After months (some would suggest years) of turmoil at Radford University, two members of the Radford University Board of Visitors today decided to speak out with an editorial in The Roanoke Times.
The BOV could have requested to meet face-to-face with disgruntled faculty and staff last week at its quarterly meeting rather than being segregated from rank and file faculty and staff as usual. Individual members could be doing some work on their own to see what the true problems are at RU. But rather than rolling up their shirt sleeves and doing some work to find out what’s going on, Board members instead found it best to write an editorial that proves what former Board member Bob Blake said, they don’t have a damn clue what’s going on.
Rector Thomas Fraim and Vice Rector Nancy Artis penned the editorial that seems to express that the anger and mistrust felt at RU is much ado about nothing. The editorial concentrates on the Expedited Academic Program Review, which certainly was a questionable move on the part of the administration, but Fraim and Artis fail to pay attention to the process of that review or any other of the ongoing complaints that led to the Faculty Senate creating a committee to investigate the administration.
Blake paints a picture of a Board content to be led primarily by President Penelope Kyle and Board member and billionaire R. J. Kirk. This development seems to violate SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) guidelines, which says in section 2.2 of its Principles of Accreditation that, “The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from it.”
SACS also states, “The board is adequately informed about the operations of the institution to carry out its fiduciary responsibility.” But Blake says there is no transparency in the administration and the Board knows little of what is truly happening. Blake said the Board has given up its right to review salary increases and simply accepts the recommendations of the administration. He says major budgetary issues are reduced to slideshows that gives little information. And as confirmed last week at the BOV meeting, Board members receive a huge packet of information on the day of the meeting, so they essentially have no time to review the information in advance.
SACS states, “Effective governance includes clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the governing board, administration, and faculty and that each of these groups adheres to their appropriate roles and responsibilities.” But Blake said that that the Board continues to give away more of its appropriate roles and responsibilities to the administration, such as thoroughly reviewing individual salary increases.
So the problems at RU are not just about the Academic Program Review process, and in fact, most faculty, staff, and students would most likely see that as one small manifestation of much larger issues involving aforementioned SACS guidelines, internal governance, administrative integrity and transparency, and other factors.
And even in regard to the Academic Program Review, Fraim and Artis say, “We admit to being a bit perplexed by the controversy that this review process has aroused.”
Possibly it’s because the Board hasn’t made an effort to talk to the faculty involved in the process. It is not a program review in and of itself that drew the ire of faculty, but instead as Inside Higher Education recently points out about the RU situation, the process drew “complaints from faculty about the short timeline and the metrics used for evaluation.”
The Board at its meeting last week also received a letter from the RU chapter of American Association of University Professors that outlined many concerns about the process, not the review itself. So how can the Board be perplexed at the complaints, which seem pretty clear-cut?
The Board also received a letter signed by 65 faculty members that said, “We realize that constant critical assessment of the curriculum and revisions of programs predicated on this meticulous work are essential to the vitality of any university.” So hey, everyone is in agreement on that point, which was the only point really made in the editorial by Fraim and Artis.
But that letter points out what faculty members see as clear violations of internal governance policy. Did the Board simply not read these letters? Do members only absorb what is offered in PowerPoint presentations at meetings? How could the BOV be perplexed?
And word comes this week that the BOV is again pushing forward to get Kyle her million dollar annuity, which will come from the RU Foundation. A source close to the Foundation said that fund raisers have been soliciting unrestricted money instead of restricted money for scholarships. The annuity has to come from unrestricted money.
So rather than truly addressing the serious issues at hand on the RU campus, the BOV fiddles while RU burns.
Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice.
10 responses so far ↓
1 ?everything // Apr 30, 2009 at 9:59 am
I’ve read a lot of stuff concerning the problems at RU. It seems that some people think it’s just growing pains and a fear of change. I don’t think anyone has a problem with Radford University growing and evolving to meet the needs of the future. I think the heart of the problem is that Penny Kyle, Wil Stanton, and RJ Kirk are running the show with reckless abandon!
