William G. Tierney: Moving USC past scandals
Pullias co-director William G. Tierney was quoted in a number of major newspapers about USC’s involvement in the recently uncovered college admissions cheating scandal and the appointment of USC’s president-elect Carol L. Folt.
Financial Times, Admissions scandal hits “university of spoiled children”
“Instead of cultivating an environment of reflection and reasoned debate, the university sprinted toward growth,” William Tierney, a professor of education, wrote in the LA Times last year in the midst of those crises. He faulted the school’s administration for emphasising “financial and reputational results”.
Reached in India via email on Thursday, he wrote to the Financial Times: “The latest scandal is tied to all the others largely because of the previous administration’s desire to improve dramatically in a very short time.”
Los Angeles Times, College admissions scandal: Can USC’s cautious new leader be the crusader it needs?
William Tierney, a professor in USC’s Rossier School of Education and an expert on university administration and governance, said Folt is “not going to come in riding a white horse.”
“She’s not a savior,” he said. “This is a moment in time when we all have to come together to create significant change in the way we do business. If we don’t do that, then she’ll fail.”
The Washington Post, A Trojan horse: USC was the most frequent target in alleged admissions scheme
“We have made far too many errors in judgment over the last two years — and this is par for the course,” said William G. Tierney, a professor and scholar of higher education.
The Washington Post, USC names its next president: Former UNC chancellor Carol Folt
William Tierney, a professor of higher education, called Folt a logical selection.
“The university at this point needs someone who knows how to be president,” Tierney said. “That’s certainly a strength of Carol Folt.”
Noting Folt’s role in the Silent Sam controversy, Tierney said: “Although she had problems with her board, she stood up for the kinds of values we need.”
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Tierney is an expert on higher education policy analysis, governance, and administration; his research interests pertain to faculty productivity, decision making, organizational re-engineering, and issues of equity.