[Vision2020] Faculty Union Responds to ISU Crisis

[nickgier at roadrunner.com]

IFT RESPONSE TO ABOLITION OF ISU FACULTY SENATE

The Executive Council of Idaho Federation of Teachers, AFT/AFL-CIO met via e-mail over the Presidents’ Holiday and voted to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the abolition of the Faculty Senate at Idaho State University. In solidarity we call on all of Idaho’s faculty senates to do the same.

For decades Idaho’s faculty have had an essential role in the governance of their institutions.  In 1889 the founders of the State of Idaho gave the “immediate government of the University of Idaho to the faculty.” Starting in the late 1960s faculty senates were established on all of Idaho’s campuses, including the new College of Western Idaho.  Under the principle of “shared governance” these senates vote on curricular and personnel matters and advise on budget issues.  For over 40 years administrators and faculty have worked constructively together, not only in Idaho but all across the nation.

The ISU faculty senate has always operated according to its by-laws and has not exceeded its authority in any way.  A recent faculty appeal board decision in the Sadid case and the recent no confidence votes were held according to procedures approved by the State Board of Education. 
Board policy states: “The faculty of each institution will establish written by-laws, a constitution, and necessary procedures, subject to the approval by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board, for making recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer as a part of the decision-making process of the institution.” 
http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/policies/documents/policies/iii/iii_c_institutional_governance_04-02.pdf

It is a distortion of fact to claim that the ISU faculty senate reneged on its decision to enter into mediation with the Vailas administration.  Incredibly, the senators were not privy to the terms of the mediation agreement, and therefore believed that they had no recourse except to proceed, once again, with the no confidence vote.  

The February 12 vote was extraordinary, both in terms of the eligible faculty voting (76.3%) and the number voting no confidence in President Vailas (79.6 %).  Vailas says that he wants to reconstitute faculty governance at ISU, but how can he possibly do this in the face of overwhelming opposition from his faculty?  According to Board policy, the faculty, not Vailas, will have to reestablish its own by-laws and a constitution, assuming once again its role in shared governance.

Let us quote from Professor Philip Cole, ISU faculty senate chair: “Leadership collapses when those who are led conclude the leader does not care for them. You cannot beat a dog into hunting hard for you. The dog hunts hard out of teamwork, not out of fear or denigration. Will the faculty go the extra mile to help out this administration? Goodwill and respect have to be earned and once lost, it is generally lost for good. President Vailas has lost the respect and goodwill of the faculty.”

This is the second year running that the Board has acted in ways detrimental to faculty rights and the employment security of all campus employees.  In February of 2010 the Board by-passed--in order to give campus executives absolute power--what some legal experts consider the best financial exigency policy in the nation.  

We urge the SBOE to reconsider its unwise decision and renew its support for democratic procedures and its long tradition of supporting faculty governance on Idaho’s campuses.