GRAND FORKS (AP) - University of North Dakota President Robert Kelley is shuffling his cabinet, a move that mainly affects two vice presidents.

Kelley is elevating Greg Weisenstein, provost and vice president of academic affairs, to the No. 2 position. Weisenstein will be in charge of the campus when Kelley is away.

"It gives me a very strong right hand in administering the affairs of the university," Kelley said. "He and I talk very regularly. We spend a lot of time together. I have a great deal of respect for him and his abilities."

Weisenstein unsuccessfully sought the UND presidency last year. UND in February hired Kelley, who was the dean of health sciences at the University of Wyoming, to succeed then-UND President Charles Kupchella, who was retiring. Kelley took office in Grand Forks on July 1.

Another change involves Phil Harmeson, vice president for general administration, who will go back to the College of Business and Public Administration, where he holds tenure as associate professor. Kelley will assume Harmeson's responsibilities over the athletics department and affirmative action program.

An organizational change in the summer of 2007 had given Harmeson oversight of the athletics department. The athletic director at the time, Tom Buning, who resigned in November 2007, objected to reporting to Harmeson rather than Kupchella, as he had in the past.

"The NCAA prefers - they don't demand - but they prefer the athletic director reports to the president," Kelley said.

Kelley said he is shuffling his cabinet to balance out the responsibilities of the vice presidents under him and improve the efficiency of the group.

"This is the beginning of a hard examination of how the University of North Dakota is being administered," he said. "There may be other realignments coming as I examine the portfolios of the vice presidents."

The UND president's cabinet is a panel of advisers made up of five vice presidents and four others, such as the head of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation.

Two cabinet members plan to retire: Gary Johnson, interim vice president for research and economic development; and Robert Gallager, vice president for finance and operations. Kelley said he plans to fill both positions.