8% raise for Zimpher

[shaunsimpson]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/NEWS01/308290055

A committee of the University of Cincinnati’s board of trustees today recommended an 8 percent raise and a $30,000 cash bonus for UC President Nancy Zimpher.

The raise would take Zimpher’s salary to about $410,400 from the $380,000 annual rate that trustees approved when they extended her contract through 2012 in March. Zimpher did not accept that raise in March and currently earns about $343,000 a year.

[JerseySean]

She is a tireless worker and has significantly boosted the academic standing of the university in a short period of time. She is deserving of the raise and I'm very happy for her.

[shaunsimpson]

A little different from the "she is being fired" rumors from a while back.

[lieberma]

Compare the raise the President is getting with the 2% raise all non-represented non-classified employees received (with no bonus) - and with the proposal to the AAUP for a 1% raise to faculty. There is a disconnect here.

[STKohls]

She is a tireless worker and has significantly boosted the academic standing of the university in a short period of time. She is deserving of the raise and I'm very happy for her.


How is the standing significantly boosted when UC is rated in the bottom 50% of all schools according to the latest USNews rankings?
(below Dayton, OSU, Kentucky, and Miami of Ohio)

Moreover, she's so unpopular she can barely show her face in public.

Deserving of the raise? I think not.

[shaunsimpson]

There are some positives.

Swelling Freshman Crowds Signal Success for UC Enrollment Strategy
There’s something new at the University of Cincinnati this year – a wait list.

Date: 6/18/2007
By: Dawn Fuller
Phone: (513) 556-1823

For the first time in UC’s history, the university has placed students who have been accepted to UC – but who have not confirmed their admission – on a wait list. After four years of gradually building enrollment, UC’s freshman applications for fall 2007 skyrocketed.

UC anticipates its largest freshman class in decades this fall, with a significant increase in students confirming that they’re coming to the Uptown Campus. Students who’ve applied and have been accepted to UC but who haven’t confirmed their admission are advised to act now if they want a seat in class on the Uptown Campus this fall.

More than 3,600 prospective first-year students were notified of UC’s swelling first-year student enrollment this week in a letter from UC Admissions, advising them that UC must have their confirmation of admission by June 29. The letter holds a Web link so that students can confirm their admission online. Any later could result in referral to the branch campuses or a wait list until room opens up on the Uptown Campus.

“We believe the vast majority of these students have made other plans and have simply not notified UC of their intention to go elsewhere,” says Caroline Miller, associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “However, it’s important that we accurately plan for our classroom availability, so we’re reaching out to those who may have just made decisions or who perhaps forgot to act on confirming their enrollment.”

Based on current enrollment projections, UC is planning for as many as 4,300 first-time students this fall on the main campus – over 400 additional students than what was expected for the incoming freshman class. It is estimated that UC’s total student population will top 36,000 students for the first time since 1991.

“The remarkable demand we see this year is a testament to a successful long-term plan to strategically build UC’s enrollment,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Mitchel D. Livingston. “Large numbers of incoming students, plus better retention of current students, will produce the largest student population UC has seen in nearly 20 years.”

Thomas Canepa, assistant vice president for admissions, says three factors are involved with the overflow crowds:

Transformation of campus – More prospective students and their parents are visiting UC and they’re impressed with what they see. Canepa reports campus tours are up more than 50 percent over last year. “Once people visit UC, they find it is way beyond their expectations for what they thought they would see on an urban campus,” explains Canepa. That includes an internationally recognized Master Plan featuring signature architects and a MainStreet corridor of green spaces and buildings where students, faculty and friends can learn, talk, shop, work and play. After more than 15 years of construction through campus, students and visitors are enjoying the results, with the only fences remaining encompassing a renovation at Teachers College.
Spreading the message – A marketing campaign is spreading the word about the hometown university with a worldwide impact.
Raising the Bar – Beginning with the 2006 freshman class, UC launched an academic success plan to improve graduation and retention rates as part of the UC|21 Strategic Plan. Standards were slightly increased for the incoming 2007 class of freshman. Many of UC’s highly competitive colleges already had competitive admissions standards and retained those requirements as part of the academic success plan.
“When people look at UC now, they know they’re now looking at a major public research institution – an institution that offers high-quality programs,” says Canepa.

