Aargh!

Faculty Senate vs. Jacobs Inc.

What happened to "EARN a college education"?

The Rosetta Stone of the Jacobs' Administration

The website listed immediately below generates academic gibberish that resounds of the linguistic and faux-programmatic style of the current UT administration. Please see:

http://www.sciencegeek.net/lingo.html

Learn what it's like to experience the illusionary power of the phrase, "In the beginning was the Word," and see the futility in the current administrative policy of, "Words-without-end-amen."

verbs, adjectives, nouns

agendize
aggregate
assess
benchmark
cultivate
deliver
deploy
disaggregate
disintermediate
drive
embrace
empower
enable
engage
engineer
enhance
envision
evolve
expedite
exploit
extend
facilitate
generate
grow
harness
implement
innovate
integrate
iterate
leverage
maximize
mesh
morph
optimize
orchestrate
recontextualize
reinvent
repurpose
revolutionize
seize
strategize
streamline
synergize
synthesize
target
transform
transition
triangulate
unleash
utilize
visualize
assessment-driven
authentic
bottom-up
brain-compatible
child-centered
classroom-based
collaborative
collegial
compelling
competency-based
constructivist
cooperative
critical
cross-curricular
developmentally appropriate
discipline-based
dynamic
efficient
global
group-based
hands-on
holistic
impactful
innovative
inquiry-centered
integrated
interactive
interdisciplinary
intuitive
learner-centered
learning-intensive
literature-based
mastery-focused
meaning-centered
metacognitive
mission-critical
multidisciplinary
multi-media
objective
open-ended
outcome-based
over-arching
peer-based
performance-based
performance-driven
proactive
problem-based
process-based
real-time
real-world
research-based
revolutionary
school-based
school-to-work
shared
site-based
standards-based
strategic
student-centered
subjective
synergistic
technology-enhanced
thematic
top-down
visionary


action plans
action-items
alignment
applications
articulation
assessment
business partnerships
cohorts
communities
competencies
content
convergence
critical thinking
curriculum compacting
curriculum integration
curriculum
decision-making
dialogue
differentiated lessons
education
enrichment
ESLR's
experiences
facilitators
functionalities
goals
higher-order thinking
infrastructures
initiatives
instruction
interfaces
learning
learning styles
life-long learning
living documents
manipulatives
mastery learning
methodologies
models
multiple intelligences
networks
niches
objectives
outcomes
paradigms
paradigms
pedagogy
problem-solving
processes
relationships
risk-takers
scaffolding
schemas
solutions
staff development
stakeholders
strategies
styles
synergies
systems
teaching
technologies
units

The Higher Learning Commission Needs to Know

utcommentstohlc@gmail.com

~

In Memoriam

Dean Alice Skeens

Thanks Ben!

Inviting food into Carlson Library? This thuggish administration has already trash-canned most of our main campus library’s scientific books and journals in short order. Now this! Call it “creeping desecration" and yet another example of how Jacobs Inc. is failing the students and faculty of this campus by deliberately undermining its once-dignified quality learning environment and by bulldozing its traditional landscapes of intellectual decorum.

Dr. Carlson may have to return from the grave to personally to right these wrongs. First on his list of things to do is knock on the door of a certain derelict library dean who perceives his primary duty to be pimping for Papa John and campus food services instead of preserving and protecting sacred library space.

Visionary Leadership

UT Senior Leadership Team Group Photograph

Most Definitely a Classic Case of a Trick Rather than a Treat

Who's Really Left Behind?

A friend of mine showed me this; I thought it would be of interest to blog readers and contributors, especially in light of the current situation in education, higher and otherwise.

Lessons to be learned

Hi folks. I realize it's been quite a few days since last we talked but life has a way of getting in the way.

Since last we spoke I've learned a couple of valuable lessons that I would like to pass on to those who visit our little corner of the internet. The first is that Ideology and Vindictiveness will trump almost everything, particularly at a university.

Last January our department became a part of the College of LLSS. Our erstwhile chair became an associate dean and an interim chair was named. The interim chair did an excellent job but did not want the job on a permanent basis having held the position for ten years in the past. I applied and the department voted 10-0 to let me do the job. We were told the vote was not legal because a member of the dean's office had to be present. We reheld the vote and again I won, 10-0. No one else was interested. The department then waited and waited and waited. Finally in June, the Dean called me in for a chat and said the Provost's Office had found me "too negative" for the position. I have written the Provost for a further explanation and after many weeks have not received an answer. Surprise, Surprise. (Another faculty member did step forward and is doing a marvelous job.)

