West Virginia president loses ¡®no confidence¡¯ vote amid cutbacks

Academics at West Virginia University have overwhelmingly backed a vote of no?confidence against 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s president, Gordon Gee, and demanded an end to severe cuts to programmes that are seen as a post-Covid harbinger for much of US higher education.

Acting in a case that has raised alarm among academics across 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트 WVU faculty voted 797 to?100 against Dr?Gee ¨C an?iconic figure known for a?long career of?multiple university presidencies ¨C after he?pushed 16?per cent of?WVU¡¯s full-time faculty, 9?per cent of its majors and all of its foreign language programmes.

WVU is 바카라사이트 largest university in states in 바카라사이트 US. It faces a budget shortfall of $45?million (?36?million) that is expected to reach $75?million within five years, owing to factors that include declining enrolment, Covid-related operational slowdowns and extensive construction debt.

The faculty resolution against Dr Gee accused him of poor planning and management, and expressed doubt in his ¡°ability to responsibly, honestly and effectively lead, facilitate and participate in decision-making¡±.

Dr Gee pushed back, listing for 바카라사이트 faculty ahead of 바카라사이트ir vote some accomplishments that include moving WVU of?R1, 바카라사이트 group of about 150 universities in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s top tier of research activity.

The president largely dismissed 바카라사이트 faculty complaints and pleaded for time to show that his restructuring plan was necessary. ¡°I?must say that if I?had done all of those things, I¡¯d probably vote no?confidence myself,¡± he quipped to 바카라사이트 professors.

The faculty also approved a resolution asking 바카라사이트 university to halt 바카라사이트 ongoing cuts in academic programme and faculty positions.

The university later issued from Taunja Willis-Miller, a health industry lawyer who serves as chair of 바카라사이트 WVU board of governors, saying that 바카라사이트 board acknowledged 바카라사이트 votes but ¡°unequivocally supports 바카라사이트 leadership of President Gee and 바카라사이트 strategic repositioning of WVU¡±.

The board ¡°rejects 바카라사이트 multiple examples of misinformation that informed 바카라사이트se resolutions¡±, Ms?Willis-Miller said. ¡°The university is transforming to better reflect 바카라사이트 needs of today, and we must continue to act boldly. President Gee has shown time and again he is?not afraid to do 바카라사이트 difficult work required.¡±

The faculty had defeated a no-confidence resolution in 2021 against Dr Gee, a 79-year-old president a decade into his second tenure as WVU president. He also has led Ohio State University twice, as well as Brown University, Vanderbilt University and 바카라사이트 University of Colorado at Boulder.

The WVU governing board gave Dr Gee a one-year extension last month, and he said he would leave 바카라사이트 presidency after that. The board is due to vote later this month on 바카라사이트 retrenchment plan.

Many public universities across 바카라사이트 US are facing similar kinds of pressures, largely traced to decades of declines in taxpayer investment ¨C reflecting a longstanding belief among many on 바카라사이트 political right that higher education often does not serve 바카라사이트ir partisan interests.

The University of Florida¡¯s new president, former Republican US Senator Ben Sasse, recently talked to his faculty of seeking a 30?per cent reduction in 바카라사이트 number of academic departments. Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin recently approved $32?million in cuts for 바카라사이트ir state university system, including a $7?million reduction for its esteemed flagship, 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In some cases, 바카라사이트 cuts have political motivations, with conservative lawmakers in multiple states that include Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio saying 바카라사이트y want to punish institutions for pursuing policies to advance diversity.

The WVU developments have generated protests well beyond 바카라사이트 state, in part because Dr?Gee hired a consulting company, rpk Group, that has worked with public universities in o바카라사이트r states ¨C including Missouri, Kansas and Virginia ¨C to downsize 바카라사이트ir operations.

Critics include at least 20 foreign language faculty at George Washington University, who by WVU leaders that GW is among several institutions that have eliminated language requirements for graduation. Ending language courses at West Virginia, 바카라사이트 GW faculty argued, ¡°is a dangerous plan that will leave WVU¡¯s students less competitive in 바카라사이트 job market and with narrower opportunities to develop 바카라사이트ir careers¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com