[Kyle Neumann]

I personally feel a lot of the credit for increased enrollment belongs to the longterm vision of Joe Steger. When students visit UC now, they see a campus that they can actually see themselves being on. Enrollment may be up, but that doesn't make up for the level of fiscal irresponsibility in which the University is being ran (having to take money from individual colleges and the foundation to make up for operating deficits).

[daaphearthrob]

i wouldnt give either Steger or Zimpher too much credit for anything. It takes more than one person to run a University. Steger wasn't the only person that had the foresight to create UC's master plan. He just happened to be President when it happened.

I would give alot of credit to the Dean's and Professors that have been at Cincy throughout it all. I cant speak for any college by my own, but I would certainly say that the Administration at DAAP has alot more to do with the increased enrollment in that college than any University President does. And in my opinion that goes for every other college on campus that is experiencing higher enrollment.

And more than the Faculty and Staff I'd give alot of credit to the people that have been graduating from UC in the past 10-20 years. Having a solid community of Alumni both locally and nationally has helped Cincinnati begin to move from a commuter college to a well known academic institution.

[Kyle Neumann]

All very good points. Outstanding colleges such as DAAP, CCM, Engineering and now Business (with the success of the Carl Lindner Honors Program) have done a great job recruiting and enrolling and it's the programs they offer that sell the students on the University. Keep in mind though, these are colleges that max out and turn down students every year. The real boost in enrollment would then need to come from the University's largest college, A&S and those are typically students that need to be sold more on the University as a whole rather than the strength of a respective college.

I firmly believe when Z finally leaves UC, the next President will have to deal with the financial catastrophe that she leaves behind.

[jon b]

Compare the raise the President is getting with the 2% raise all non-represented non-classified employees received (with no bonus) - and with the proposal to the AAUP for a 1% raise to faculty. There is a disconnect here.

"Let them eat cake"

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

I firmly believe when Z finally leaves UC, the next President will have to deal with the financial catastrophe that she leaves behind.

Yep. That's exactly what I think.

[Bearcat82]

If we are fortunate enough to have Z as president through the remainder of her contract, the "financial castastrophe" will be ancient history. Most all Ohio publicly-funded universities, have been dealing with budget issues, because of severe cuts in Columbus-- UC is actually dealing with the issure and is in much better shape than the 12 other publicly-funded Ohio universities. With the kids waiting to get in line to enroll here, UC is clawing back, and the future is rosy. By the way the budget deficit deals with the General Fund and has absolutely nothing to do with UC Athletics-- which is totally self-sustained by athletic revenue.

[ralph1950]

It is looking more and more that Nancy Z. is under paid. She has done a fantastic job at hiring coaches Brian Kelly and Mick Cronin and turning UC into a football power house.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

It is looking more and more that Nancy Z. is under paid. She has done a fantastic job at hiring coaches Brian Kelly and Mick Cronin and turning UC into a football power house.

She had nothing to do with Kelly or Cronin.

[ctipton]

She had nothing to do with Kelly or Cronin.

He knows that, he is just trying to push buttons. Go get 'em, Al.

[Bearcat Cafe]

Without the <<< after every post, I didn't recognize him for a while.

[JerseySean]

How is the standing significantly boosted when UC is rated in the bottom 50% of all schools according to the latest USNews rankings?
(below Dayton, OSU, Kentucky, and Miami of Ohio)

Moreover, she's so unpopular she can barely show her face in public.

Deserving of the raise? I think not.

Here is a snippet from a recent UC Press Release. I reiterate my point that we should consider ourselves fortunate to have Dr. Zimpher as our President. As they say, "The proof is in the pudding".

UC PRESS RELEASE:
Formerly named “Best in the Midwest,” the new Princeton Review College Guide now recognizes what students, staff and alumni already know – UC is among America’s best universities.


