President Brown responds to The Panther's front page questions
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: News
Many other ideas presented are clearly worthwhile. Several of these we are already exploring - utility cost reduction, energy conservation, etc. We had already decided to postpone the President's Inauguration and Installation Ceremony, which was scheduled for this Spring. Most other ideas are long term and worthy of pursuit. We have discussed in many of our meetings the involvement of several groups of our students in recruitment activity. We are having fruitful conversations with several units concerning their capacities for fundraising.
3. Why were we told in both town hall meetings that department chairs were involved in the laying off process?
CEB: Department Chairs were involved in the assessments of faculty productivity; recommendations for layoffs were presented by the Deans to the Office of the Provost for recommendation to the President, who recommended layoffs to the Board of Trustees. In select cases, coordination between Deans and Department Chairs was part of the process for identifying faculty for potential layoff.
4. Why were we told that student evaluations were one of the items used as a deciding factor for who stayed and who was let go?
CEB: Students were told that student evaluations were one of the items used as a deciding factor in the workforce reduction process because it was true. Student Course Evaluations were specifically identified as one of the major source documents for assessing faculty productivity.
5. Why weren't students allowed to play a more active role in who stayed and who left?
CEB: Faculty layoffs are personnel matters that must be addressed in accordance with the CAU Faculty Handbook. Therefore, we cannot include students as part of the process when making personnel decisions. However, we did use student evaluations as a means of giving consideration to students' opinions and input on decisions made regarding faculty.
6. Why were we told that all adjuncts were let go but one was teaching my class yesterday?
3. Why were we told in both town hall meetings that department chairs were involved in the laying off process?
CEB: Department Chairs were involved in the assessments of faculty productivity; recommendations for layoffs were presented by the Deans to the Office of the Provost for recommendation to the President, who recommended layoffs to the Board of Trustees. In select cases, coordination between Deans and Department Chairs was part of the process for identifying faculty for potential layoff.
4. Why were we told that student evaluations were one of the items used as a deciding factor for who stayed and who was let go?
CEB: Students were told that student evaluations were one of the items used as a deciding factor in the workforce reduction process because it was true. Student Course Evaluations were specifically identified as one of the major source documents for assessing faculty productivity.
5. Why weren't students allowed to play a more active role in who stayed and who left?
CEB: Faculty layoffs are personnel matters that must be addressed in accordance with the CAU Faculty Handbook. Therefore, we cannot include students as part of the process when making personnel decisions. However, we did use student evaluations as a means of giving consideration to students' opinions and input on decisions made regarding faculty.
6. Why were we told that all adjuncts were let go but one was teaching my class yesterday?
