“When are we going to have a vote of no confidence in president Cevallos?”
Over the last two years, I have been asked this question more times than I can remember. It has come from faculty, staff members, and, surprisingly, the off-campus community.
I have avoided this question for almost two years.
Instead, I have made it a point to help fix the many problems that we experience here at Kutztown University. Work is better than complaining.
We have written position papers. We have held public meetings. We have made new policy proposals. We have participated in task forces with the Senate, the faculty, the administration, and parents groups. We have met with the trustees, with Middle States, and with consultants. We have had breakfasts and lunches to talk with management. We have taken dozens of issues to local Meet & Discuss. As a last resort, we have filed many policy grievances. In 2006 and 2007, a half dozen were reviewed by the State Grievance Committee and our legal staff and approved to arbitration.
We have made marginal progress on far too many issues. While I believe that the Provost is attempting to address Kutztown’s many needs in good faith, he is overwhelmed by the accumulated backlog of problems created by years of mismanagement at the top.
There are many serious consequences to the bad decisions, poor leadership, and misapplied priorities of this administration.
We are now a Tier Four school. We are now a university where the distance between faculty and students has grown in proliferating large classrooms, where the basic needs of students are not met, where at-risk students and those with disabilities fall behind.
We are a university where working conditions have deteriorated, where faculty and coaches share offices in former lounges, conference rooms, closets, and a shower stall.
We are a university where contractual rights are under siege. In too many cases, fundamental parts of the collective bargaining agreement have been bypassed, ignored, or subverted.
We are a university that has grown too fast and too far, where the strain on the people who work on our campus and live in our community has become overwhelming.
The attached bill of particulars elaborates upon these points in greater detail.
We live with the consequences of these problems every day.
What do we do about it?
A vote of no confidence will make it abundantly clear what we want:
ACOUNTABILITY
There needs to be accountability for the current state of Kutztown University. Not only for the mistakes, but for the impact that they have had on our friends, our colleagues, our students, our community, and ourselves.
It is also time for the faculty to be accountable for what they believe. If we have a vote, the faculty will have to decide if they support the status quo or are willing to invest in the future of our university.
REFORM
Our university needs drastic changes in the way it works. A vote of no confidence will serve notice that the time has come to fix problems in meaningful ways. Promises, blandishments, and appeals can no longer suffice.
CHANGE
Kutztown University faculty must make it clear to the administration, the board of trustees, and the new chancellor that the system is broken and it needs to change. We must change policy and basic practices for our institution to prosper. We may also require a change in leadership as well.
Before we began our semester, I brought the issue of a vote to my APSCUF-KU Executive Committee. After a long and substantive discussion, all available to vote did so unanimously [12-0] to proceed with a vote of no confidence. Two members of Exec. have not yet voted.
Now the responsibility for this decision passes to the faculty and APSCUF-KU. Today, I ask everyone to consider this proposal and decide what course of action you will support.
We will be holding a town meeting on 31 January 2008 in the Alumni Auditorium (MSU 183) at 3:30. The faculty, other campus locals, and the community are invited to discuss the matter of a vote of no confidence.
On 14 February 2008, at our first Representative Council of the year, I will ask all department representatives to report on where their departments stand on the issue. If we receive a positive recommendation to authorize a vote, we will hold it during the first week of March.
Mike Gambone
President, APSCUF-KU
6 comments:
As an APSCUF dept. rep I am disappointed in my union local.
A fellow faculty member asked me about this no confidence vote yesterday, I had to say I was surprised. She remarked that the union that harps on failures of governance should have informed dept. reps so that this topic could be considered by the faculty.
If faculty are stuck with office in showers stalls that is unacceptable and should be addressed immediately.
However, this slick blog and the press releases suggest a very determined,carefully planned attack on one man.
Another APSCUF rep said he expected this "important announcement" to be a vote of no confidence in the state APSCUF leadership. I was pleased to learn I am not the only departmental rep who was kept in the dark about this issue.
Hey Kevin,
Hmm. First, thanks for the note on the "slick blog," but really the credit goes to blogger.com. It's really easy to set up a blog quickly.
I guess my experience differs a bit. If you recall, the issue of a vote of no confidence was raised several times at Rep. Council over this past year. As a matter of fact, I recall several Reps who wanted the vote last semester.
And for the record, no vote has been called yet. In Mike's email, he said explicitly that this issue was being raised to the faculty as a whole so they could discuss it well ahead of our February 14th Rep Council meeting so the Reps would have an informed sense of how their departments feel.
Sorry that you feel this is an attack on one man. But I am unsure how you seek accountability for a demonstrated pattern of practices unless people responsible for, or at least at the helm of, such positions.
Believe me, this is not easy. I came in the same year that Cevallos did and was a huge supporter. It has been a painful process of having my faith in him peeled away.
One last thing, you might remember last semester when Mike told Rep Council that Orwig himself asked Mike to give him a job performance evaluation of Cevallos because of the Trustees' concerns. Yes, I know that Orwig is publicly stating now that he is "surprised," but the Trustees had a version of the bill of particulars last semester. In other words, this should have come as no surprise.