Date: 8/21/2007 6:00:00 AM
By: Dawn Fuller
Phone: (513) 556-1823

The University of Cincinnati is one of the best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based company known for its test-prep courses, books and other education services has selected UC for inclusion in its popular “best colleges” guidebook. The guidebook, titled, The Best 366 Colleges: 2008 Edition, is coming to bookstores in late August. The Princeton Review posts the book’s ranking lists and excerpts from the college profiles on its Web site.

“Only about 10 percent of the colleges in America are in this book,” says Robert Franek, vice president and publisher for The Princeton Review. “It is our flagship guide to ‘the crème of the crop’ institutions for undergraduates. We chose them as our ‘best’ based on several criteria including our regard for their academic programs and other offerings, institutional data we collect from the schools and the opinions of students, parents and educators we talk to and survey.”

In a letter to UC President Nancy L. Zimpher, Franek stated that UC was among only eight new schools receiving the “Best 366 Colleges” designation. “The University of Cincinnati clearly fit the criteria we were looking for, and we are pleased to include it in the edition of our new book,” Franek wrote. The 2007 edition, published in 2006 and titled The Best 361 Colleges, named UC as one of the “Best in the Midwest.”

“It’s terrific to know that the word is spreading about the great university we have here at UC,” said President Nancy L. Zimpher. “We are thrilled with this recognition from The Princeton Review.”

UC Admissions reports that UC is anticipating its largest freshman class in decades this fall, with more than 4,100 freshmen. The total enrollment of 36,500 students is the highest UC student population since 1991, says Caroline Miller, associate vice president of Enrollment Management.

Thomas Canepa, UC assistant vice president for Undergraduate Admissions, reports, “visits from prospective students and their parents are up by more than 50 percent, the residence halls are full with more than 75 percent of our new freshmen making the choice to live on campus, and we’ve had a summer packed with energized new students at orientation sessions.”

[Bearcat Cafe]

Does this mean the new admissions standards really aren't going to slash the number of incoming students by half? ;) We need to dig up some of those old threads for laughs.

[NorrisHopper30]

Sweet now i'm going to get declined by UC..

[MikeInClifton]

Two new articles today in the Enquirer

UC trustees lavish cash on Zimpher. (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS01/709260357)

I'm surprised to see that Mick only makes $275K a year in salary.

Private support falls 6% at UC. (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS01/709260356)

[611116]

It is looking more and more that Nancy Z. is under paid. She has done a fantastic job at hiring coaches Brian Kelly and Mick Cronin and turning UC into a football power house.
Ralph--

The most important thing Nancy Zimpher has done since she has been the president of the University of Cincinnati is to insult the alumni by implication--saying that their degrees were not "something to be proud of" repeatedly in both the local paper and local television.

This had the 2-pronged effect of reducing the number of alumni donations to the University, as well as alienating those individuals.

This allowed her to establish a NEW UC population--one that would hold her in high regard, because they would come primarily from out-of-state, or overseas. There would be no connection to the past, and the process of transforming the University from an institution that primarily serves the local public, to and institution that primarily serves her vision of the University could begin.

The old UC and it's accomplishments have been relegated to the ash-heap of history. The era of UC|21 and Nancy Zimpher has begun.

As far as alumni go...who needs them? State money, and donations from like-minded academics will fill the void. Perhaps one day, she will transform UC into a private institution--in that manner, only the best faculty and students will be allowed access to the valuable resources the University provides.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Two new articles today in the Enquirer

UC trustees lavish cash on Zimpher. (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS01/709260357)

I'm surprised to see that Mick only makes $275K a year in salary.

Private support falls 6% at UC. (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS01/709260356)

2nd article makes me sick.

1st article makes me vomit.

[SLMadiCat]

Ralph--

The most important thing Nancy Zimpher has done since she has been the president of the University of Cincinnati is to insult the alumni by implication--saying that their degrees were not "something to be proud of" repeatedly in both the local paper and local television.