What university has a president with little to no higher education experience? What kind of university employs a provost who has a record of double speak, word-twisting, and outright lies? What type of university has a member of the board that has so little respect and honor for his position that he would show up to a board meeting in a turkey hunting outfit? I can answer that one: Radford University!
2 Roudy Red // Apr 30, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Thank goodness that the Radford University Board of Rectors has started a dialogue about the controversial, often idiotic, and sometimes, at their core, illegal actions of the RU administration. One can only hope that as the facts are yet again presented–this time in a public discussion, thank you–that the RUBOV will 1) pay attention to and act upon the facts and 2) make the corrections needed to redirect or turn out this administration that has so damaged a fine university.
The letter from the Rector and Vice Rector today is a stunning demonstration of their failure to understand what they are purported to oversee. This is not all their fault, although they have clearly done the Pontius Pilate thing per most of their duties and responsibilities to Radford University. Since K&K took over RU, the RUBOV receives hundreds or pages of complex information, vital background and programmatic recommendations, from the RU administration at the last minute, before board meetings. Even the traditional two weeks would be insufficient! However, even more damaging to the contention that the RUBOV oversees what it does not understand is the FACT that they are given erroneous information and very poor recommendations. I won’t call that data or the recommendations grand-glorious flights of fantasy and lies, yet. However, what the RUBOV receives are at best unsubstantiated whims of the rich, musings of the uninformed, and misconceptions by administrators of the real nature and mission of university education. What an awful stew is brewing for the students and faculty of Radford University
Now, Mr. Fraim and Ms. Artis what information and recommendations could this be? I promise that you will learn the gory detail from students and faculty as the investigation by the RU Senate and this discussion you have invited unfold. For now, let’s just name a few examples that you continue to call out making your failure as the “leaders” of the RUBOV even more evident.
-As said investigation and public discussion will show, the anthropology program was cut without warning or discussion. The Geography programs suffered a similar fate. Although the methods of summary execution were different, the process of expunging the cultural aspects and much of the science from anthropology and geography seem to be the aim. HELLO, without full cultural and scientific context, watered down forensic anthropology and geography, centered solely on the technical execution of data collection and analysis, leaves programs that are a job for our fine technical schools, i.e. producing technicians. RU programs were producing full-fledged scientists that would have needed such technicians on their staffs. Did you know that the Smithsonian Institution alone needs literally hundreds and hundreds of anthropologists and new curators? Do you have any idea how critically important geography in all its facets is to solving problems of global change? Well, you wouldn’t, would? You have the insular concepts and words of K&K and the provost to guide you. Would you believe that physics, biology, and chemistry, among others in this time of emphasis on STEM education are probably still on the block? Maybe, the RUBOV and RU administration didn’t catch President Obama on FOX News this week.
-Then there’s the poor li’l ole Appalachian Studies Graduate Certificate Program that you and others continue to pick on without mercy. Do you know how many certificate programs there are at RU? I bet not. Do you have any concept of why certificate programs are important? I bet not. This one, started up in summer 2005, actually has achieved a remarkable record of growth as certificate programs go, but you wouldn’t know that–misused and a misrepresented whipping boys are so very convenient for tyrants. Why do so many good deeds or creative initiatives go unpunished at RU? This growing certificate program, that serves to help the region in so many ways, and allows teachers to maintain their teaching certificates, incurs no cost to the university, it only does good and generates tuition.
-The RU Administration with the rubber stamp of the RUBOV has violated external and internal governance regulations and guidelines. No doubt you have all, at least, considered engaging your lawyers? Wonder who K&K would look to?
All this and so much more will be exposed to show you the error of your ways and how you will feel the heat. As an example of the pleasantries to come, have a glance at this link to today’s “Inside Higher ED”, a national education publication: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/30/programs. Why do you suppose Provost Stanton wouldn’t do an interview for this publication? Might you guess at long last that perhaps, he isn’t quite the cock of the walk he portrays when strutting his “stuff” to the RUBOV?