As many of you know I have been a vocal critic of the administration. I do not agree with many of the things that have happened here. Ideologically, we are in different worlds. I do not see the connections between STEMM and economic growth. I believe it to be similar to the building of a huge stadium for a professional sports team and claiming huge economic benefits. I was a member of the Roundtable, the extended roundtable and various and sundry meetings that discussed the Arts and Sciences report that eventually found its way to the A & S Council. I voted against accepting the report. I believed that too much emphasis was being placed on technology and not enough on the hiring of high quality faculty. I believe students in the humanities, social sciences and liberal arts in general are getting the short end of the stick.

The goal seems to be to teach less expensively and claim it's better for them. If all that's being "too negative" then I plead guilty as charged. After all the effort that went into the A & S report and our 100 year celebration the administration broke us up anyway. Those of you who remember the vote of no confidence will now understand the vindictiveness part of the story. If you spend your money on technology and not on high quality faculty no organizational style will save you or your students.

UT Transparency: As Clear as Mud?

The UT Administrative Wallow

Bloggie hears rumors of important events that have been covered over.

It is said by the Knowledgeable that UT administrators recently surveyed a fairly large number of our students to probe the topic of decreasing enrollments and that administrators are dismayed at the results.

Students blasted the Jacobs administration, skipping over the survey questions and going straight to the comments section to report their ire in no uncertain terms. These surveys and their results apparently have been covered up by administration.

Secret meetings--at least undisclosed to the rest of the University and public--were held involving deans and other administrators on this matter

Is this true? Can anyone provide further intelligence?

Is it the case, as far as truthful and forthright information is concerned, that the Jacobs administration professes the Orthodox Orwellian faith?

Transformative Change

Before:

After:

Question From Grad Student

The Blog received this query. Any takers on providing answers? Please use the comments function below for your responses.

Hello,

I'm currently a UT student in my 2nd year of grad school and my 6th year at UT overall, and I often read and enjoy your blog.

I've heard the diversionary rhetoric in the e-mails, and I've also heard a few of the popular conspiracy theories. Why was the College of Arts and Sciences "reorganized?"

New UT Parking Patrol

An expenditure of a mere $200,000 will save the university hundreds of dollars.  

The Ongoing Epistemological Crisis in UT Higher Administration

Welcome back students and faculty!

The New UT

UT Art Appreciation Week

A WEEK AT UT

Contributed by a gifted anonymous psychoanalytically perspicacious artist.

This is an interactive exercise! Your job is to say what is happening in each frame!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Tying One On

Leadership Paradigms

Ideal Paradigm

UT Administrative Paradigm

The Acme Relevant University

Astrology and Strategic Planning

Online and Decline

Mystery of Synergy Explained

As everyone knows the Arts & Sciences College was dismantled for the sake of something the President repeatedly called "Synergy." What a misunderstanding!

Apparently he just wanted the BOT to buy him a new car. Above is the new Chevrolet Camaro in "Synergy Green."

400 to #1: Please do the right thing!

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/flsec11/

Are We Laughing, Too?

Below is the Blade article (and link to it) mentioned by Anon 6:10 am under "... Pants on Fire? ..."

Some things in the article I found interesting:

1. "Trustee S. Amjad Hussain told the board it was a mistake for anyone to accuse UT of giving exorbitant raises to administrators. He said that, comparatively speaking, Dr. Jacobs' salary package was 'in line or below' that of presidents at comparable public universities.

"According to the the Chronicle of Higher Education, the median total compensation for college presidents in 2009-10 was $375,442."

But: "UT President Lloyd Jacob is paid $392,700 a year."

I'm glad Dr. Hussain is a medical doctor and not an accountant, if average is $375,442 and "in line or below" is $392,700!!!

2. "Dr. Jacobs drew laughter when he told the board, 'I would do this job for nothing. I love it so much. I love the institution. I care for all of you.'"

Oh, make me barf!
I agree with Anon 6:10: let him do it for nothing!
I also laughed, but for way different reasons: it's so phony and ridiculous. It's very strange how he shows us he "love[s] the institution" and "care[s] for all of [us]." Believe it? Line up to lose your job, or be furloughed or transferred.
The sad thing is, if I could afford to--and if my work and I were respected--I probably would do my job for nothing. I do love it that much.

