In 2002, President Javier Cevallos became the 11th President of Kutztown University. Many faculty, staff, and students thought he was going to help increase the quality of education at Kutztown and help transition into a 21st Century university.
Instead, in his tenure as president, we have seen the erosion of the quality of education, shared governance, and our status as a university. His administration has presided over the dramatic increase in class size, a breakdown in the process of shared governance, and the university's fall to a fourth tier school in U.S. News and World Report's 2007 college rankings. Overcrowding has become the norm for both students and faculty as student housing and office space has not kept up with the university's expansion. The university's relationship with the Borough of Kutztown is at an all-time low. In Spring 2007, President Cevallos even tried to unilaterally close the Early Learning Center without consultation with teachers, parents, and faculty.
We need accountability. We cannot rely on more of the same to save our university. Time does not heal all wounds. We need to hold the leader of Kutztown University accountable for a pattern of decisions that has had a detrimental effect upon the quality of education and our university community.
We believe that the time has come to have a serious conversation about President Cevallos's effectiveness as the leader of the Kutztown University community. All of us have been part of hallway, breakroom, and boardroom conversations voicing these concerns. The question then becomes: what do we do with all of our individual concerns? Do we simply continue to complain while we "grin and bear it?" Or do we follow through and bring this conversation out in the public where we can carefully and critically assess President Cevallos and his administration. As this blog attests, many of us have already think this conversation should be public, transparent, and open.
As you can see, the right-hand sidebar contains a series of links with documents, news stories, and other supporting information. We want to post as much as we can. While there are many concerns not everyone knows the concerns of everyone else. This is a place where we can share information and stories.
Please feel free to comment on any of the post here. We look forward to the conversation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Kutztown University President Cevallos Issues Illegal Order
http://www.uncleraisin.com/ur/blog/labels/Kutztown%20Blog%20Files.asp
http://www.uncleraisin.com/UR/PA/kutztown/fullstory.asp
President Cevaloss has made mistakes that no serious executive officer could ever possibly make. There has been absolutely no accountability by him for rank incompetence in his mid level management. It's extremely embarrassing.....
It is amazing, after hearing comments at the meeting, how our students do not understand what is happening at KU. Cevallos is clearly not doing his job; look at the vote page – 64% believe he is not so good or poor. Our students are very idealistic and they do not understand that this is about leadership. Furthermore, at the meeting the Latino’s who were present support Cevallos – of course they do. I am sure he asked them to attend. If you notice very few of them actually work at KU.
However, these issues have nothing to do with his color or race. It’s about his leadership and the policies he has implemented at KU and how he is dismissive to people who bring concerns and problems to him. Look at how many grievances have been filed in the past few years. Look at how staff are working out of closets. Look at how KU’s academic ranking has dropped. Look at how the university policy is to simply push students through in order to get their money – to say nothing of academic rigor. Look at how many people of color have left KU due to the environment which is hostile to them. And look at how the university really handles diversity; by saying that they are incorporating it however the results indicate otherwise.
Many times in an organization leadership, and remember Cevallos took on this role, needs to be replaced in order for the organization to move forward. Cevallos has responded to the complaints, its amazing what he is unaware of, and as usual he blames everyone else – just like he blamed the infamous, in his own words, “lame duck” dean Dr. Bernhardt for the ELC closing, who then tried to blame Professor Keys…
Until someone in this organization stands up and says that the policies here have got to change KU will continue its downward spiral.
As a guiding point for the students who write in this blog, PASSHE has stated that they are guiding Cevallos and his decisions. Isn’t that interesting? So now, we as staff members have PASSHE, who are not on campus, telling Cevallos what to do and what not to do, yet the problems still exist? Who is accountable? And, in leadership, if PASSHE is guiding Cevallos why is he still president when he can’t make any correct decisions? Is this rocket science? You have a president who needs PASSHE – located in Harrisburg, to tell him how to handle the university. Doesn’t that sound funny to anyone?
As for the students who support Cevallos, you need to see this man in a different light. Look at his leadership! He has embraced a culture of corruption at this University. Look at how he, Aburto, Hanna, and Pena are Latino; they are all four directly in the power structure of the university. Is this a coincidence? Explain how the provost’s wife got the job at TechPark without it being posted – a high level job. Look at how Cevallos “creates” jobs for his Latino friends when they want to return to the university.
Do you really think that this administration cares about you or the faculty here? You can answer that question yourself by reviewing what is going on at KU. The answers are crystal clear…
Post a Comment