The Academic Senate says Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef went about picking the next provost the wrong way — by doing so without full evaluation by the senate, when in fact shared governance "calls for nothing less."

In a resolution approved April 14, to be forwarded to UC President Bob Dynes, the senate's Representative Assembly did not take issue with the chancellor's choice: College of Engineering Dean Enrique Lavernia, who had not been an applicant.

Rather, senate members criticized Vanderhoef for abruptly calling off a national search to fill the provost slot after faculty had helped choose three outside finalists who then visited campus for public and private meetings.

The Representative Assembly meeting drew more than 50 delegates, out of a membership of nearly 100. Those in attendance lamented a "failed process" that they said embarrassed UC Davis nationally and hurt the university's future recruiting opportunities.

Vanderhoef responded even before the senate took action. Like everyone else, he had early access to the April 14 agenda, which included the proposed resolution.

Vanderhoef's response also addressed a letter in the April 11 edition of Dateline, in which the Davis Faculty Association expressed concern about "the repeated use of interim appointments to fill vacant positions without a full search, and without the involvement of a broad cross-section of the faculty."

In his own letter, appearing on page 2 of today's Dateline, Vanderhoef stated: "Faculty participation is indeed fundamental and essential, and faculty comprise the majority of members of all of our leadership search committees.

"But, in compelling circumstances, I have found it necessary to make interim, shorter-term appointments without a search. Those appointments are not common, and made only in exceptional circumstances."

The provost search began last fall after Virginia Hinshaw's departure to become chancellor of the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Barbara Horwitz is serving as interim provost through Dec. 31, after which Lavernia steps in for a three-year term.

As the search progressed, the state's budget deficit ballooned to $16 billion. "After considerable deliberation, I have concluded that this is not a situation into which we can bring a new person from outside the University of California," Vanderhoef said on March 6, when he announced Lavernia's appointment.

He added: "Our finalists were all distinguished scholars with impressive records of achievement. I know as well, from the evaluations by dozens of campus citizens, the recruitment advisory committee and the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors, that each had strong advocates, so I particularly regret the circumstance that forces me to suspend our search."

Senate members said the outside finalists for provost were well aware of the state's budget crisis, and questioned if the budget had anything to do with Vanderhoef's decision.

Senate Chair Linda Bisson said after the April 14 meeting that faculty members are telling the chancellor: "Don't treat them (applicants) in a way that suggests it was not a legitimate process."

During the meeting, senate members variously described Vanderhoef's action as an "outrage," "a slap in the face," "insulting," "rinky-dink" and "horrifying," as well as showing "contempt" for the faculty — though the senate inserted none of those terms into the resolution that ultimately received approval.

Still, after the meeting, Bisson said she could easily characterize the senate as "angry."

Members amended the draft resolution to "demand" rather than "request" faculty input in "all searches and subsequent hiring for positions of leadership in the administration."

The process must include "formal applications by all candidates who must be fully evaluated by search committees comprising representative senate faculty appointed by the Academic Senate," the resolution states.

In regard to the appointment and designation of senate-recommended faculty to recruitment advisory committees, Vanderhoef stated in his response: "I embrace the principle, and recognize the great value, of faculty participation in the selection of UC Davis' administrative leaders."

Indeed, the administration handpicked several faculty members to assist with the search for a new provost. The advisory committee comprised 17 people, including eight senate members without positions in the administration.

Bisson said the administration chose only one member from a senate-provided list of perhaps 20 potential committee members.

When forming such committees, Vanderhoef explained, he seeks "a broadly representative group … with disciplinary balance, and gender and ethnic diversity."

Nevertheless, the chancellor is in talks with the senate regarding the formation of future search committees. The chancellor has suggested adding a step whereby the senate could comment on his proposed selections, "which likely will include some but not all, of your recommendees."

"For the most part, our alternative choices of faculty will have to do with a pursuit of balance of one kind or another," Vanderhoef wrote in an April 8 letter to Bisson and Professor Craig A. Tracy, chair of the senate's Committee on Committees.

In searching for Hinshaw's replacement, the advisory committee screened the applications and even reached out to potential candidates. But, after what happened, Tilahun Yilma said he would not serve again on such a committee — unless asked by the senate.

Yilma, a distinguished professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine, said two of the outside finalists would have made "very outstanding leaders."