I sure hope IHE and all of you will continue to look under this tent some more–hold your nose! What you will find is a stinking microcosm of what appears to be happening elsewhere.
Roudy Red
3 Screw it, I give up // Apr 30, 2009 at 9:53 pm
The editorial in the RT sounded for the most part like a regurgitation of what the administration has been saying. This makes perfect sense because of the lack of motivation on their part to do any serious independent inquiry of the matter.
I worry that once school lets out for the summer all of these issues will be placed on the backburner, particularly by students, and the administration will get the peace and quiet it wants. Hopefully interest in this issue won’t evaporate.
4 Grumbling at RU // May 1, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Yes, that is exactly what’s going to happen. While everyone’s sleeping this summer, this admin will run wild. I think you can bank on that.
5 Kathryn Welch // May 2, 2009 at 2:22 pm
It is amazing to me that Penelope Kyle and cohorts don’t have the foggiest notion what it takes to have expertise in subject matter, or have a faculty with such. It’s as if they are saying:
Take one chemist.
Add one biologist.
And voila! You have a biochemistry department.
6 The Man Who Snarls // May 2, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Penny Kyle looks like a piranha.
At this point, that’s about the nicest and most helpful comment I can offer. The point about the summer being the death blow to this rebellion is probably right. They’re biding their time, those evil admins…
I can’t decide what animal Wil Stanton looks like. I know that when he’s angry he reminds me of a honey badger, but that’s not good enough. I need something on par with the piranha comparison.
Because she really, really looks like a piranha.
7 Just another student // May 2, 2009 at 3:03 pm
They’re counting on a summer break, yes. But not everyone is graduating. They can’t drive every faculty member into early retirement. And this “blogging” phenomenon that “perplexes” them so is a way for students and alumni to be connected like never before.
Momentum will be lost, yes. But if admins are hoping for hearts and flowers come September, they’re in for a surprise. Remember the old bit about how “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”? In an internet age, Kyle & Co. are about to discover that’s never been more true.
8 joey // Jun 12, 2009 at 7:01 am
Here we go….let’s give her a $1m raise while everyone is away! Pathetic. Just wait until the fall when the enrollment numbers come in, then we will see the real cost of her administration.
9 Bill // Jun 13, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Joey…Wait until you read Kyle’s contract which you can read on the recent Roanoke Times article on her contract. Under Item 7. Deferred Compensation. “Each fiscal year the BOV may at its discretion make a contribution under the deferred compensation program. The amount of such contribution shall in no event exceed one-third of the President’s Base Salary for such fiscal year. The contribution for each fiscal year shall be made on or before the last day of such fiscal year.” So, This means Kyle could conceivably receive an additional 100k per year bonus over an above her “Stay Bonus” of 200k annually.
In addition, the BOV has agreed to provide a recent model automobile through June 30, 2009. Beginning July 1, 2009, and for the remainder of the Term of the Agreement, the University shall pay Ms. Kyle an automobile allowance of $1500 per month from Other Funds. Ms. Kyle shall not be entitled to mileage or other reimbursement for the use of her personal car.
The Foundation has agreed, either directly or through reimbursement to the President, to provide for maintenance of the vehicle, including registration, insurance, repair, and other operating costs, including the cost of fuel and cleaning. So, I ask, What does the $1500 cover, or are we to assume she will bear the costs after July 1, 2009.
A Petition is being circulated State-wide for the adoption of a Law placing caps on Executive Pay Derived From Donated Funds. I ask that you file a letter of support for a BILL to Sen. John S. Edwards, PO box 1179, Roanoke, va. 24006-1179.
Your support will be appreciated by all concerned citizens of
10 Voicemail: Kyle’s Golden Parachute // Jun 14, 2009 at 9:34 am
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