Radford University’s Faculty Senate had its chance to address President Penelope Kyle in a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, and the senators certainly took the opportunity to let their voices be heard.
In what was billed as meeting allowing a discussion, or an exchange, between Kyle and the Faculty Senate, a large portion of the allotted time was used by senators to express their concerns about the administration, specifically the performance of Provost Wil Stanton, who received a no confidence vote from nearly two-thirds of the Faculty Senate nearly three weeks ago.
Kyle had not spoken publicly about the no confidence vote since that time, and by the end of the meeting still had not addressed the issue in terms of solutions. Several faculty members expressed opinions that the provost should be removed but Kyle never showed her hand as to what her next steps might be regarding Stanton.
Kyle opened with a statement in which she said she would continue to serve Radford University and what she called “this special community” to the best of her abilities. She also said that she takes full responsibility for the conduct of RU’s affairs.
“Following the vote taken by this senate on Thursday, Oct. 22, I made a personal pledge to learn all that I could about the issues that compelled you to take one of he most serious and most potent actions that any faculty can undertake,” Kyle said.
One of the first questions asked of Kyle was from Professor of Religious Studies Susan Kwilecki who inquired whether or not Kyle had read all of the documents gathered by the ad hoc committee formed in the spring to investigate the administration. Kyle said she had not read them all. “I had not read them as of a week or so ago,” Kyle said, “but it was impressed upon me that I needed to.”
Kyle was later asked about her managerial relationship and communication with the provost. “That’s a very close relationship,” Kyle said, adding that there is nothing of any importance that she does that is not known by the provost. “He has an open door policy with me; I have an open door policy with him,” Kyle said.
But Kyle said she was not aware of how dire the situation had grown between the faculty and the provost. “I just wish that someone had come to see me,” she said, “that one of you would have called me, would have written me, would have met me out in the parking lot and said, “Do you know what’s going on? Do you know how we feel?’” Kyle said that if she would have known the feelings of faculty, she would have “jumped in with both feet” to try to seek solutions.
Criminal Justice Professor Mary Atwell spoke immediately afterward to remind Kyle of a letter to the Board of Visitors dated April 21 and signed by 65 faculty members outlining numerous academic and curriculum concerns. Atwell did not mention that about that same time, a letter was sent to the BOV from the RU chapter of the American Association of University Professors also expressing concerns.
Kyle indicated that she wished the concerns would have been given directly to her rather than the BOV or anyone else and that she would have taken action if any of the 65 faculty members who signed the letter would have come to her.
English Professor Moira Baker addressed Kyle immediately after those comments and she said that she was appalled, shocked, and offended that Stanton did not stand up for his faculty when former BOV Rector R. J. Kirk—just after the letters were sent to the BOV—indicated that the faculty concerns were only from a few disgruntled faculty members and that the faculty members were on a smear campaign. Kirk was the only Board member whose name was mentioned explicitly and it was mentioned by more than one faculty member at the meeting.
While the meeting certainly allowed faculty members to vent frustrations, nothing occurred in the meeting in the way of solutions. Kyle was asked how she plans to be more involved. “I need to make myself more available,” she said, but then soon after said that because of budget issues she would be “more outward focused than ever before.”
Kyle refused to answer a question about whether Stanton had kept her apprised of various issues seen as concerns by the faculty. She said that got into personnel issues. And when asked why she would keep a failed infrastructure, Kyle responded that she was not making efforts to keep a failed infrastructure but no additional explanation for what her plans might entail was given. No action items were announced at the meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting comes on the eve of the next scheduled BOV meetings, which take place on campus Wednesday and Thursday. The next regularly scheduled Faculty Senate meeting is Nov. 19.
Tim W. Jackson is the Editor of the New River Voice.
22 responses so far ↓
1 Alum // Nov 10, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Yet another instance of PK’s typical ‘hands in the air with a shrug’ saying “I had nooooo idea.”
I have serious doubts that a faculty as loud and vocal as Radford’s “failed to get across the message” that they were upset and felt the administration was not holding up their end of the proverbial bargain.
I am not at all surprised that nothing came of this meeting other than a smidge of venting and the public notification that cannot be denied now that PK knows about the grievances with the provost.
The question is, how long will it take to actually DO something if and or when an itinerary is ever actually created?
2 Alicia Ring // Nov 11, 2009 at 12:06 am
Does anyone plan to attend and record the upcoming BOV meeting? I will be out of town and unable to attend, but I’d be interested to watch any recorded video.
