAL

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.