D’Arcy writes:
Hi folks,
This news story in this morning’s StarPhoenix should raise concerns on many levels:
“Arbitrator rules against tenure veto power” by Jason Warwick
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/saskatoon/Arbitrator+rules+against+tenure+veto+power/9905370/story.html (INSERT: The text is copied below in case the link becomes inactive.)
The recommendation to veto the granting of tenure to a U of S professor was made by former president Peter MacKinnon to the Board of Governors at the end of 2011. The decision to grant the President veto power over tenure was made by the Board at a closed-door meeting (they ALL are) in 2012. Then in March 2014, a ruling on the matter by an outside arbitrator was received by the Board – before the Buckingham fiasco even broke (we think). Now Board chair Susan Milburn said the Board will need a couple of months to decide whether or not to appeal the ruling. She says they need to consult with the University stakeholders (it will be interesting to see who they believe those to be!).
D’Arcy Hande
Saskatoon
CANADA
Mahatma Ghandi once wrote that there are seven sins in the world: wealth without work; pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character; commerce without morality; science without humanity; worship without sacrifice; and politics without principle.
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TEXT OF ARTICLE:
Arbitrator rules against tenure veto power
University considering appeal
By Jason Warick, The Starphoenix June 4, 2014 1:01 PM
Susan Milburn, chair of the University of Saskatchewan board of governors
Photograph by: Greg Pender, The Starphoenix
An arbitrator chastised the University of Saskatchewan for allowing its president to veto tenure appointments after a sociology professor’s nomination was rejected.
It was wrong for the president to act as “gatekeeper” in the case of sociology professor Despina Iliopoulou and overrule the unanimous decision of the tenure committee, stated the March 23 decision by arbitrator Andrew Sims.
This violation of academic freedom is harming the university’s reputation and must be fixed immediately, says University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association (USFA) senior professional development officer Jim Cheesman.
The case could set a precedent for the way Canadian universities operate, he said.
“Tenure is an essential pillar of a university. This is absolutely critical.”
Board of governors chair Susan Milburn said the university will need a couple of months to decide on a possible appeal. In the meantime, the veto power will remain.
“We need to hear from our stakeholders,” Milburn said.
Cheesman and Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) executive director Jim Turk said the university’s reputation is being damaged more with each passing week as it disputes the decision.
“This is very harmful to academic freedom. The decision should be respected,” Cheesman said.
The U of S was enveloped in controversy after the head of its School of Public Health, Robert Buckingham, was fired and escorted off campus for speaking out against various reforms. The events led to the ouster of provost Brett Fairbairn and president Ilene Busch-Vishniac.
Other staff and faculty also said Buckingham himself terminated those who spoke out.
Amid these controversies, the USFA expressed alarm that the U of S board of governors may have granted the president veto power over tenure during a closed 2012 meeting.
Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris expressed concern about the veto issue and said his ministry is investigating.
“Is it of concern? The answer is yes, it is. We’re doing our own internal review at the ministry and certainly this will be part of an ongoing dialogue with the board,” Norris told reporters last month.
Cheesman said the tenure decisions of collegial bodies should not be “intercepted” by the president or other administrators. The USFA took on the case on behalf of Iliopoulou, who is no longer working at the U of S. She declined to comment when reached Sunday.
Turk said professors from across Canada are watching events at the U of S closely.
“You have a heavy-handed administration at the U of S. It’s disappointing the administration and board don’t respect the process,” Turk said.
Turk called on Milburn and interim U of S president Gordon Barnhart to act decisively and restore the university’s reputation. According to Sims’ decision, the U of S renewals and tenure appeal committee unanimously recommended Iliopoulou for tenure, meaning she would be made a permanent professor.
Then-president Peter MacKinnon made a presentation to the board arguing that the president could veto tenure appointments made by the collegial body. The board agreed and rejected Iliopoulou. Her salary and benefits were terminated Dec. 9, 2011.
Sims said both MacKinnon and the board were incorrect.