Academic Association Critical of UE Realignment
(photo courtesy of Evansville
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA national nonprofit organization of professors and academics has issued a warning to University of Evansville President Christopher Pietruszkiewcz, critical of his realignment plan of the school.
The plan, which UE announced last month, would cut three departments, 17 majors and about 40 jobs, many of them faculty positions.
The American Association of University Professors says the plan violates the AAUP principles of shared governance.
Our partners at WEHT-TV report the UE chapter of the AAUP has asked the state conference and its governance committee for advice and assistance.
The association says the university is bound by a number of AAUP guidelines because they are incorporated into the faculty manual.
The group says it is seeking more information from the president or it will request an investigation.
“In lieu of the well-established shared governance procedures at UE, you have adopted a mechanism to solicit faculty input that is wholly inadequate and does not constitute a bona fide program discontinuance process,” said David Nalbone, president of the Indiana Conference of the AAUP.
In the letter, the organization said the process has done considerable harm to relations between the administration of the University of Evansville and its faculty.
“Should the realignment process go forward on its current trajectory, the IndianaConference will request that the national office authorize an investigation, which could result in AAUP censure or sanction,” said Nalbone.
Click here to view WEHT’s story and a link to the AAUP letter.