President Brown responds to The Panther's front page questions
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: News
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1. What were the exact guidelines used for laying off of staff?
Carlton E. Brown: Guidelines for faculty layoffs are described in the Faculty Handbook regarding enrollment emergency. Considerations in the layoff process included professional productivity, academic rank, tenure versus non?tenure status, length of service, and maintenance of academic program integrity. Assessments of faculty productivity were based on criteria as presented in each faculty member's contract and the CAU Faculty Handbook.
We understand that these changes have caused the loss of some respected faculty members and that our students had developed close relationships with many. However, CAU has retained an impressive and robust faculty who are committed to the present and future of this institution.
Staff layoff decisions were made based upon a skills analysis, which was conducted by the administrative leadership of the division or office, and led by the vice president or senior administrator. An ad hoc committee of experienced administrators provided oversight of the process.
2. According to insidehighered.com, Dr. Brown was given a list of 46 alternate options for saving money. Why weren't any of these options used?
CEB: At the end of every group meeting with faculty, staff and students on Thursday, January, 29, we asked all members of the community to communicate any ideas or thoughts to us. The following week, we received from the Faculty Assembly an initial list of some 43 suggestions for cost savings or fund generation that grew to more than 46 by week's end. We met with the leadership of the Faculty Assembly on February 4th for more than one and a half hours specifically to discuss the items on the list.
We had already discussed most of the ideas listed. Only a few of the ideas listed really addressed short term savings. We already knew that salary reductions of five percent across the university would not bring to fruition the savings necessary. We had already conducted a salary study and had reported to the faculty and staff that all of our salary categories were below standard. We had long since received stories from many members of the faculty and staff about the very bad impact of our poor salaries on their lives and families. We knew that we would have to omit many faculty and staff from such a plan to retain their financial viability. Most importantly, no plan for reduction could make a serious dent in our savings need.
