Rogers tells Ashley performance failing

Higher education Chancellor Jim Rogers officially told UNLV's president Thursday that he wasn't satisfied with his job performance and was going to tell the system's governing board as much.

It was the first meeting between Rogers and David Ashley since news broke last week that Ashley's contract might not be renewed. The two had been scheduled to meet Monday, but Ashley asked for the earlier meeting. Ashley had cut short a long-planned trip to Singapore in part because of the controversy surrounding his job performance.

"I have great doubts about the ability of the system and him to go forward," Rogers said after the meeting.

He said he planned on sending a memo to the system's Board of Regents on Monday outlining his problems with Ashley. He would not say whether he would recommend that Ashley's contract be renewed.

Ashley, 58, did not return a cell phone message or an e-mail seeking comment.

In 2006, UNLV hired Ashley, the No. 2 administrator at the University of California, Merced, and gave him a four-year contract. Typically, a university president's contract is renewed one year before it expires. Ashley's contract is scheduled to be discussed at the August board meeting.

Rogers said he and Ashley met for about an hour Thursday at UNLV. He said he outlined his problems with the president, which include what some say is a disengaged attitude toward the university.

Many of the problems surround Ashley's wife, Bonnie, and allegations that she has treated high-level UNLV employees harshly.

"She's got a lot of employees very distressed," said Rogers, who is retiring at the end of the month.

He said Ashley pledged to put a stop to that.

"I don't think he can," Rogers said. "I think he's insensitive to the problem. I don't think he understands it."

In an e-mail sent to the Review-Journal late Wednesday night, David Ashley defended his wife. He wrote that she is dedicated to the university and takes what she does seriously.

"I am extremely appreciative of all that Bonnie does for the university," the president wrote in the e-mail.

He outlined one incident that apparently led to complaints.

In December, the Ashleys had five parties at their home over a 10-day period, he wrote. Students, deans, administrators, donors, regents and system leadership were invited.

"Since we were very concerned about budgets," he wrote, "we supplied the drinks, salads and desserts for most of these events at our own expense."

He said his wife spent more than $1,000 of her money on decorations and did all of the prep and clean up work herself. The university prepared invitations and arranged catering for the main course only, he wrote.

He said his wife became "frustrated by invitation errors and budget overruns" and "expressed her concerns directly to the individuals."

Bonnie Ashley on Friday sent an e-mail to several system higher-ups explaining that she was only trying to do her best for UNLV. She has taken on certain "hostessing" duties since last summer. She wrote that she had not understood that she was causing trouble.

"For this," she wrote, "I am most apologetic."

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.