This had the 2-pronged effect of reducing the number of alumni donations to the University, as well as alienating those individuals.

This allowed her to establish a NEW UC population--one that would hold her in high regard, because they would come primarily from out-of-state, or overseas. There would be no connection to the past, and the process of transforming the University from an institution that primarily serves the local public, to and institution that primarily serves her vision of the University could begin.

The old UC and it's accomplishments have been relegated to the ash-heap of history. The era of UC|21 and Nancy Zimpher has begun.

As far as alumni go...who needs them? State money, and donations from like-minded academics will fill the void. Perhaps one day, she will transform UC into a private institution--in that manner, only the best faculty and students will be allowed access to the valuable resources the University provides.

Lets not just make up lies. First of all, Nancy never said our degrees were not "something to be proud of". If you are going to use quotes, at least make sure the person said that.

Second of all, if you are so concerned with what one person may or may not think of your degree, then maybe it isn't worth that much. Personally, I could care less what someone says about my degree as long as it isn't the person that may hire me. My job speaks for the value of my degree.

[richard k.]

Look, this has little to do with athletics at UC - BUT - notice he said "by implication" and that is the way it came out of her mouth. I don't know about the rest of what he said, but the fact that the current President of the University from which I have my undergraduate degree pretty much indicated that it really couldn't be worth much because I obtained it before her arrival really ticked me off. This is not just some other person - it is the President of the University! And as to what it is worth in obtaining jobs, that is completely beside the point. In my particular case the 2 schools from which I received my law degrees were more important to prospective employers then the school involved in my undergraduate degree - but that had/has no bearing on how I felt when some newbie shows up at the school I graduated from and pretty much tells me the piece of paper I worked my rear end off getting isn't worth anything because until she got here the school was pretty much an academic dump. Now she didn't say that exactly - but that was her clear IMPLICATION!

[SLMadiCat]

Look, this has little to do with athletics at UC - BUT - notice he said "by implication" and that is the way it came out of her mouth. I don't know about the rest of what he said, but the fact that the current President of the University from which I have my undergraduate degree pretty much indicated that it really couldn't be worth much because I obtained it before her arrival really ticked me off. This is not just some other person - it is the President of the University! And as to what it is worth in obtaining jobs, that is completely beside the point. In my particular case the 2 schools from which I received my law degrees were more important to prospective employers then the school involved in my undergraduate degree - but that had/has no bearing on how I felt when some newbie shows up at the school I graduated from and pretty much tells me the piece of paper I worked my rear end off getting isn't worth anything because until she got here the school was pretty much an academic dump. Now she didn't say that exactly - but that was her clear IMPLICATION!

Well I disagree. I don't like her but I don't think she insulted my degree. Also, I know he said implication, but he also used false quotes. Quotes are used meaning word for word.

[mlb]

Honestly, I think she did rip on my degree, however the employers know better and think she is a bigger ***** than most UC sports fans (my current boss has mentioned this to me many times).

I graduated in the middle of the Huggins era, in the time that he supposedly was hurting the value of the UC degree. His name NEVER once came up during any interviews, nor did basketball in general.

[jkwuc89]

Does it really matter what Zimpher may or may not think about your UC degree? It certainly does not matter to me. I know how hard I worked for mine. And I have hard evidence regarding how valuable it has been to me during my career.

[SLMadiCat]

Honestly, I think she did rip on my degree, however the employers know better and think she is a bigger ***** than most UC sports fans (my current boss has mentioned this to me many times).

I graduated in the middle of the Huggins era, in the time that he supposedly was hurting the value of the UC degree. His name NEVER once came up during any interviews, nor did basketball in general.

I know you do, and I disagree. Just because she wants to raise the bar doesn't mean that it was a bad degree. Everyone should strive to become better. Raising the bar of academics at UC is a good thing.

[mlb]

Well... as I just said, my employer believes she ripped on my degree. Thus, if he does, maybe she should be more mindful of what she says in the future, if she is possibly hurting UC grads job opportunities.

