Thames SACS Violations - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 11, 2005

Thames SACS Violations

Date: Mar 11, 2005

Thank you, AAUP.

Date: Mar 11, 2005

Thank you, Reporter!

Do you have the complete list from the AAUP meeting? If you do, would you mind posting the entire thing?

Thanks again.

Date: Mar 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Gnome Watcher
"Thank you, Reporter! Do you have the complete list from the AAUP meeting? If you do, would you mind posting the entire thing? Thanks again."

Had to take the family out for Friday night dinner. Will do on this thread when I have time. The rest doesn't cite chapter and verse of the principles. All were sent to IHL, but I don't remember if they were sent to SACS .

Date: Mar 11, 2005

Violations Continues:

7. President Shelby Thames ignored the memo from Dr. Brad Bond warning him that we were in violation of SACS accreditation principles.

8. President Shelby Thames either ignored or failed to realize the significance of two warning letters from SACS about the possibility of probation.

9.By locking out Institutional Research employees at the beginning of the Thames administration, USM was not able to continue to collect the appropriate data in a timely fashion to assure the maintenance of our accreditation status.

10. Plans were made to remodel the library at the Gulf Park campus which entailed removal of almost all collection and study space. These plans were done in order to accommodate a non-existent executive MBA, which probably would have been implemented had the library been remodeled. This move most likely would have impacted curriculum and curriculum development and faculty should have had a chance to address this before the engineering firm drew up the plans for remodeling the library. This could have not only affected the accreditation of the library, but also may have had implications for SACS>

11. The Department of Customer Service was authorized by the administration to override class caps on enrollments. Instructors were not contacted in advanced. In some cases enrollments are capped because of disciplinary accreditation, and in some cases enrollments are capped because of available equipment (i.e., computers, microscopes, etc.)

12. Throughout the Thames administration, there has been little or no attempt to provide relief to the library budget. The library staff and faculty have been valiant in their creative attempts to keep the library up-to-date as possible, we are falling behind. The state of our library, and the lack of support from the administration, threatens SACS accreditation.

13.Since the initial restructuring of USM by the Thames administration, the Nursing program has struggled for resources, and has been beset with faculty and nursing administration turnover. Subsequently the nursing program's accreditation is severely threaten. Last year USM nursing graduates had the lowest pass rate for NCLEX, falling below 75%. Many believe this will occur again and mean additional threats to nursing accreditation. The program has recently voted to change their grading scale from a 10 point scale to a 7 point scale, in an effort to quickly turn around the NCLEX pass rate for USM graduates. While this might be a stop-gap measure, ultimately what the nursing program needs is adequate resources and faculty stability. Until things change in the Thames administration, there seems to be little hope for that.

14. The enrollment scandal of 200, reporting false enrollment for USM to the IHL board has also negatively affected institutional credibility. The entire process of SACS accreditation rest on the concept of integrity, and our integrity was compromised.

15. The letter from Jay Grimes to Harold Doty not only threatens the business accreditation, but also SACS accreditation, as so well acknowledged by IHL Interim Commissioner Crofts.

Date: Mar 11, 2005

kick up for the new readers...............

Date: Mar 12, 2005

kick the truth

Date: Mar 12, 2005

Sorry about all of the typos, I had a few drinks at dinner last night.

14. The enrollment scandal of 2003, reporting false enrollment for USM to the IHL board has also negatively affected institutional credibility. The entire process of SACS accreditation rest on the concept of integrity, and our integrity was compromised.

Date: Mar 12, 2005

Kick

Date: Mar 12, 2005

But here is the big one. He and IHL ignore shared governance. Punish two tenured faculty members for exposing false credentials of a senior level vice president. The worst of all: Violation of the SACS principle that no institution will be controlled by external parties. The BIDness people are trying to control the university. They engineered the departure of Fleming. This same group. The list of sponsors of the other night's event in support of Thames. Now they are trying to influence the curriculum. THIS IS WHERE THE BIDNESS PEOPLE ARE SEALING THEIR OWN FATE--but, unfortunately, the fate of USM at the same time. SACS has punished other institutions for this exact thing. IHL had better get a handle on this before it is too late. IHL on the other hand is at the root of the whole mess. Propping up their boy Shelby who they worked so hard to get in there in the first place.