3. "On a more serious note, Dr. Jacobs said this would be the third year in a row that neither he nor other members of his leadership team have received a pay increase."

Is this one even true???

4. "'Times are tough,' he said after the meeting. 'I'll take it [pay increase] when all the rest of these guys get a salary increase.'"

So who are "all the rest of these guys"? What about the people whose jobs are being cut while administrators get a pay raise and/or a bonus? Have a look (my italics):
"Approved an $800.6 million budget for next year that includes a 3.5 percent tuition increase for undergraduate students and eliminates more than 100 positions at the main and health science campuses. About a third of the staff reductions were made by not filling vacant positions, while the remainder involved layoffs of current personnel, said David Dabney, interim senior vice president for finance and administration. Scott Scarborough, senior vice president and executive director of the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, said no faculty or nursing staff were laid off."

5. "Carroll Ashley, vice chairman of the board, said he was concerned UT could risk losing good administrators by not granting them salary increases."

Again: make me barf! We've already lost great faculty and staff, though I doubt salary increases alone would have been enough to keep them, given the general treatment and lack of respect given them by administration.

So, what do you all think?



UT chief Jacobs forgoes pay raise
But he'll soon get $150,000 bonus
BY JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER

UT President Lloyd Jacob is paid $392,700 a year.
University of Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs is to receive no raises in the next five years under a contract extension approved by the board of trustees Monday.

Saying there had been a lot of "erroneous rhetoric" surrounding a possible pay increase for Dr. Jacobs, board Chairman C. William Fall said he only talked with the president about extending his contract through June 30, 2016 -- not increasing his salary.

"In fact, both privately and publicly, prior to that event, since that event ... Dr. Jacobs has religiously declined any change in possible compensation, and I wanted to go and make a few comments this afternoon to make sure we're all clear on that and frankly, [Dr. Jacobs] our gratitude for your position simply considering the economic times within which we're dealing."

Dr. Jacobs, who is paid $392,700 a year, also receives a car, house, and expense account from the university. His existing contract also calls for him to receive a longevity bonus of $150,000 after June 30 this year and again after June 30, 2013.

Meghan Cunningham, a spokesman for UT, said Dr. Jacobs had taken the longevity bonus in the past, and she didn't have any indication that he wouldn't take this one.

Larry Burns, vice president of external affairs for UT, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

The president's contract extension was among a long list of personnel moves approved by the trustees that included former UT President Dan Johnson's return from a leave of absence and appointment as director of global initiatives at an annual salary of $200,000. Mr. Johnson, who spent the last three years as provost, chief operating officer, and chief academic officer at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, retains his titles of president emeritus and distinguished university professor of public policy and economic development at UT.

Trustee S. Amjad Hussain told the board it was a mistake for anyone to accuse UT of giving exorbitant raises to administrators. He said that, comparatively speaking, Dr. Jacobs' salary package was "in line or below" that of presidents at comparable public universities.

According to the the Chronicle of Higher Education, the median total compensation for college presidents in 2009-10 was $375,442.

E. Gordon Gee of Ohio State University was the highest-paid, with $1.8 million in "total cost of employment," which factors in all costs including salary, retirement, bonuses, car allowances, and retirement benefits.

At the University of Cincinnati, a public institution that also has a medical school like UT, the president's total cost of employment was $490,415, while it was listed as $412,500 at Bowling Green State University and $453,406 at UT.

Dr. Jacobs drew laughter when he told the board, "I would do this job for nothing. I love it so much. I love the institution. I care for all of you."

On a more serious note, Dr. Jacobs said this would be the third year in a row that neither he nor other members of his leadership team have received a pay increase.

"Times are tough," he said after the meeting. "I'll take it when all the rest of these guys get a salary increase."

Carroll Ashley, vice chairman of the board, said he was concerned UT could risk losing good administrators by not granting them salary increases.

"Higher education is a competitive community. For us to fall behind only subjects our better people to other opportunities and creates inequities as we replace them with current staff," Mr. Ashley said. "I respect what Dr. Jacobs is doing and appreciate the leaders who are foregoing any kind of request for increases, but I think for the institution's long-range benefit it's something the board needs to look at very carefully."

