A telling sound followed this week’s announcement that a Kansas City businessman will temporarily hold the top job at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Silence.

Not so long ago, the howls of protest would have been deafening. The quiet general approval that greeted the naming of former Aquila Inc. executive Leo Morton as interim chancellor is evidence of much improved relationships between the campus and civic communities.

Town and gown friction peaked about three years ago.The prevailing view on campus was that Kansas City’s business and civic leaders were meddlesome and unconcerned with academic integrity. The UMKC Board of Trustees, a group that raises funds for the university and advises the chancellor, was regarded with special hostility.

The civic sector viewed a sizeable portion of the faculty as stubborn and unhelpful.
The thaw began when campus and civic representatives worked together in searching for a new chancellor.

“I could tell that we all wanted the same things,” said Morton, who became chairman of the trustees and served on the committee. “We all wanted UMKC to become a great university.”

The search process led to the hiring of Chancellor Guy Bailey, who earned the respect of the faculty and worked well with civic leaders.

As interim chancellor, Morton will continue to work on the fundraising campaign and building projects. Gail Hackett, the new provost, will handle academic matters.

Continued good relations will depend on the naming of a permanent chancellor who, like Bailey, can win trust and respect both on and off campus.

University of Missouri system President Gary Forsee has said he will follow a search process similar to the last one, and that the new chancellor “will be somebody with strong academic credentials.”

In the meantime, Morton’s assignment as interim chancellor should enable UMKC to continue to make progress.