Message board comments - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 9, 2005

RE: RE: Message board comments

Date: May 9, 2005

Most universities have an established, orderly, and published procedure for handling matters such as termination of tenured faculty. Evidently your university does not have one or it chose to ignore it. It appears to me that the powers that be preferred to stage a circus. Violations of due process and common sense seemed to be rampant. Had proper procedures been followed the entire matter would have been laid to rest at a much earlier stage. Or maybe there wasn't a "much earlier stage." As it stands now, however, the entire university seems to be in a chronic state of unrest.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Nanette
"Most universities have an established, orderly, and published procedure for handling matters such as termination of tenured faculty. Evidently your university does not have one or it chose to ignore it. It appears to me that the powers that be preferred to stage a circus. Violations of due process and common sense seemed to be rampant. Had proper procedures been followed the entire matter would have been laid to rest at a much earlier stage. Or maybe there wasn't a "much earlier stage." As it stands now, however, the entire university seems to be in a chronic state of unrest. "

This is one of the best posts on this matter.

Date: May 9, 2005

Nanette,

We did indeed have a policy in place for Post Tenure Review which could lead to termination. In addition, out contracts list reasons any faculty member could be dismissed. I was on Faculty Senate when the Post Tenure Review process (the triggers which would lead to review were passed by FS and approved up the chain of command including the then President. Sorry, but I can't recall who was the FS president then (I served six years).

SFT and gang tend to ignore established policies and make up their own as they go along. Decisions the current administration make are often/usually (?) made as knee jerk reactions. I understand that it is difficult for those outside of USM to understand what has and is happening here. This is a hard working and very caring faculty who have had had to put up with a lot of stress since SFT came to power May 2002.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Really Disgusted
This is a hard working and very caring faculty who have had had to put up with a lot of stress since SFT came to power May 2002. "

Stress is not the only thing usm faculty have had to put up with since 2002

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Really Disgusted
"Nanette, We did indeed have a policy in place for Post Tenure Review which could lead to termination. In addition, out contracts list reasons any faculty member could be dismissed. I was on Faculty Senate when the Post Tenure Review process (the triggers which would lead to review were passed by FS and approved up the chain of command including the then President. Sorry, but I can't recall who was the FS president then (I served six years). SFT and gang tend to ignore established policies and make up their own as they go along. Decisions the current administration make are often/usually (?) made as knee jerk reactions. I understand that it is difficult for those outside of USM to understand what has and is happening here. This is a hard working and very caring faculty who have had had to put up with a lot of stress since SFT came to power May 2002. "

I'm familiar with the USM contracts. That's where I learned how to spell "contumacious."

The fact that tenured faculty members are asked to sign an annual contract with a specified termination date leads me to believe that the concept of tenure is virtually meaningless at USM.

USM's problems may have been greatly exacerbated by but did not begin with the current administration.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Nanette
"
I'm familiar with the USM contracts. That's where I learned how to spell "contumacious."
The fact that tenured faculty members are asked to sign an annual contract with a specified termination date leads me to believe that the concept of tenure is virtually meaningless at USM.
USM's problems may have been greatly exacerbated by but did not begin with the current administration. "

My understanding always was that the dates on the contract indicated when you were to be at work for the school year and that the contract locked in your yearly salary. It had nothing to do with the termination of tenure track professors. Even non-tenured professors who are given poor reviews have to be notified by a certain date or they are assured of a contract for the subsequent year.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Old timer #3
"
Even non-tenured professors who are given poor reviews have to be notified by a certain date or they are assured of a contract for the subsequent year. "

Isn't this THE issue (or one of THE issues) in the Whiting case?

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Old timer #3
" My understanding always was that the dates on the contract indicated when you were to be at work for the school year and that the contract locked in your yearly salary."

A simple letter from an appropriate university authority will suffice when it comes to salary notification. An annual contract is not necessary for tenured faculty members. AY or CY should be specified. That about covers it. I've unaware of any other school that does it like USM. But I guess Mr. Klumb and the others know what they are doing.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Old timer #3

Even non-tenured professors who are given poor reviews have to be notified by a certain date or they are assured of a contract for the subsequent year. "

I've never heard of a university giving less than a years notice when a faculty member is to be terminated. That applies even when the termination is for cause. But I guess not at USM. Don't the AAUP guidelines for employment address that issue? No, I didn't forget that USM does not formally incorporate AAUP guidelines into its practices.