Also Monday, the board of trustees approved a one-year contract extension with the UT chapter of the American Association of University Professors, which represents some 600 lecturers and tenured and tenure-track professors at UT. The extension continues wages and benefits at their current level.

Dr. Jacobs said union members overwhelmingly ratified the contract extension in voting over the past week.

"It is evidence of us finding common ground," he said. "It is evidence, in my opinion, that we're improving our partnership, that we're able to work together."

Harvey Wolff, president of the AAUP chapter, said after the meeting that he believes faculty supported the extension because of the uncertainty of Senate Bill 5, a measure that would prohibit public employee unions from striking and limit what they can negotiate, among other things. An attempt is under way to ask Ohio voters to repeal the law on Nov. 8.

"I think the driving force was the unknown issue involving Senate Bill 5 and what that might or might not mean," Mr. Wolff said.

If Senate Bill 5 is repealed in November, the union and UT would resume negotiations by Jan. 16, 2012, under the terms of the contract extension.

In other business, trustees:

Approved an $800.6 million budget for next year that includes a 3.5 percent tuition increase for undergraduate students and eliminates more than 100 positions at the main and health science campuses. About a third of the staff reductions were made by not filling vacant positions, while the remainder involved layoffs of current personnel, said David Dabney, interim senior vice president for finance and administration. Scott Scarborough, senior vice president and executive director of the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, said no faculty or nursing staff were laid off.

While the budget is 1.2 percent larger than this year's $791 million spending plan, it took into account a reduction in state funding projected at $20.2 million.

Named a new Parkinson's disease center the Gardner/McMaster Parkinson's Center after donors Philip J. Gardner of Findlay and the Harold and Helen McMaster Foundation. Both Mr. Gardner and the foundation pledged $500,000 for construction of the 5,100-square-foot facility.

Thanked outgoing trustees Joseph C. High and Baldemar Velasquez as well as student Trustee Treyken M. Addison.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2011/06/21/UT-chief-Jacobs-forgoes-pay-raise.html

"... Pantalon est en feu? ..."

Why Cancel Town Hall Meetings?

Why is Pres. Jacobs cancelling Town Hall Meetings? There might be legitimate reasons, but it does look funny to me—especially with two cancellations in a row. Does it have anything to do with the upcoming BOT meeting, where some pretty loaded issues are to be disussed and decided on? Based on what I've experienced as to how Jacobs tries to control things, it wouldn't surprise me if this is a way to eliminate dialogue about things that could be uncomfortable for him to have to deal with--but that's just speculation on my part. Does anyone really know?

From recent issues of UT Update:

Monday, June 6, 2011

Town Hall Canceled: The Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 9th has been canceled.


Friday, May 20, 2011

Town Hall Canceled: The Town Hall scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, 2011 to be held on the Main Campus, Student Union, 2nd Floor Lounge, from 11:00 a.m. to Noon has been canceled.

The next Town Hall will be held on the Health Science Campus in the Skyview Cafeteria Atrium from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m Thursday, June 9th

... or maybe not ...

Interesting Article

From "Minding the Campus," an article called "Why University Presidents are Clueless About the World."

Even more interesting, the current UT administration seems to embody the negatives of both sides of the divide discussed in the article: Overpaid cronyism meets over-reliance on state support, the welfare-business model.

$o what?

Preposterous Rumor Put to Bed

Dedicated to the "New" Provost

"Just when I thought I was out . . . they pull me back in!" 

Always on the Menu . . .

It seems to have become the speciality of the house. Too rich for Bloggie! However the BOT (Board of Truth) seems to subsist wholly on it. Gobble, gobble, gobble!

Can we look forward to three more years?

Blowin' Smoke

Have you noticed that the "educational model" that now informs administrative thinking at the University is the old 1930s-40s public health model? Everybody stands in line and gets a shot from the same hypodermic. Very advanced!

M.D. = "Master of Deception?"

Bloggie always thought that M.D. was the abbreviation for "Medical Doctor." What a silly assumption! Bloggie is so embarrassed!

Reading this article we see that the president boasts top level UT administrators "will forgo" raises again for the third year. This shallow equivocation sidesteps the generous (lavish) bonuses and other forms of compensation they have been rewarding themselves all along. Sources claim they have even set up deferred compensation packages for themselves.

Sources also maintain that Logie and McMillan were pounded out after disagreement with the president, despite recent great face-saving public praise.

Let's see? M.D? Master of Disingenuousness? That would seem to apply, too.

