This letter is regarding the article, "Popular Professor Denied Tenure." (Aug. 31) and the Provost's comments on the denial of tenure and the process of the decision, specifically when he said the process essentially involves, "looking at the record of the people and making decisions."
- ∑ Professors Lynne Kurdziel-Formato and Tressa Gorman Crehan were hired for extensive internal duties, entailing 50 to 60 hour weeks. This violates the university's policy on junior faculty workloads, as it leaves no time for research. They were denied tenure for not having sufficient national research.
- ∑ My own letter relating these facts received no acknowledgment from Simpson or UB Provost Satish Tripathi.
- ∑ The Chancellor Reviews for both refused testimony from anyone wishing to communicate such irregularities.
- ∑ The professors still had highly positive national and international reviews of their work. I was there when they received it.
- ∑ The "offer" of a temporary, non-tenured position to one of the Professors in lieu of tenure. The "offer" included a demand that all such complaints and all legal actions of any kind be waived (I note that this information did not come from anyone in my department but from individuals in the administration.).
- ∑ The President and Provost's new guidelines on criteria for tenure of Oct. 04: Research is the prime criteria, a fact left out of the Provost's recent comment. This means students and teaching will be of secondary importance to any faculty member who wishes promotion.
I have taught, acted and directed all over the world. I have never witnessed a decision so illogical, damaging or mired in irregularity.
More
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
Comments
