Arthur C. Vailas
Encyclopedia
Arthur C. Vailas was born January 9, 1951. He is the 12th president of Idaho State University
.
Hampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire
on a football
scholarship and graduated in 1973 with a B.S. magna cum laude. He
received his Ph.D. in Physical Education from the University of Iowa
in
1979, with emphasis on exercise and connective tissue physiology. After
completing a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic surgery
and biochemistry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, he
joined the faculty of the University of California-Los Angeles.
UCLA, his research focused on connective tissue physiology among other
topics. Vailas was promoted to associate professor in 1988. He relocated
to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was director of the
Biomechanics Laboratory. He was granted joint appointments as professor
of surgery at the UW-Madison College of Medicine and in the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences. He served as chair of the Department of
Physical Education and later served as Associate Dean for Research and
Development of the College of Education. In 1992 and 1995, he received
Outstanding Science Achievement Awards from NASA for his work on the
U.S.-Russian Space Program.
In 1996, Vailas became vice- provost for
graduate studies, and professor and distinguished chair in biology and
biochemistry at the University of Houston with a joint appointment as
professor of mechanical engineering. He later became vice president for
research and vice chancellor for research and intellectual property
management. Under his tenure, annual external research funding at UH
increased from $27 million to $92 million. He helped establish the
Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America and developed UH’s
first formal affiliation with the Texas Medical Center. Vailas is an
author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Studies, a collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratories and other
Idaho universities, in 2007.
In 2009, Idaho State University opened a new campus in Meridian, Idaho
, which serves health professional programs.
To enhance teaching and research while improving operational
efficiencies, Vailas led the university through a major reorganization
in 2010-2011. In 2011, the Carnegie Foundation categorized Idaho State
University as a Research-High university.
National Institutes of Health. He was appointed to the Texas Council on
Environmental Technology and received a congressional appointment to the
Board of the Mickey Leland Air Toxics Center. He served as a
Commissioner for Idaho in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
Education, and serves on the Idaho Governor’s Council on Science and
Technology. Vailas has been a consultant to numerous national health
care-related businesses and institutions.
The AAUP issued its report on May 31, 2011.
The report states that:
"As is the case at most medium to large colleges and universities, at Idaho State University ... the faculty senate ... was the
primary means of ensuring that the faculty performed its essential role in academic governance. When the state board, following the president’s recommendation, suspended the senate from operation, it effectively obliterated that role."
The AAUP report concludes that "in severely restricting the faculty’s decision-making role in academic governance over the last several years, in suppressing faculty dissent, and, finally, in abolishing the faculty senate and with it the last vestiges of shared governance on the ISU campus, the administration of Idaho State University and the Idaho State Board of Education acted in direct violation of widely accepted principles and standards of shared governance, as set forth in the Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities."
AAUP sanctioned Idaho State University in June, 2011, and Valias' request to suspend the faculty senate was criticized.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
.
Early life
The son of Greek immigrants, Vailas was born in Manchester, NewHampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
on a football
scholarship and graduated in 1973 with a B.S. magna cum laude. He
received his Ph.D. in Physical Education from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in
1979, with emphasis on exercise and connective tissue physiology. After
completing a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic surgery
and biochemistry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, he
joined the faculty of the University of California-Los Angeles.
Academic Career
As an assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Science atUCLA, his research focused on connective tissue physiology among other
topics. Vailas was promoted to associate professor in 1988. He relocated
to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was director of the
Biomechanics Laboratory. He was granted joint appointments as professor
of surgery at the UW-Madison College of Medicine and in the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences. He served as chair of the Department of
Physical Education and later served as Associate Dean for Research and
Development of the College of Education. In 1992 and 1995, he received
Outstanding Science Achievement Awards from NASA for his work on the
U.S.-Russian Space Program.
In 1996, Vailas became vice- provost for
graduate studies, and professor and distinguished chair in biology and
biochemistry at the University of Houston with a joint appointment as
professor of mechanical engineering. He later became vice president for
research and vice chancellor for research and intellectual property
management. Under his tenure, annual external research funding at UH
increased from $27 million to $92 million. He helped establish the
Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America and developed UH’s
first formal affiliation with the Texas Medical Center. Vailas is an
author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Idaho State University
Vailas became president of Idaho State University July 1, 2006. He worked to establish the Center for Advanced EnergyStudies, a collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratories and other
Idaho universities, in 2007.
In 2009, Idaho State University opened a new campus in Meridian, Idaho
Meridian, Idaho
-History:The town was established in 1891 on the Onweiler farm north of the present site and was called Hunter. Two years later an I.O.O.F. lodge was organized and called itself Meridian because it was located on the Boise Meridian and the town was renamed...
, which serves health professional programs.
To enhance teaching and research while improving operational
efficiencies, Vailas led the university through a major reorganization
in 2010-2011. In 2011, the Carnegie Foundation categorized Idaho State
University as a Research-High university.
Service
Vailas has served on scientific panels and boards for NASA and theNational Institutes of Health. He was appointed to the Texas Council on
Environmental Technology and received a congressional appointment to the
Board of the Mickey Leland Air Toxics Center. He served as a
Commissioner for Idaho in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
Education, and serves on the Idaho Governor’s Council on Science and
Technology. Vailas has been a consultant to numerous national health
care-related businesses and institutions.
Controversies
In February 2011, the Idaho State University faculty voted no confidence in Vailas by a margin of nearly 4:1. The Faculty Senate Chair called for his resignation. Vailas presented a speech to the State Board of Education the following week (February 17, 2011) in which he requested the Faculty Senate be disbanded. In a move that shocked the state and the academic community, the Idaho State Board of Education agreed and disbanded the I.S.U. faculty senate. This led to a series of condemnations by The Idaho Federation of Teachers, Bannock County Democrats, and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) , who promised an investigation which may accompany sanctions or censuring. Students also protested on campus and in student government meetings, and the Idaho State Journal was filled with editorials decrying the disbandment of the Faculty Senate and indicting the administration for violating free speech rights.The AAUP issued its report on May 31, 2011.
The report states that:
"As is the case at most medium to large colleges and universities, at Idaho State University ... the faculty senate ... was the
primary means of ensuring that the faculty performed its essential role in academic governance. When the state board, following the president’s recommendation, suspended the senate from operation, it effectively obliterated that role."
The AAUP report concludes that "in severely restricting the faculty’s decision-making role in academic governance over the last several years, in suppressing faculty dissent, and, finally, in abolishing the faculty senate and with it the last vestiges of shared governance on the ISU campus, the administration of Idaho State University and the Idaho State Board of Education acted in direct violation of widely accepted principles and standards of shared governance, as set forth in the Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities."
AAUP sanctioned Idaho State University in June, 2011, and Valias' request to suspend the faculty senate was criticized.