What does the BOT think of what appears to be a systematic policy of deception? Certainly no one can now be imagining that BOT means "Board of Truth." And aren't "Trustees" people in whom one can trust? Bloggie would like to see Trust in the Board restored and preserved.

Jake's New Wheels

Lots of room under there ...

P-Card Testimonial

"The P Card helps expedite my slither."

See the recent UT-AAUP Newsletter on UT administrative P Card expenses at:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs013/1101630372476/archive/1105277280129.html

Photo credit to L.

Organizational Behavior

For those who wanted a closer look....

Snake of the University Address 2011

Doonesbury

Did you see "Doonesbury" this past Sunday? Have a look here:

http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/archive/2011/04/03

I especially like the next-to-last panel. Doesn't apply only to bankers!

Heard on the Mall

So you wonder where all the money's gone? After extensive investigation, a little bribery and several shots of bathtub gin we don't have a clue either. However, with our ear to the muddy ground we did pick up this rumor. The University does not pay property tax, but each year must apply for a waiver to avoid doing so. This year the waiver was not applied for, and then to top it off, someone actually sent payment in to the city totalling around two million dollars. The University is now trying to get its money back. I personally hope this rumor is wrong. Two million is a lot of bucks for those of us not receiving bonuses.

Union Rally

Congratulations to all those who showed up for the union rally. It is too bad that only one BOT member actually showed up and spoke. The rest avoided coming out and explaining to their employees what on God's green earth is going on here. This great economic engine of northwest Ohio seems intent on outsourcing decent paying jobs while giving themselves bonuses. They seem intent on outsourcing the faculty as well. They'll just put it all on the computer and then they won't need all those nasty union faculty. If they work this right all they'll need will be 2500 vice presidents and a bunch of computer stations in the library where they used to have books. I am willing to bet lunch on two things: first, the budget will have increased over what it is today and, two, the education won't be worth a dime.

The First Ostrich of Spring

"Save UT" / "Shame on U" Rally!

"We are being buried

beneath the avalanche of your inadequacies!"

Time and Location:

Centennial Mall, Steps of the Student Union

Monday, March 21, "Noon till One"

(and then some?)

Feel free to "cut out and wear" this funky

"'V' for Vendetta" mask if you are shy --

or just to enliven and enhance

your surreal rally experience!

Bring your Facebook friends!

Bring drums to bang!

Cymbals to clang!

& Horns to

blaze away!

Kids

are

w

e

l

c

o

m

e

!

Senate Bill 5

Senate Bill 5 has now passed the Ohio Senate and moves on the House. Basing its language on the Yeshiva Decision it states:

"any faculty who, individually or through a faculty senate, or like organization, participate in the governance of the institution, are involved in personnel decisions, selection or review of administrators, planning and use of physical resources, budget preparation, and determination of educational policies related to admissions, curriculum, subject matter, and methods of instruction and research, are managment level employees."

We have all just been promoted to management. There is a requirement that we do service here at the university. Our participation in personnel decisions even at the department level makes us managment. Our involvement in curriculum makes us management. What the legislature has done is give us a Hobson's choice. We can remain in the union and do nothing toward service, have no control over our curriculum, and not serve on any committees at all or leave the union, watch it get decertified and have no bargaining power whatsoever. Needless to say we have a university president who thinks the bill is just dandy. For those of us who remember the years in which we received no raises, this represents an awful choice. We did not create the problems of this institution. We have little to no control over how the money is spent either here or at the state level. We have been become the fall guys and gals for the failures of our university president, the state legislature and the governor.

Core Competencies?

As I stare over the new UT Core Experience that Dr. Pryor has placed before the BOT, I am reminded of the traveler in Ireland who asked directions of a local. The response was, “If I wanted to go there, I would not start out from here.” The “here” in this case is what appears to be the unalterable belief in the goodness of technology for the education of our students. Let me add another cliché to the mix: “You can lead a student to an education, but you can’t make them think.” No matter how you package whatever it is you are putting together, it is still incumbent on the student to work at it. We seem to treat all our educational problems as if technology will solve them by, as one administrator is supposed to have said, “Putting teaching back in the classroom.” Please allow me several comments:

