LACROSSE, Wis. – The acting chancellor of University if Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Betsy Morgan, told packed convocation of faculty and students that she foresees campus stability for the weeks in ahead. It was Morgan’s first public appearance since replacing Joe Gow, who was fired over the December break for sex videos. Morgan, who had been UW’L’s chief academic officer under Gow, said she was unaware until he last minute that the UW System regents were preparing to fire Gow, who had been a popular campus figure. At the convocation in the Student Union, Morgan made these points about the Gow situation:
> Her only advance warning that Gow’s job was on the line was December 27 “slightly before” the regents met in Madison to fire Gow. It was a call about whether she would serve as interim chancellor if needed. “None of the cabinet or any other person I have spoken to knew of the reasons until the outcome of the regents meeting and the subsequent press,” she told the convocation.
> Whether Gow will move to the faculty is a decision that regents haven’t made, Morgan said. Gow holds tenure in the Communication Department. Pending legal analysis on its options, the regents have put Gow’s move to the faculty on hold, she said.
> The process fora national search for a permanent chancellor was already in process last fall when Gow announced his intention to retire in June. This was months before the video issue erupted. The search process is unaffected by Gow’s dismissal. Morgan said. Finalists will visit campus in early March, she aid.
> Morgan hasn’t ruled out applying for the permanent chancellorship herself: “I’m taking it one day at a time right now and trying to keep my options open.”
Morgan was upbeat about the spring semester. Recruiting of new students is proceeding for fall, she said. Retention of freshen from fall to winter semester has exceed expectations, she said. She ended the convocation by inviting everybody to a chili lunch in the cafeteria.
Morgan. Acting chancellor learned only “slightly before” regents fired Gow.
Verbatim
Morgan: “This is the benefit of being here for 30-plus years. I do love the people here. I know the university, and this is just the obvious step. I’m happy to provide the stability and take us into the future.”
Morgan profile
Morgan started at UW-L in 1993 as a professor and later became department chair. She became provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs n 2017. She.holds a doctorate in social psychology from the University of California-Irvine. As a UW-L administrator she retains tenure on the psychology faculty. Age: 60.