3 Susi // Nov 11, 2009 at 9:23 am
As usual, and with her standard behavioral mannerisms, Miss Penny has skimmed over the issues at hand. In her defense, I am not sure I would want to slander myself in front of “special community” either. It would be just devastating to have to admit that I had done something wrong in front of my employees! I can just hear her now justifying every scapegoat she can find. I think it is time she starts READING the emails, memos, letters, and notes from her staff and “Special Community” Members instead of waiting for someone to approach her in the parking lot.
Everyone is aware of the fact that Stanton is a part of the problem, however, the larger issue is Miss Penny. She can fire all of the administration she would like to, but until she is dismissed from Radford, our University will never recover.
Tim, as usual, you are amazing for being a voice to and for those of us who cannot attend these meetings due to any number of reasons. Thank you so very much… it is truly appreciated.
~Susi N.
4 Red Till Dead // Nov 11, 2009 at 9:52 am
The dumb blonde routine just doesn’t work anymore. The real problem at RU is Kyle. It is time for the faulty to have a VONC on the president. She is at the heart of all of the problems and her continued “I knew nothing about it” makes her one of two things: completely incompetent or a liar. Either one is not good. Kyle needs to go.
5 dazed and confused // Nov 11, 2009 at 10:24 am
PK and the BOV are hoping to stonewall until holiday break whe theings may die down because no one is around. the politics of plausable deniability can only take one so far. When you deny knowing anything about everything what do you have left? I notice she has already laid the groundwork for avoiding everything raining down on her ” said that because of budget issues she would be “more outward focused than ever before.”” yeah rght
6 tired retired // Nov 11, 2009 at 12:33 pm
How can someone who is known as a micromanager claim to be so ignorant of the opinion of her own faculty? A stinging rebuke of her leadership was handed over to her in the academic climate questionaire, which showed something in the neighborhood of a 90% disapproval rating for her leadership. And then she claims not to have read it????
Her response (or failure to respond) shows that she is either totally detached, or even worse, dumber than a brick. Either way, she IS the problem. It is unfair to have Stanton fall on the sword for this woman.
7 Mark // Nov 11, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Very interesting read. Hopefully some of you will speak with the BOV in the parking lot this week. After all, everyone knows where they park. If 100+ faculty confront the BOV in the parking lot, what are they to do but listen.
BTW, when will the fact that enrollment at RU has dropped be made public info?
8 The Man Who Snarls // Nov 11, 2009 at 3:34 pm
PK may as well be a parody of herself at this point. I wonder what she’ll do after she leaves RU… I don’t see her working another uni gig, given her reputation here.
9 tkdoff // Nov 11, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I agree that Kyle is a poor leader. However, I also think that there is a good reason that the faculty want Stanton gone. He is not good at his job. Perhaps he once was a skilled professional who could lead — and was open to learning something or even engaging in a conversation that was not about him or his opinion. If that is the case, this job has changed him. There are so many errors that can be linked directly back to his rash, arrogant decisions. Unfortunately, most people are so scared of him that they take it on their own chin instead of standing up to him. Nice work, Faculty Senate. You investigated the right guy and I hope that you will someday have a strong leader at RU. One who – at least – does not use fits of rage as a management tool. PK is a short-lived (and painful) reality, but WS would stay there until he becomes president if you let him.
10 Voice of Reason // Nov 11, 2009 at 4:34 pm
What a nitwit. Loved the Roanoke paper today. Stories on both the Provost issue and how RU is the only school in VA with a decrease in enrollment. The timing is priceless. Great leadership PK! I am sure the BOV is thrilled… oh wait, they have no idea what is going on. Maybe the answer is that instead of counting on the BOV to read the reports, papers and public opinion, we should simply approach them in the parking lot to let them know. Then they can jump in with both feet and address the situation. Can things really get any worse? What needs to happen for something to happen? You can count on Stanton’s resignation which will mean PK’s third provost in four years! Classic. Imagine the quality of person that will take that position. The sad thing about this entire soap opera is that Stanton has become the focal point of directing our shared angst. While deserved, the core issue remains the person at the top. The Stanton Sacrafice will buy PK more time, inching her closer to her $1 million bonus. Think about that last statement… PK will get a reward of $1 million and for what???? Another issue lost on many is that the 250 plus reduction this year in enrollment is now a four year problem. That $1.5 million in lost revenue this year will carry forward for three more years costing RU over $5 million! Why did this happen?? Because she ran off the admissions staff and then DID NOT replace them! You can’t make this stuff up. The BOV needs to cut their losses, pay the severance and be done with it. RJ can pony up the dough.
11 Rebekah Lewis // Nov 11, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I completely agree with Red Till Dead’s comment. You said it exactly what I was thinking, but much more coherantly.