1.) I have no idea where teaching supposedly went or how exactly technology is going to bring it back
2.) While the audience may assume I am Luddite by nature, this does not mean that I fail to use the available technology. I teach on-line and have used computers and the Internet in classrooms for some time now. It makes for a certain convenience but not necessarily for a smarter student or a better educational environment. I will note here that some major law schools have banned laptops in the classroom because students have ceased to pay attention to the professor.
3.) If we have narrowed the core competencies as was stated in the press release, what got left out? I would like to see the original list.
4.) Again there is this great belief in the ability to measure the learning of humans. The Higher Learning Commission wants this, the Governor wants this, Deans, Provosts and College Presidents want this. Given that we have been at assessment for over thirty years, one might assume that it is necessary. It is not. There has been no great leap forward in higher education. Administrators keep promising some form of measured achievement and we, the faculty, will be the fall guys in this process. The measurement of human activity/learning is incredibly difficult under the best circumstances. This is particularly true in the Humanities and to some degree in the Social Sciences. How does one measure ethical decision making? And, how does one measure the difference between a 90 percent and an 80 percent on such measurement. Is such a differentiation even meaningful?
5.) How much have we spent on assessment and technology over the last thirty years? Where has it gotten us?

Jacobs Administration: Running on Fumes

Board Resolution

Below is part of the BOT's resolution number 11-02-02:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

that while the Board of Trustees of the University of Toledo continues to recognize the three components of faculty workload--teaching, professional activity and service-- The University of Toledo faculty shall be assigned a 15 credit hour or equivalent teaching load per semester as part of their normal faculty workload.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

that The University of Toledo President or his designees shall have the authority to creat faculty workload standards and measurements that may serve to implement or offset the 15 credit hour or equivalent teaching load per semester.

Any reduction in teaching load will constitute a reassignment to engage in other tasks as part of his or her workload, such as research, outreach and/or engagment, approved service, etc., and such workload reduction will be proportionate to the reassignment.

Exceptions to and departures from the faculty workload standards and measurements created by the President or his deignees will require written approval from the President. Approval of excetions to and departures from the faculty workload standards and measurements that have been created by the President or his designees is a non delegable duty of the President.


I am going to make a few comments and then open the floor for discussion. First, no institution I am aware of that has a research component has a fifteen hour requirement. That equates to five three hour classes per semester. I did five three hour classes once. You spend all, let me repeat that, all your time teaching the class, coming and going to the class, preparing for the class or dealing with the students in the class. If I had wanted to that I would have taught junior high school. There is no time for writing or research or even committee activities. What is even more problematic is that there is little time to be creative in the classroom or to develope new classes. At a time when the administration is encouraging the development of new schools, new majors and at the very least a reworking of the curriculum you will have no time to do that. You will be just too busy teaching what is right in front of you to think about anything else. Second, no young scholars will consider taking such a position. It would be occupational suicide. There will not be enough time to write anything and as a result he/she will never receive tenure and have no record of scholarship that will enable them to go elsewhere. Third, there will be favoratism toward particular individuals, particular departments and particular programs. What better way for administrators to take out their displeasure at those who have disagreed with their policies than to have them teaching fifteen hours a week. Let's face it, those that receive outside funding will get release time. The rest of us will not. Fourth, those departments who tend to attract those students who are least prepared will have the least amount of time to personally help those students. We will all be in class. I suggest we create a new college. I even have a name for it: The Community and Technical College.

Trip Down Memory Lane

The more things change, the more they stay the same:

What's Wrong With This Picture?

From the Toledo Blade, Feb. 11, 2001
http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20110211/NEWS16/102100370

A $12 million dollar gateway!

See it for yourself:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/templates/zoom.pbs&Site=TO&Date=20110211&Category=NEWS16&ArtNo=102100370&Ref=AR

Yep, there’s money for that!


UT Update, Feb. 15, 2011:

Outsourcing Food and Nutrition Services, the UT Medical Center gift shop: UT jobs lost!
Increasing faculty workload!

UToday
Board committee OKs police contract extension, asks for faculty workload discussion
With a difficult budget cycle ongoing statewide for fiscal year 2012, University of Toledo trustees discussed several items designed to help plan for providing services with reduced funding.
During a Feb. 14 Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting, UT officials announced they had reached a tentative one-year contract extension with the UT Police Patrolman’s Association (UTPPA), pending board approval; were exploring the outsourcing of Food and Nutrition Services and the gift shop at UT Medical Center; and asked that the administration and faculty begin a conversation considering increasing faculty workload from 12 to 15 credit hours or equivalent per semester.
The agreement with UTPPA, now extended through Dec. 31, 2012, calls for a 0 percent wage increase, eight furlough hours, and a one-time retirement cash incentive if notice is submitted by March 31. Additionally, members have an increased off-campus prescription co-payment, which is an effort to encourage usage of the UT Pharmacy and reduce the University’s prescription coverage costs. The extension was approved by a 27-1 vote of the union membership.