[SLMadiCat]

Well... as I just said, my employer believes she ripped on my degree. Thus, if he does, maybe she should be more mindful of what she says in the future, if she is possibly hurting UC grads job opportunities.

IMO, the perception of UC academics has already risen. They have gone up in various academic rankings.

So if that is the case, she has helped UC grads. My guess is you wouldn't be saying this if she didn't fire you know who. The majority of UC grads don't even know what Nancy said about our degrees, and 99% of non-UC grads haven't got a clue either.

[mlb]

Yeah... while we still had Bob Huggins as coach I had anti-Huggins people telling me my degree was being devalued due to his players. I never heard once from an employer while he was there about anything to do with my degree. It took Nancy Zimpher firing Bob Huggins before I ever heard anything about my degree, and that was the President of UC who said something about it!

[SLMadiCat]

Yeah... while we still had Bob Huggins as coach I had anti-Huggins people telling me my degree was being devalued due to his players. I never heard once from an employer while he was there about anything to do with my degree. It took Nancy Zimpher firing Bob Huggins before I ever heard anything about my degree, and that was the President of UC who said something about it!

I did...seriously. The perception was not good, not just locally, but nationally. At the time, and still to this day, never cared what anyone else said.

[mlb]

I only care about people associated with my school say about my degree... thus, her statements were very poorly made. Has it cost me money? Absolutely not. In fact, I've gotten promotions since then based on my job performance. Just because she hasn't cost me money doesn't make her comments right, however.

[SLMadiCat]

I only care about people associated with my school say about my degree... thus, her statements were very poorly made. Has it cost me money? Absolutely not. In fact, I've gotten promotions since then based on my job performance. Just because she hasn't cost me money doesn't make her comments right, however.

It's how you choose to view her comments. You viewed them as insulting to all past degrees. I did not.

[611116]

It's how you choose to view her comments. You viewed them as insulting to all past degrees. I did not.

I'm here to satisfy your penchant for exact quotes:

First, here's the link:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...50397/1064

Second, here's the first of many denigrating quotes from Nancy's mouth regarding degrees pre-Z:

"Q: You say you're trying to increase the equity of a UC degree. Is that a knock on people who've graduated from UC in the past?

A: Actually, it's just the opposite. I've been with a number of alums, and it was those alums that propelled my own thinking about our need to be the best we really can be, because these people want to be proud of their degree. The university ought to keep moving in a forward direction. That's what our alums want."

There is a clear implication here that a degree prior to UC|21 was worth less in terms of "brand equity" than after her plan is implemented. This is just the first of many quotes of this type. I'll have to dig for another particularly annoying one along the lines of "former UC grads will be able to hold their heads up, look someone in the eye, and proudly say: I am proud to be a UC graduate". That was the one that really cheesed me off. I hold 2 degrees from UC (all pre-Z) and worked very hard for them. I feel they have had extensive value in my pursuit of a livelihood, and I was very proud to have earned them. This was a really offensive comment.

[SLMadiCat]

I'm here to satisfy your penchant for exact quotes:

First, here's the link:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...50397/1064

Second, here's the first of many denigrating quotes from Nancy's mouth regarding degrees pre-Z:

"Q: You say you're trying to increase the equity of a UC degree. Is that a knock on people who've graduated from UC in the past?

A: Actually, it's just the opposite. I've been with a number of alums, and it was those alums that propelled my own thinking about our need to be the best we really can be, because these people want to be proud of their degree. The university ought to keep moving in a forward direction. That's what our alums want."

There is a clear implication here that a degree prior to UC|21 was worth less in terms of "brand equity" than after her plan is implemented. This is just the first of many quotes of this type. I'll have to dig for another particularly annoying one along the lines of "former UC grads will be able to hold their heads up, look someone in the eye, and proudly say: I am proud to be a UC graduate". That was the one that really cheesed me off. I hold 2 degrees from UC (all pre-Z) and worked very hard for them. I feel they have had extensive value in my pursuit of a livelihood, and I was very proud to have earned them. This was a really offensive comment.

