Chicago State University president steps down
BY MICHAEL SNEED AND ANNA HELING STAFF REPORTERS February 25, 2013 11:34AM
Wayne Watson | Sun-Times~Tom Cruze
Updated: February 25, 2013 2:55PM
Chicago State University President Wayne Watson has stepped down from his position three years after his controversial hiring in 2009.
As Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed first reported Sunday, several university board members reportedly wanted a new person at the helm of the South Side university. Watson, former chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, was reportedly accused by several board members of violating school policy by being less than candid about a relationship he had with another employee of the school, although both of them are single.
Watson was hired to install top-to-bottom management at the fiscally unsound school, which has endured fiscal mismanagement and inept leadership for years. Sources said pressure was put on Gov. Pat Quinn to get rid of Watson.
Watson was facing pushback for trying to instill a culture change at the school by instituting heavier faculy workloads.
“There are board members who either want to control Watson or want their own person at the helm and have heavy backers who are major donors to Gov. Quinn,” said a Watson supporter. “It’s as simple as that.”
