Financial Affairs VP accepts position in San Diego
By Jonathan Hiser
Vice President of Financial Affairs Roy Heynderickx has announced his acceptance of a new position as the vice president of Finance and Administration at the University of San Diego. Heynderickx will maintain his position at UP until he leaves in November.
Heynderickx came to UP in 1980 as the chief accountant and rose up to his current position in 1993.
USD approached Heynderickx last October about the position, to which he initially voiced his disinterest. Heynderickx said he informed UP President, the Rev. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., that USD was pursuing him. In June, Heynderickx visited USD for an interview and eventually accepted the university's offer.
Beauchamp said Heynderickx's departure isn't due to dissatisfaction, but rather a desire to look for new challenges in a different setting.
"I was aware that it was a possibility," Beauchamp said. "It wasn't like he suddenly came into my office and said 'I'm leaving.'"
Heynderickx's replacement is yet undecided, with a full search planned once he leaves in November. Beauchamp said there are a variety of ways to go about the search, but in the end it is up to himself, in consultation with the Board of Regents, to appoint officers.
Whether or not a new vice president of Financial Affairs is hired in time, the position will be fully covered, Beauchamp said. A UP officer could, under University statutes, act as an interim vice president of Financial Affairs by holding both his or her current position and the vacant role. No particular officer has been suggested yet.
ASUP President David Gregg said he was surprised to hear of Heynderickx's departure.
"That's not a position you want to have vacant, in my opinion," Gregg said.
Heynderickx worked closely with the ASUP Executive Board on issues ranging from budgeting to capital improvements.
Gregg said Heynderickx was always willing to work with them, especially with funds-matching projects.
During the last Capital Improvements project, the funds used to purchase new furniture in the Pilots House were matched by funds organized with help from Heynderickx. It was this extra money that made the project materialize, Gregg said.
"As a student leader with an agenda, it's hard now, because it puts us in a difficult position," Gregg said. "We are in a waiting period to see who we need to go to in the role that Heynderickx played."
Gregg added that there are still plenty of people in the administration for students to turn to, including Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Life, John Goldrick, and Associate Vice President for Student Life, the Rev. John Donato, C.S.C.
Beauchamp said that with Heynderickx's absence, ASUP will work more directly through student services than with the financial vice president, because the moderator would be the director of Student Activities.
"It will be a different person, but as far as a working relationship between the officers and ASUP, that isn't going to change," Beauchamp said.
Heynderickx's announcement enabled further considerations of a future information services vice president (ISVP)-following Bryon Fessler's resignation. Heynderickx said that with the absence of an ISVP, he acted as interim ISVP. Beauchamp said he didn't want to move on the other position, until Heynderickx's status was decided. Beauchamp also said another reason he hadn't pursued finding a new vice president for information technology was because the responsibilities were by now well-covered by the department workers. Arrangements to fill both positions are still in place and Heynderickx said his leaving may not change the administrative structure at all.
"Don't get me wrong," Beauchamp said. "I plan to have a ice president for Information Technology and a vice president for Finance."
Gregg said it is unfortunate that Heynderickx is leaving, but adds he is optimistic about the future.
"I was a little upset because he has been such a helpful guy at UP, but that's not to say the University won't find a fully capable replacement," Gregg said.