Date: Mar 12, 2005

Won't the IHL replace Shelby with a kinder, gentler Shelby, but a Shelby nonetheless? Sure USM will limp on, but it will never be near the same USM it once was not all that long ago. No, it was never going to be a Tier 1, but it was a great place to work. Now it just sucks.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

This list of 15 was compiled by AAUP USM. It is not complete, but lists the most troubling aspects. What is truly frightening to me is that the Thames administration just do not seem to be able to stop doing things that jeopardize our accreditation. AAUP USM continues to here of other possible violations, even as late as Friday last week!

Amy Young

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Amy Young
"This list of 15 was compiled by AAUP USM. It is not complete, but lists the most troubling aspects. What is truly frightening to me is that the Thames administration just do not seem to be able to stop doing things that jeopardize our accreditation. AAUP USM continues to here of other possible violations, even as late as Friday last week! Amy Young"

Amy, I know this list was sent to the IHL Board, but was it also sent to SACS?

Date: Mar 13, 2005

The IHL Board could send Richard Crofts in as an interim president. They're working on replacing him as Commissioner, so he'll be available soon.

He could help USM get through accreditation while the search for a permanent replacement goes on.

Of course, Crofts would be most effective if sent in in May or June of this year. A lame-duck year from Shelby will lead to more damage, even if the Board blocks some of his vengeful schemes.

Robert Campbell

Date: Mar 13, 2005

Not the least of which is another year of faculty exodus. This is a key aspect to the "wait them out" strategy.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"The IHL Board could send Richard Crofts in as an interim president. They're working on replacing him as Commissioner, so he'll be available soon. He could help USM get through accreditation while the search for a permanent replacement goes on. Of course, Crofts would be most effective if sent in in May or June of this year. A lame-duck year from Shelby will lead to more damage, even if the Board blocks some of his vengeful schemes. Robert Campbell "

Robert, this would be a dream come true. Christmas in June, or maybe on July 1 when the new budget year starts. Crofts has been getting a lot of exposure over the pass few months. I always hoped this was the Boards way out of the mess, but I still haven't figured out how to accomplish the "face saving" all will want.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Report
"Robert, this would be a dream come true. Christmas in June, or maybe on July 1 when the new budget year starts. Crofts has been getting a lot of exposure over the pass few months. I always hoped this was the Boards way out of the mess, but I still haven't figured out how to accomplish the "face saving" all will want."

I suggest that Shelby suddenly develop very poor health. Works every time.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

My estimate of Shelby's character is that he won't develop poor health unless ordered to do so.

Let's hope the Board is sick enough of the bad publicity he brings to give him the order.

Robert Campbell

Date: Mar 13, 2005

The list was NOT sent to SACS by me or by anyone that I know.

Amy Young

Date: Mar 13, 2005

I wouldn't get my hopes up about the IHL meeting. In the short run, it would suffice if they don't shoot the messenger (Dr. Crofts). It may take a while for information presented in a competent and low-key manner to sink in. It took AKL, et al from SACs quite a while to get Auburn's board to come to its senses.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reunion
"I wouldn't get my hopes up about the IHL meeting. In the short run, it would suffice if they don't shoot the messenger (Dr. Crofts). It may take a while for information presented in a competent and low-key manner to sink in. It took AKL, et al from SACs quite a while to get Auburn's board to come to its senses."

Are you saying that Dr. Lukas was on the SACs team from Auburn?

Date: Mar 13, 2005

Oops, Lucas. The middle initial "K" got me.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

I've heard that a number of times. The situation at Auburn was really delicate. Who better to deal with this than a old pro that is very hard to dislike. Dr. Crofts strikes me as the same sort. They may not work fast, but they can get rid of the rats without burning the barn down.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

Lucas was on the special committee from SACS that visited Auburn in late september 2004. to see the report issued by the special committee go to this link: http://web6.duc.auburn.edu/administration/specialreports/committeereport110404.pdf

Date: Mar 14, 2005

This may answer your questions about specific SACS violations

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: kick for "Visitor"
"This may answer your questions about specific SACS violations"

I remember seeing a link to the SACS principles, but now I can't find it. I want to check the chapter and verse of the AAUP violation citations above. Can anyone help me? Thanks.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/PrinciplesOfAccreditation.PDF

Amy Young

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Amy Young
"http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/PrinciplesOfAccreditation.PDF Amy Young"

Thanks Amy.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

I am looking over some passages now in answer to your question about specifics -- I'll post what I think applies.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
"I am looking over some passages now in answer to your question about specifics -- I'll post what I think applies."

Thanks Stephen. I doing the same. See my post on the other thread, " What Startred it all..." concerning the lack of search committees for the hiring of upper administrators.