Finance VP Works Part-Time; Harvard Silent on Shake-Up

With less than a month before it kicks off the largest fundraiser in the history of higher education, Harvard's vice president for finance has taken a job elsewhere, according to his secretary.

The vice president, Robert H. Scott, said last September that he would step down after a successor for his post was found. But though he still holds the University's top financial position in name, Scott is only working part-time as vice president for finance, his secretary said yesterday.

He's at his new job," the secretary said in response to a request to talk to Scott. "He only comes in for meetings and things.

News of Scott's unofficial part time status is the second indication this week of disarray among the University's top administrators, who have stopped speaking to the press.

On Tuesday, the University announced that Provost Jerry R. Green, after nearly two years as Harvard's second highest official, would leave his job and assume a newly-created professorship for inter-faculty teaching and research.

University officials have refused to provide a reason for Green's departure, which was not termed a resignation in Harvard's press release announcing the change.

The announcement of Green's departure was so abrupt that key officials around the University, including members of the Board of overseers, had not been informed of the move.

In apparent acknowledgement of that suddenness, Rudenstine has written to the overseers to explain why they were not told of the impending departure at their meeting last weekend, according to overseer charlotte P. Armstrong '49.

The letter indicated that the overseers were not informed because "the details were still being ironed out," Armstrong said.

Three Positions Unfilled

The apparent troubles in Massachusetts Hall could hardly come at a worse time for a University trying to project an image of stability as it officially launches a $2 billion capital campaign. Before the announcement of their departures, both Green and Scott were expected to be key players in the campaign.

The personnel shake-ups also raise new questions about the work of President Neil L. Rudenstine, who has spent eight months searching for a replacement for Scott without success. In addition, a search for a new vice president for government, community and public affairs has dragged on for more than a year.

With Green's departure, three of the top seven administrative posi- tions at Harvard are unfilled.

According to one version of events offered toThe Crimson this week, Green, a career academicconsidered by some observers to be a "poor fit"for an administrative job, approached Rudenstineabout leaving in early 1994.

But yesterday the Boston Globe, citinganonymous sources, offered its own version ofevents. The Globe called Green's departure a"resignation" prompted by the provost'sexasperation "with futile efforts to unify theschools and colleges, bring together competingdeans and tame the bureaucracy." The paper did notprovide details of any specific problem inside thecentral administration.

Green, the Globe said, resigned because he"felt he did not have Rudenstine's earnest backingand support."

But Acting Vice President for Government,Community, and Public Affairs Jane H. Corlettemoved to discount that report yesterday.

"I am unaware of any disputes, really,"Corlette said. She said that Rudenstine's letterto The Crimson on Wednesday, which praised theprovost, should be seen as indication of thepresident's support.

Top administrators, including Green, once againdid not return calls yesterday. And, contactedyesterday, the deans of graduate schools said theyknew nothing more about the Green departure thanwhat was announced by the University.

No Announcement on Scott

University officials could not be reached forcomment on Scott, and no official announcement hasbeen made about the current status of the vicepresident for finance.

Harvard financial employees contacted yesterdaysaid they were unaware that Scott had started anew job.

Green's Successor

Some University officials interviewed yesterdaysaid that it is far too early to speculate aboutcandidates to be the next provost.

But the speculation continues anyway. Dean ofthe Kennedy School of Government Albert Carnesale,a close adviser to Rudenstine and, unlike Green,an experienced administrator, has been mentionedby some sources as a possible contender.

In addition, Whitehead Professor of GovernmentDennis F. Thompson and Watts Professor of HealthCare Barbara J. McNeil--both of whom made theshort list for the job two years ago--could becandidates

According to one version of events offered toThe Crimson this week, Green, a career academicconsidered by some observers to be a "poor fit"for an administrative job, approached Rudenstineabout leaving in early 1994.

But yesterday the Boston Globe, citinganonymous sources, offered its own version ofevents. The Globe called Green's departure a"resignation" prompted by the provost'sexasperation "with futile efforts to unify theschools and colleges, bring together competingdeans and tame the bureaucracy." The paper did notprovide details of any specific problem inside thecentral administration.

Green, the Globe said, resigned because he"felt he did not have Rudenstine's earnest backingand support."

But Acting Vice President for Government,Community, and Public Affairs Jane H. Corlettemoved to discount that report yesterday.

"I am unaware of any disputes, really,"Corlette said. She said that Rudenstine's letterto The Crimson on Wednesday, which praised theprovost, should be seen as indication of thepresident's support.

Top administrators, including Green, once againdid not return calls yesterday. And, contactedyesterday, the deans of graduate schools said theyknew nothing more about the Green departure thanwhat was announced by the University.

No Announcement on Scott

University officials could not be reached forcomment on Scott, and no official announcement hasbeen made about the current status of the vicepresident for finance.

Harvard financial employees contacted yesterdaysaid they were unaware that Scott had started anew job.

Green's Successor

Some University officials interviewed yesterdaysaid that it is far too early to speculate aboutcandidates to be the next provost.

But the speculation continues anyway. Dean ofthe Kennedy School of Government Albert Carnesale,a close adviser to Rudenstine and, unlike Green,an experienced administrator, has been mentionedby some sources as a possible contender.

In addition, Whitehead Professor of GovernmentDennis F. Thompson and Watts Professor of HealthCare Barbara J. McNeil--both of whom made theshort list for the job two years ago--could becandidates