Date: May 9, 2005

I've unaware of any other school that does it like USM. But I guess Mr. Klumb and the others know what they are doing.

Nanette, Mr. Klumb and most of the others have no academic experience. Mr. Klumb in particular inherited his family business and was appointed to the board by a Governor who also had no academic experience. He wanted to be on the Fish and Game Board I believe but that was a really sought after position so he ended up with IHL.
What Mr. Klumb and his friends bring to academics is a unique experience in running a University. It was an opportunity to try new ideas, get even with other schools in the State for having a better football team, and in general mess the school up so badly that no one would be able to fix it for years, maybe even reduce it to a Junior College or convince the Republican party that it would make an idea place tp turn into a trade school to educate a work force that Mississippi could be proud of. Something to do with Polymer Science paint sales I believe. Dr. Thames has developed a lovely beige paint that doesn't smell. Well that is the main reason that what is happening at USM is not making a lot of sense to you. Everyone here is trying to make sense of it also but no luck so far. I am enjoying your post. Thank you for bringing some news of what the outside world is doing. Wish I was there.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: disgusted student
"Nanette, Mr. Klumb and most of the others have no academic experience. Mr. Klumb in particular inherited his family business and was appointed to the board by a Governor who also had no academic experience. He wanted to be on the Fish and Game Board I believe but that was a really sought after position so he ended up with IHL. What Mr. Klumb and his friends bring to academics is a unique experience in running a University. It was an opportunity to try new ideas, get even with other schools in the State for having a better football team, and in general mess the school up so badly that no one would be able to fix it for years, maybe even reduce it to a Junior College or convince the Republican party that it would make an idea place tp turn into a trade school to educate a work force that Mississippi could be proud of. Something to do with Polymer Science paint sales I believe. Dr. Thames has developed a lovely beige paint that doesn't smell. Well that is the main reason that what is happening at USM is not making a lot of sense to you. Everyone here is trying to make sense of it also but no luck so far. I am enjoying your post. Thank you for bringing some news of what the outside world is doing. Wish I was there. "

disgusted student, you seem to be a good kid and I'd give your posts a grade of "A." I hope you will post early and post often. However, you simply must learn to distinguish sarcasm from seriousness in the posts of others (such as mine). I saw you misinterpet humor for seriousness on another thread. Regarding your comment about the outside world, I can say for sure that the outside world of academics ain't like it is currently at USM.

Date: May 9, 2005

Nanette, thank you for you comments. Actually I did see sarcasm in your post (not sure about the other - life is grim here.) It was just a good opportunity to throw in some sarcasm of my own - hope you didn't mind.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: disgusted student
"Nanette, thank you for you comments. Actually I did see sarcasm in your post (not sure about the other - life is grim here.) It was just a good opportunity to throw in some sarcasm of my own - hope you didn't mind. "

disgusted student, I know you have a sense of humor and a well developed ability to use sarcasm when appropriate, because your PASSWORD submissions are great!

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: JoJo
"I beleive the only "dumb ass" is the one who believes the only information recieved by the two professors was public info. Why do you think they settledthe litigation? How deep is the sand on campus. You need to get your head out so you can get some oxygen."

JoJo,

If you are spending time on this board promoting FUD, at least try to be original.

Clearly you have not listened to the broadcast of the hearing from April 28, 2004--or you have chosen to disregard most of what you heard.

Robert Campbell

Date: May 9, 2005

RC, this poster doesn't listen, doesnt' want to hear anything we have to say and doesn't care. Has a personal axe to grind and is using us to do so. He is not reasonable nor fair-minded at all. I tried to engage with him, but have given it up. Lost cause.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: JoJo
"I beleive the only "dumb ass" is the one who believes the only information recieved by the two professors was public info. Why do you think they settledthe litigation? How deep is the sand on campus. You need to get your head out so you can get some oxygen."

JoJo, posting opinions on this board in the absence of facts is like going to class without reading your assignment: it can embarrass the student and it wastes the professors time.

Date: May 10, 2005

LVN,

After catching up with more of JoJo's inanities, I agree with Angeline's hypothesis (on another thread) that JoJo = Online Prof = Albert = a whole bunch more.

SFT doesn't even know how to recruit more trolls.

Robert Campbell

Date: May 10, 2005

The refusal to actually engage with a question is the same in all those cases and the tone of the responses is very similar.