Loyola’s administration may face censure in June for not observing principles of academic freedom and tenure following Hurricane Katrina.
Accusations are based on the investigative findings of an American Association of University Professors special committee investigating the hurricane’s effect on New Orleans-area universities.
In a confidential draft report, the committee criticized University President the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., and the upper administrative staff for the terminations of 17 professors and various program cuts in – all parts of the “Pathways” program.
For faculty terminations and discontinuance of programs, the administration is accused of evading standard process of faculty counsel and participation in the process. The report published standard procedure from the school handbook stating the important roles of the Faculty Senate and the Standing Council for Academic Planning, both of which were neglected in the process, critics of the plan say.
“We threw away hundreds of students. We violated their trusts and their belief in us. They came to get a degree and all of a sudden their programs are cut. Why? Its not clear,” said Lynn Koplitz, chemistry professor.
Koplitz, also the vice president of the Loyola AAUP chapter, explained how the damages from Katrina could have been covered by the university’s $325 million endowment. Other universities affected by the hurricane sustained much more damage and have used endowment money for repairs.
The “Pathways” program is reported to save the university approximately $1.5 million annually, however, chemistry professor Thomas Spence said these reports do not take enrollment drops into account. Spence said that other measures could have been more effective.
For the issuance of an AAUP censure, the special committee submits its report to a higher “Committee A” for further deliberation. If Committee A agrees with the special committee’s analysis, then a vote for censure will follow during the annual AAUP convention in June.
“There seems to be no doubt that it’s going to happen … unless the administration actually tries to address the harm that was caused,” Koplitz said.
Serious repercussions can result from an AAUP censure. The undergraduate honors society, Phi Beta Kappa, refuses chapter establishment in censured universities for 10 years. Sanctions will restrict grants and memberships to the nearly 200 various academic, scientific and professional societies and associations that signed the AAUP charter.
Censure also deters quality professors – detracting from the school’s reputation and appeal to new students, Koplitz said.
Koplitz said the administration could avoid censure if it offered positions to the terminated faculty, including appropriate severances.
Assistant Provost John Cornwell, speaking on Wildes’ behalf, said it was premature to disclose information about the president’s reply. He said the President is taking the issue seriously and will respect the intended confidentiality of the report by exclusively responding to the AAUP.
Steve Heath can be reached at [email protected].
