The uni is in the third leadership crisis of a generation

In 2001 reforming vice chancellor Mary O’Kane resigned over entrenched opposition to her plans. In 2018 Warren Bebbington, also facing internal opposition, left earlier than planned. And now Peter Rathjen is on indefinite leave. But this time it is way worse. This time Chancellor Kevin Scarce has gone too.

In the absence of hard information speculation has run riot – but the context of rumours is that Uni Adelaide has fragile finances and that repair plans are painful, that the transition to COVID-19 caused on-line teaching was fraught, that the university lags Flinders U and Uni SA for a sense of purpose and plan to achieve it.

Whatever the reason, if the situation is such that the Chancellor, VC and Council are not working together then Uni Adelaide is in deep trouble.

There was talk last night that a merger with the University of South Australia could now be back on. Perhaps, although why solvent, successfully restructuring Uni SA would want this is unclear.

The Uni Adelaide branch of the National Tertiary Education Union spoke for the university community, yesterday;

“This has come as a shock to staff and the lack of explanation is adding to anxiety levels already heightened by the COVID-19 crisis. Staff desperately need clarity from the university council and the remaining senior management on why the chancellor has resigned and why the vice-chancellor is taking indefinite leave.”