With the quality of your posts, you are beginning to make me feel as though she should have said that, and maybe she is right. So you didn't find a quote of her saying that a UC degree is not something to be proud of? I figured you wouldn't. And what is wrong with her saying that she will raise the value of a UC degree. Sounds like a good thing to me. If that pisses you off, would the opposite make you happy. How about her saying she will lower the standard of the UC degree? Would that make you happy?

BTW, just because you got kicked out of the ncaabbs, that doesn't mean you need to come over here to start stirring the pot with useless posts. So far that is all you have done since you joined. Clearly you have an agenda that has nothing to do with supporting UC basketball.

Edit: So you now have 7 posts total and everyone one has nothing to do with UC basketball. It is either the administration or Huggins.

[611116]

With the quality of your posts, you are beginning to make me feel as though she should have said that, and maybe she is right. So you didn't find a quote of her saying that a UC degree is not something to be proud of? I figured you wouldn't. And what is wrong with her saying that she will raise the value of a UC degree. Sounds like a good thing to me. If that pisses you off, would the opposite make you happy. How about her saying she will lower the standard of the UC degree? Would that make you happy?


Dude--The implication from that EXACT QUOTE is obvious--if you aren't picking up on it, it's because you are going out of your way to overlook it.

As for the tired assumption that I am in favor of lowering the value of a UC degree--let's not just spew nonsense. It makes you look ignorant. I am all for UC being a quality academic institution--in fact, there are a long list of Nobel prize nominees from UC that speak volumes for it's illustrious academic history--we didn't need the presence of Nancy to establish our credentials. UC was a solid state institution with a great deal to be proud of before Nancy was ever born.

What I want UC to do is provide quality education to the general public. Not to transform into an exclusionary institution that caters to the gifted. I want UC to PRODUCE quality individuals regardless of who applies. Educational chops should be measured by the difference between incoming and outgoing students regardless of the starting material. I am not in favor of a filtering mechanism that artificially inflates rankings for the ego of the administration.

It's the fact that Nancy tries to elevate herself at the expense of pre-Zimpher alumni that irritates me. It's not appropriate for the UC president to imply that the institution was sub-par prior to her arrival.

Sure--I have an agenda--I also am a fervent basketball fan. Hence I post to a lot of boards. I haven't been kicked off a board yet!

Now--as to the personal insults....I don't insult anyone personally...I may disagree vociferously, but I don't attack those that disagree by intimating that they are less than intelligent. I leave that for those that get their feathers ruffled.

Sticks and stones my friend, but truth is truth!

[jeffto]

I don't mind her attempt to up the quality of the academics. From the looks of some of the posts on this forum I would say that a lot of people didn't get much of an education at UC.

My father was very proud of his UC degree and I'm proud of mine. I think the extension-of-high-school approach should be reserved for the community colleges and that scholars should attend a university.

That being said Nancy and her holier-than-thou attitude sucks. Improve the university and shut up. Let the results speak for themselves.

And mark my words, if she screws up the Brian Kelly situation, I'll bring the tar.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Sure reads like a personal insult to those folks.

[jeffto]

Sure reads like a personal insult to those folks.Tom - ESPN2 - He looks pretty heavy.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Tom - ESPN2 - He looks pretty heavy.

Yes - he's gained a lot of weight. And almost 30 W since he left. Wonder if UC gets 30 W last year and this???

[jeffto]

No way. And you can switch to ESPN and watch Kenyon.

[Irishbearcat]

I don't really care for Zimpher, how she treated Huggs. He MADE UC relevent again in basketball circles. Not to mention bringing in the dough to help fund some of the pet projects around campus.
I'd say more, but I prolly shouldn't.

[mlb]

No way. And you can switch to ESPN and watch Kenyon.

He doesn't want to be remembered as a bearcat any more...

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

No way. And you can switch to ESPN and watch Kenyon.

Not a Bearcat. Used to be one. Gone since 2000.

Adam H and McClain are Bearcat centers now.

[jkwuc89]

This thread was going nowhere and the tenor was getting a bit too harsh. Therefore, it is closed.