From The Akron-AAUP Newsletter, November 18, 2015

On November 5, 2015, the administration emailed the campus community an update on the report from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC, the accreditors) on shared governance at UA.

The administration’s email began on an upbeat note: “I am pleased to report that on October 29th, the Higher Learning Commission notified the University that it ‘…concurred with the evaluation findings and affirmed that the institution is addressing the concerns related to (a) relationship and roles of faculty in shared institutional governance and (b) assessment of student learning in general education and in undergraduate and graduate majors.’”

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The University of Akron Board of Trustees has approved a budget that includes no faculty layoffs and $10.4 million in funds for strategic re-investment, along with repeated references to preserving the “academic core” of UA.  But to be clear: while faculty have not been officially laid-off, we have endured a slow and steady decline of more than 20% (in terms of student-faculty ratio) by attrition in the last five years. For an institution that aspires to be a “great university,” this is unacceptable and entirely counter-productive.

In 1999, there was 1 faculty member for every 19 students. Last year, even before the departures of at least fifty full-time faculty members who have retired or resigned since spring of 2015, this ratio was 1 for more than every 23 students. If we had the same student-faculty ratio last year as we had in 1999, UA would have had 190 more FT faculty.  These additional faculty would  have taught more and smaller classes, mentored more students, provided the service and committee work that keeps the university functioning, produced more research and creative endeavors, and attracted more external funding – in other words, improved student success and UA’s academic standing and reputation well beyond NE Ohio.

The $10.4 million strategic re-investment fund is an opportunity to rebuild our academic core–the one element of a great university that is essential. The Akron-AAUP proposes the following for the $10.4 million that the Board has clearly demonstrated exists for investment. Continue reading →

As The University of Akron makes widespread budget cuts, it is important to ask where the money saved will be spent.  Given the university’s tight finances, it is of course necessary to make the best use of our money.  But developments this summer suggest that the administration is pursuing expensive gimmicks at the cost of policies that will advance our educational mission.

In an effort to reduce expenditures, on July 27 the administration, after weeks of rumors and extreme anxiety, eliminated over 200 staff positions, including laying off current employees.

In addition, the administration effectively shuttered EJ Thomas Hall for the performing arts, although after ten days of strenuous community objection it announced that it would honor its commitment to this year’s already-booked events after all. It let go all the staff of the University of Akron Press with its esteemed poetry series and books on Ohio’s history and culture. Despite assertions that the Press isn’t closing but will simply move to the library, it is very hard to see how it can function without staff, especially as the library too lost staff positions on July 27 )https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/07/31/university-akron-says-it-hasnt-eliminated-its-university-press-has-eliminated-all).  And the administration attempted to impose a $50-per-credit fee on all upper-level courses–rescinded only after serious push-back from students, state legislators, and the Ohio Board of Higher Education (Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 28).

One could imagine from all this that the university is down to its last dime.  And yet the budget has in it $10.4 million a year of new money for the president’s “priorities.”  Curiously, this amount is roughly equal to the annual salary and benefits of the staff members let go on July 27.  So what are these priorities? Continue reading →

You have undoubtedly heard or read about a lot of changes that are occurring at The University of Akron. We want to assure you that your paths to a good, marketable degree are secure. No academic programs have been eliminated, and indeed, departments are continuing to propose new courses and programs of study to best meet the changing needs of our students. Our ability to provide you with a high quality education leading to a degree and opportunities for employment has not been diminished.

It has long been the Akron-AAUP’s position that it is the faculty and our staff colleagues who make lifetime commitments to the University. That remains our position today.  But it is also true that there is one group whose loyalty to the University matters even more—that, of course, is you, the students of The University of Akron, without whom there would simply be no reason for the university to exist.

We want to assure you, with all earnestness, that you can remain confident in The University of Akron’s ability to provide you with a high quality education. Your degree programs are intact. You can still feel comfortable recommending The University of Akron to your friends who may be considering the pursuit of a degree. As summer draws to a close your faculty are preparing for the new school year.  We remain, as ever, committed without reservation or hesitation to providing you with the best opportunities for learning, preparation for careers, and the many possibilities for personal development that only a higher education can provide.

President Scarborough and the Board of Trustees have announced their intention to make The University of Akron “a great public institution.” It’s a noble goal, and one worth pursuing. Your faculty believe that it’s the relationship between teacher and student in the classroom that is the true and the key source of the greatness of any educational institution, and to that end we invite, and look forward to welcoming you back to The University of Akron for the coming year.