Four weeks into the search for Eastern Michigan University’s next provost, setbacks began to occur delaying President Susan Martin’s goal for an immediate hire.
In an attempt to begin a search committee and hire a candidate by May 27, Martin recently requested the Faculty Senate, the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers, each appoint a representing member to the committee.
Instead, the Faculty Senate voted to postpone appointment of its representative until September 7, 2011. Representatives from both the AAUP and AFT are also pending.
Both groups are arguing the number of faculty members appointed for the spring and summer semesters — 40 percent the number present during winter and fall -– is insufficient for representing the entire staff in the search for a new provost.
“If she’s assuming that all people are the same and that 40 percent can represent everyone, that’s a shame,” Susan Moeller, president of the AAUP, said.
Moeller also said Faculty Senate bylaws — covering hiring faculty, department heads, deans and provosts, as well as other matters such as program changes or cuts — have been violated.
The AAUP filed a step 3 grievance with the Michigan Employment Relations Committee on May 13, which EMU has 15 business days to settle. If the grievance is denied, the AAUP can take it to binding arbitration.
May 18, the AAUP filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) against EMU. According to a letter Moeller sent out to EMU faculty, they believe President Martin has committed an unfair labor practice by unilaterally attempting to impose terms and conditions EMU was not able to negotiate during the 2010 contract negotiations.
“We’re hoping she’ll call off the search because who is going to want to join our university if something like this is happening?” said Moeller, who also claimed the AAUP would drop charges if Martin discontinued the search. “We just want this to be handled quickly.”
Martin has spoken with at least three candidates — the names of which have not been shared — and posted an advertisement on emich.edu. Her biggest concern is the state’s economy intimidating future applicants.
“Everyone that I have spoken with is very well-qualified,” Martin said, “but it’s a tough position to fill. A 15 percent budget cut just went into effect for Michigan; that’s discouraging. But that’s why we have to talk up Eastern. We have new facilities, enrollment is growing, there’s a lot of history…”
Martin decided to hire a new provost by May 27, not long after previous provost and Executive Vice President Jack Kay resigned in April. She told Moeller if she could hire a basketball coach in two weeks, she could hire a provost in the same time.
Four months were spent examining candidates before Kay was chosen in 2009.
“She doesn’t care that the faculty is upset,” said Moeller, who has been employed with EMU since 1990. “It’s too bad because I’ve never heard of this happening at a university.”
As the chief academic officer, a provost is responsible for approving faculty hiring and re-appointments, tenure and promotions. Since the AAUP’s contract and Faculty Senate bylaws grant the right to offer input on provost candidates and the hiring process, they prefer to wait until the fall for a collaboration of ideas. Moeller claimed the president instead requested a Memorandum of Understanding, allowing her to seek faculty input in May, then offered $100 compensation per meeting to faculty representatives who served on the committee. Two other voids in the provost’s office will need to be filled as well as Kay’s.
“We will not make this decision hastily, and will only conclude the process when we have identified the right candidate,” Martin said in a recent letter to staff.
Finalists will be given on-campus interviews and expected to participate in open forum with faculty members. After consulting the Board of Regents, the president will have the final say.
