Purdue faculty edge closer to vote of no confidence for provost
Vote expected in April, as University Senate finds pattern of decisions that don’t match up with ‘the day-to-day realities faced by Purdue faculty.’ Meanwhile, warnings about ‘mob mentality’ emerge.
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FACULTY EDGE CLOSER TO VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FOR PURDUE PROVOST
A vote of no confidence for Provost Patrick Wolfe, Purdue’s chief academic officer, is likely to come when the faculty-led University Senate meets in April.
Senate members voted overwhelmingly Monday afternoon to advance the question after taking the past month to review a collection of 16 allegations first lodged in February by the Purdue chapter of the American Association of University Professors revolving around what they called “unilateral decision-making” and heavy-handed treatment in hiring, admissions and campus policies.
Findings presented Monday outlined four “major areas of concern,” including patterns of lack of transparency, inadequate conflict resolution, delayed decision making and actions that “do not adequately reflect sufficient engagement with the day-to-day realities faced by Purdue faculty.”
“Collectively, the concerns raise broader issues about how the Provost’s administrative practices have impacted Purdue’s institutional climate,” a resolution outlining University Senate concerns read.
Lisa Bosman – a University Senate member who co-sponsored the resolution, calling a vote of no confidence “one of the most serious actions a University Senate can take” – said the past month included reports from six University Senate committees; results from a survey open to faculty, staff and administrators; and feedback from other one-on-one meetings with faculty and community members.
