As the Radford University Faculty Senate met Thursday afternoon, already on the agenda was the release of a Faculty Satisfaction Survey (PDF) that took place in late April and early May and the report of an ad hoc committee formed to investigate the RU administration (PDF). But before the meeting’s end, a motion for a vote of no confidence in the academic leadership of Provost Wil Stanton was made and will be discussed at the Faculty Senate’s next meeting in two weeks.

Thursday’s meeting indicated that many faculty are not satisfied with RU’s administration. Taking a look first at the Faculty Satisfaction Survey—which went out to 414 teaching and research faculty members but not to adjunct faculty, administrative and professional faculty, or staff—the results were positive in regard to most issues that did not include the administration. One exception was salaries. In response to the statement “I am satisfied with my pay,” 26 percent responded “very untrue” and 28 percent responded “untrue.”

In issues regarding work environment, health benefits, loyalty to their departments, equipment, facilities, and dedication to their profession, faculty offered mostly positive scores.

But, for instance, in response to the statement “I am happy with the leadership of the university,” 60 percent said “very untrue” and another 17 percent said “untrue.”

For the statement “I don’t hear much complaining from my colleagues about the university,” 69 percent said “very untrue” and another 20 percent said “untrue.”

The statement “I feel the RU administration values my opinion” had 57 percent of respondents to answer “very untrue” and another 20 percent to answer “untrue.”

Faculty were also given the opportunity to provide comments regarding the administration. Of 39 comments about President Penelope Kyle, 37 were negative. Of 26 comments about Stanton, 25 were negative. Of 38 comments about the Board of Visitors, all were negative. Of 66 general comments about the administration, 63 were negative.

Comments about department chairs and the departments themselves were the only categories to receive more positive than negative comments.

One senator, Ed Udd, reminded his colleagues that this survey was one snapshot in time, and that snapshot was nearly six months ago. Udd recommended that his fellow senators should talk to their constituents now to see if feelings remain the same.

This survey was taken prior to Kyle being awarded a raise and bonus over the summer and before the events of this semester with the Office of New Student Programs.

Thursday’s Faculty Senate meeting also offered a report of the Ad Hoc Investigative Committee to the Radford University Faculty Senate Executive Council. The committee was created in the spring semester to investigate “numerous, serious, and credible allegations . . . that certain decisions and actions of members of the Radford University administration are in contravention of the RU Internal Governance Document and the Core Values expressed in the 7-17 plan.”

From early May through early September, the committee met approximately twice
weekly. It examined such issues as the spring semester’s expedited program review, general education and the core curriculum, communication, and the RU 7/17 strategic plan.

In the report’s conclusions, it stated: “The very creation of an Ad Hoc Investigative Committee was an extraordinary action. Faculty are typically reticent to undertake confrontational actions that might be disruptive to the normal operations of the institution. The culture of the academy is to respect people in the workplace and not to interfere with them in the conduct of their jobs. That the perceived need for such a committee was strong enough to overcome this tradition speaks clearly of the unfortunate state of affairs at Radford University. . . .

“Radford University is in the midst of serious and systemic problems, as evidenced by the sheer volume of allegations from many of the University’s most distinguished and respected faculty members. The Committee witnessed the sincere reactions of experienced faculty to their perceptions that policies have been violated and that academic programs have been adversely affected. The sense of disappointment, anger, and betrayal that comes across in these submissions is tangible and alarming. . . .

“The problems noted here are real and important. They do not reflect the views of a few trouble makers or some fringe element of malcontents. They are not the result of a budget crisis. This is not a ‘business as usual’ situation. Finally, while the problems raised in the submissions to the Ad Hoc Investigative Committee probably represent more than the tip of the iceberg, it is clear that they are not the entire iceberg. Failure to recognize the gravity and pervasiveness of the problems that these submissions represent invites the further deterioration of a sense of community at Radford University and will undermine the University’s ability to effectively pursue its mission.”

As the meeting neared its scheduled end time, a motion was put forth by communication professor Dr. Gwen Brown “that the Radford University Faculty Senate vote that we have no confidence in the academic leadership of Dr. Wil Stanton, Provost, that the entire Senate take up the issue directly, without reference to any committee, and that this vote be conducted by secret ballot.”

In Brown’s prepared statement she said, “The sense of discontent, at the very least, and anger and fear, at the very worst, is palpable on campus and is a constant topic of discussion and focus of faculty attention. . . . Failure to address these problems would be an abdication of our responsibility as professionals—to the university, to ourselves, and to every student who has come here for an education.

“And for his part, the Provost must also surely feel the need to have tensions resolved; his work may be affected and his ability to lead the faculty is certainly severely diminished in such an atmosphere. So in fairness to the faculty, the students, and the Provost, we must turn our concerted attention to this issue.”

Brown’s motion will be discussed with the possibility of a full Faculty Senate vote coming at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate.

Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice.