University President Michael Adams vetoed a motion passed by the University Council that would give it a bigger role in the provost hiring decision, citing the state’s “stringent open records law” as his reason.

Bruce Hollett, chair of the University Council Executive Committee, read a letter dated April 1 to the committee on Thursday from Adams, which stated reasons for the veto decision.

Adams wrote he had been in contact with the Attorney General’s office and confirmed that “any recorded vote or any written inquiry on provost candidates is subject to the state of Georgia’s open records law.”

The motion passed last month called for the University Council to submit a formal vote on the final three to five candidates for the provost position, which would then be given to the Provost Search Committee for further review. But since this vote would take place in an open meeting, the outcome of the vote would be an open record in the state.

“My initial reaction, which I shared with council membership, was that I did not think any search firm in the country would be able to turn out the quality of candidates that we desire with such an open public referendum on their merits,” the letter states.

Adams later stated in the letter that he would accept any verbal input from faculty, staff or students about candidates – correspondence that is not subject to the open records law. He also noted the University will “publicize a mechanism for providing written input with the shared understanding that any written correspondence – either electronic or hard copy – is open to the public upon request.”

The letter mentioned an external search consultant from the Storbeck/Pimentel firm said, “it is not standard practice to hold an open public vote on finalists.”

Adams wrote he could not line-item veto any portion of the recommendation, so he would veto the recommendation in its entirety. He wrote he supports the intent and the spirit of the recommendation and thus will implement three of the four recommendations. Beginning at the April 23 Council meeting and continuing until the provost position is filled, Chair of the Provost Search Committee Bill Potter will give search updates. Questions may be asked of Potter about the search, Adams wrote. Adams noted finalists will be announced at a Council meeting, and the finalists will present before council members.

Also, the Committee voted to terminate three degree programs. The Master of Applied Mathematical Sciences degree was terminated due to lack of student interest. The last student involved in the program was in 2001, said Chair of the Curriculum Committee David Shipley. The major in mathematics in the Bachelor of Arts degree and the major in health promotion and behavior under the Master of Arts degree were cut because comparable degrees are offered in other University programs.