The poisoning of a faculty member in Risely Hall (the leaking sewer gases)seemed a stark indication that not much was learned from those discussions last semester.
Anyway, my end-of-the-day thoughts.
I hope you had a great break...Look forward to seeing you at the forum on January 31.
A little bit of constructive criticism, though, from somebody who has dealt with apscuf and passhe thru blogs: You seem to be somebody who has some kind of authority at Kutztown. Why not identify yourself? It would add some legitimacy to this blog. As it is, one could easily believe that it's just a student prank.
The facebook event was a great idea, btw. Facebook is one of the main forms of communication among students out here at IUP. Then again, your students might be different.
Good luck with everything. I hope it all works out.
Ok, so here we go...
My name is Harry Potter. I am a student at Kutztown University. I will make my point clear. I have all the confidences in President Cevallos to lead Kutztown U. today and in the future.
First of all:
Let's start with the Union (APSCUF). I'm frankly disgusted with Kutztown's faculty complaining about how difficult they have things. You work in an office. You have heat in the Winter and air conditioning in the Summer and a half-way decent desk and chair. I mean, it not like your working 18 hours a day in a coal mine for 1 dollar...
Many of you work only 32 weeks a year. You teach 3 classes a semester. Those classes meet 3 hours a week. You have an obligation to hold 5 office hours a week. So between your class time (9 hours) and your office hours (5 hours) you work a grand total of 14 hours per week. Now, I know that many of you have to serve on search committees and other committees that might meet for an hour a month and grading papers and what not also takes time so I'll estimate, what...25 hours a week? 25 hours per week for 32 weeks a year with competitive salaries. I can see why you have a lot to complain about.
Every university must grown if they want to remain open and that's exactly what Kutztown is doing. Professors complain that Kutztown is getting too big. I welcome the numbers which bring diversification to the campus. The university's increased size is also enabling more students a chance to even attend an affordable university and receive a degree in some area. From what I've heard, this vote of no confidence is the works of the executive board of KU's branch of APSCUF. Many faculty members have said they didn't vote on a question of no confidence and were astounded when they received an e-mail from Mike Gambone with a 4 page paper on the subject of no confidence in Dr. Cevallos. Gambone's position and "papers" he has distributed through the e-mail system just show his arrogance.
Lastly, I've heard that the annual operating budget for Kutztown University is 100 million dollars. I'm told that 20 million of that goes to actually operating the facilities. The remaining 80 million goes to paying salaries most of which are the faculty.
I just don't see how the faculty has anything to complain about.
Second of all:
Let's talk about the borough of Kutztown. The university has been a part of Kutztown since 1866. Now, I know it wasn't the size it is today... but you've had 141 years to get used to the idea that the school has been growing. I can only imagine how much tax revenue the University and the students that attend it have brought to the borough. Would Mamma's be as popular as it is if not for the students? Would the Tavern be as popular as it is if not for the students? These businesses make there money on these students and probably have for a long long time. Stop trying to stop the growth, because its nothing NEW. And for all of the "problems" that the student's bring with them, downtown main street is still a nice place to go. And I do like the lights that you are adding to main street.
Finally, and lastly...
Yes, the Early Learning Center is a great thing... but the fact is... enrollment is down, costs are up... and the university is a business... a business.... let me repeat that.... a business! President Cevallos is doing his job and if he need's to cut costs to maintain the thriving University or use the money that the ELC costs to operate per year and put that toward another facet of the university, then I applaud him for making sound business decisions.
We also all need to keep in mind that President Cevallos is not a dictator of the University. He must answer to Council of Trustees, the Chancellor and the Board of Governors for PASSHE. All of which have agenda's for growth.
I trust you Dr. Cevallos.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
I believe President Cevallos is a caring man who has done many great things for Kutztown University and the surrounding community.
I believe that the items addressed in APSCUF-KU’s job performance evaluation of President Cevallos (REQUESTED by KU’s Council of Trustees, and submitted at the Council meeting on April 30, 2007) and the current Bill of Particulars spell out serious problems that have NOT been addressed by KU’s administration, an administration ultimately piloted by President Cevallos.
I believe the status quo of “non-response” to these serious problems on the part of KU administration has disheartened many faculty members and Kutztown Borough officials.
I believe Kevin Mahoney’s explanation that this culture of “words-without-meaning” has permeated campus, and caused confusion about when and to whom considering a vote of no confidence was originally announced.
And I believe professor Walt Nott, who I quote here from his comments on the “Save the ELC” petition: “Decisions that impact the entire university community, as well as the greater Berks community, need to made in the open with the informed participation of the community. Openness and participation together form the very essence of democracy and collegiality.”
I applaud Mike Gambone and APSCUF-KU for going public with these concerns. It’s a hard road ahead, and not the easiest path, for sure. But they chose it, I believe, for the greater good of us all.
--a concerned KU alum and Kutztown citizen
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…
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