12 Voice of Reason // Nov 11, 2009 at 6:01 pm
She has become Sargent Shultz from Hogan’s Heroes, “I know Nuthhhinnng.
13 dazed and confused // Nov 11, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Voice of Reason brings up paying severence. The money is at the expense of positions (adjunct and fulltime) that would actually serve the students! I guess RU is finally a business. Reward for non performance.
Let’s see: Norleen continues to collect salary eventhough she is “retiring”(hush mone anyone?), if Wil returns to the classroom he gets 200K to teach (yeah admins that return to the classroom get a hefty chunk of their previous salary, ask Ferrin or Wil since he brought it up recently.) and PK gets her big check and she will probably be residing in Richmond as much as possible to avoid parking lot conversations.
Oh and let’s see their raises this year combined with the loss of student revenue, how many positions are sacrificed to buy RU’s freedom from these “leaders”.
Taxpayers should be made aware of the fiscal irresponsibility at RU and call a stop to the madness of rewarding these fools. Maybe the new governor will look into the appointments of his predecessor.
14 Rowdiered // Nov 11, 2009 at 9:36 pm
tydoff – your last sentence says it all!!! Yes, Virginia, Will wants to be prez and he would throw the Queen under the proverbial bus – both need to go. Norleen took a hit for the Queen, so has WS, and neither saw it coming because they were too busy running interference and providing protection as the leaders stray from their jobs and micro-manage RU. About that parking lot, do you think that anyone would really feel they need to go there? The reports have been available and ready for the reading – does getting hit between the eyes with the obvious really need to take place…apparently so and the oh and ahhh that happened yesterday was quite the show that was expected. BOV – if you are catching this line of reading material, please get a grip and rid RU of the failed leaders who have caused this mess, lest you be part of the offing. It is embarassing, humiliating and takes us far from the reason we are here – to educate students. They are the reason for the bein’ and we have weathered the budget cuts before, the pompous few as well as edestal sitters.
Has anyone developed a list of those who have 1) been hired and fired by the same regime 2) those who were released from duty 3) those who were or have been moved to another position…and generally then released 4) those retiring early 5) positions with turnover several tiems since Kyle began…it is HUGE. Go figure.
15 roudyred // Nov 12, 2009 at 11:20 am
To avoid confusion, the Rowdiered above is not me the one, the only Roudyred. But, my knock-off does make some fine points. Red Till Dead challenges Kyle’s veracity with good reason, and she is a demonstrated managerial incompetent. If shown to be an incompetent liar–wow, what a combination.
16 Rowdiered // Nov 12, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Sorry roudyred, no doubt you are the only…but my guess is that this Rowdiered goes back a bit farther, just had some perceived constraints and technicialities in being able to verablize, but things do change and here we are…your last statement will likely come to pass – the “showing” that is – the demonstration has repeated itself again and again.
17 roudyred // Nov 12, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Been roudy for about five years or more starting with the Roanoke Times.
The report of the BOVmeeting on the RU website was laughable. Not a word about the VONC or the Senate – Kyle meeting. Talk about spinless, uh, uh spineless>
Roudyred
18 Rowdiered // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Been Rowdie since the 80′s. I dream in tartan plaid. BOV report – so what was accomplished? Had the big meeting, talk was good from the faculty senate side…a little ut-oh tell me about it because i can not read from the Kyle side and non-existent on the BOV side today – so, there you have it. Costly meetings and no outcome to deal with the lack of appropriate leadership. No comment would be better than the head bouncing off the shoulder pads going I dunno.
19 Guest Editorial: Destruction of the Academic Community at RU // Nov 17, 2009 at 9:48 pm
[...] Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Faculty Senate met with President Penelope Kyle in an open session that consisted entirely of discussion concerning the Senate’s recent vote of [...]
20 Lynn Adams // Dec 15, 2009 at 9:15 pm
SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE! A non-academician has NO clue how a university is supposed to run. Why did anyone expect anything different? When I left the faculty 3 years ago, the students were calling her “Lottery Girl”. Well that just reeks of respect, doesn’ t it??!! PK needs to go. The entire administration, with RARE exception needs to go. RU’s enrollment is down relative to all other institutions in VA…..gee, did anyone meet Penny in the parking lot and tell her that??
21 Too hard to pass up // Dec 16, 2009 at 1:28 pm
“gee, did anyone meet Penny in the parking lot…”
We tried, but she keeps dodging!
22 tired retired // Dec 17, 2009 at 6:04 pm
BEWARE:
Because of Dr. Scartelli’s weakness, many faculty in his college have twice the teaching loads of much of the rest of the university. Get ready for a 5/5 load if he uses his college as a gauge of appropriate loads.
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