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West Virginia University administrators have now abandoned their proposed changes to how faculty members are evaluated, promoted and terminated, following faculty members’ vote last month in opposition.
The University Assembly, which includes all WVU faculty members, has approximately 2,700 members. Of those, 715 participated in the vote, with 494 voting against a resolution generally supporting the policy changes, and the remaining 221 backing the resolution.
“While disappointed, the university has decided to accept the results of the January Faculty Assembly vote against the revised procedures document,” a WVU spokeswoman said in an email Thursday. “This means the current 2014 procedures document will remain in effect and will continue to guide the faculty promotion, tenure and annual evaluation processes at WVU.”
The faculty members’ opposition vote came even after WVU removed some of the more controversial parts of the proposals.
For example, WVU had nixed a line that would have said faculty members who receive unsatisfactory ratings in two areas in just one year must be recommended for “non-continuation” of employment. The three areas of faculty responsibilities are, generally, teaching, service and research.
Officials also had cut a line that would have said, “Faculty members must engage in behaviors consistent with the university Code of Conduct and university values.”
These values include, “Be an ambassador of WVU and avoid conduct that reflects adversely on the image of the university” and “Respect the decisions that have been made in the best interest of the university.” Some on campus worried linking these to tenure and promotion risked academic freedom.
Scott Crichlow, a WVU associate professor of political science, said Provost Maryanne Reed announced the step back at a Monday Faculty Senate meeting.
“That was a surprise,’ he said.
“She used the word ‘disappointed’ in us, repeatedly—it was really weird,” he said.
