The UW Board of Regents announced Friday backup positions will no longer be offered to newly hired administrators. This decision came after UW became the target of intense scrutiny following a high-profile former dean being moved to a backup position despite severe ethical lapses.

We largely agree with the regents' decision.

Under the old system, UW would, in essence, offer individuals two jobs: the one that was applied for and another, lower-paying position in case that individual proves incompetent. If an administrator effectively performs his or her duties — and fails to cause a media-relations nightmare or commit a felony — they should have little to worry about. While this board certainly is sympathetic toward administrators who may find themselves phased out amid a changing of the guard, a new regime is entitled to tinker with the personnel — as long as it is not done to an egregious extent.

Backup positions offer a prospective administrator a degree of security unheard of in most sectors, and UW proved how detrimental they can be earlier this year. Paul Barrows, former vice chancellor of student affairs, was moved to a backup position after he was found to have had a sexual relationship with a former graduate student, just one complaint on a long list of grievances. While some may have taken this as an indicator Mr. Barrows was unfit to work for the university in any capacity, he was guaranteed a backup position, which he still holds today.

While the board feels blanket backup positions potentially hold disastrous ramifications for the university as a whole, certain exceptions should be made.

If a distinguished educator is asked by one chancellor to assume an administrative position, that educator should be guaranteed the right to return to his or her former position if a new chancellor decides to make changes. Since turnover among administration heads tends to trump that of other positions, the absence of job security could cause professors to be reluctant to take a chance, causing the university to recruit less qualified outside candidates for the job.

While backup positions are attractive tools that could draw in administrators considering a career at UW, the regents' decision should force individuals to think twice about acting in a manner detrimental to the university's image.