[Continue Reading]


Gotta save money somehow!


Loss of Rob Bruno and other essential staff!

Gotta save money somehow!

Hire more administrators!

Yep, there’s money for that!

Give administrators bonuses!

Yep, there’s money for that!

Cut janitorial staff: “Unwanted guests” in buildings! Trash collects around campus!

Gotta save money somehow!


A student-centered university???

Communication Across the Curriculum

At a recent meeting of the WAC (writing across the curriculum) committee of the Council formerly known as Arts and Sciences, there was a short discussion of the concept of communication across the curriculum or CAC. Just so the discussion does not wander too far down the road before we get a word in, here is what the National Communication Association has stated about such programs: (1996)

Resolved, That Communication Across the Curriculum programs should not be approved as substitutes for basic communication instruction provided by the discipline.

Resolved, That Communication Across the Curriculum courses are endorsed as useful extensions of and supplements to courses taught in departments of communication.

Resolved, That courses in Communication Across the Curriculum programs should be developed in close consultation with the communication faculty on the campus, and with ourside consultants as needed. These cross-disciplinary efforts must be acknowledged with resources, administrative support and recognition of faculty effort.

The Brains Behind Reorganization

Two for the space of one

Last week or so, in the UT News of January 21, we were informed that

"Geography student places at national science competition

"A University of Toledo geography student recently competed against some of the nation’s most intelligent young scientists and engineers from top U.S. colleges, including Harvard, Stanford and MIT.

"Jeff Kodysh, a senior at UT, placed third in the energy division of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2010 Science and Energy Challenge."

...

(See
http://utnews.utoledo.edu/index.php/01_21_2011/geography-student-places-at-national-science-competition
for the whole article.)

This is terrific news in and of itself--congratulations to Jeff and to his adviser, Dr. Nemeth! And I personally am also pleased to see some attention given to someone in a field other than totally STEM(M) or sports. We of the former A&S--whatever college we're in now--should think about tooting our own horn a bit more. (No one else will do it for us!) We have a lot to be pleased with and proud of that the rest of UT should hear about. I don't know how things are chosen for the UToday, but maybe someone out there does.

And now to my second post-within-a-post: Last week, while I was home sick, I read the book In the Pond by Ha Jin. It's quite an interesting--and fairly quick--read about corruption. Worth a look at least.

Highlights from the Second LLSS College Council Meeting

The Stoning of St. Davidus

A & S Coun oops, sorry LLSS Council

There was an intriguing discussion at yesterday afternoon’s council meeting. It involved a resolution from an individual member of council about the leadership of a university committee. It essentially voiced a concern that the administrator in charge of this committee was a relative of the president’s and did not have the qualifications, in this case a college degree, to be in charge of a committee that will be slashing budgets for what is now being called the academic enterprise (which apparently excludes the hospital). Most of the council leapt to the defense of this administrator doing their best to act indignant, outraged, sad, and righteous pretty much all at the same time. For the record, I opposed the resolution in the executive committee meeting. Had it come to a vote yesterday I would have opposed it again. Having said this, there are several issues that still need to be addressed.

I am concerned that there is very little academic representation on the committee. As I understand the purpose of this committee the members are recommending major budget cuts. At the very least there should be some CPAs from the College of Business.
One of my outraged council colleagues said we should be discussing more important issues—I believe the makeup of major university committees to be important. However I do believe he is correct that there are other important issues facing us. (See next entry)


The Chair noted that the BOT voted pay increases (bonuses?) to 19 administrators at its December meeting. I assume that has happened because now these fine folks can take furloughs and not be out any real money. It is sort of a paid vacation in advance. The rest of us will be portrayed as ugly union members eating at the public trough during negotiations.

We teach and work at a public institution. Transparency should be in the mission statement. Alas it is not. The whole brouhaha yesterday could have been avoided with a simple response. The taxpayers of this state have a right to know our qualifications for doing what we do and whether the rumor of nepotism is true or not. An individual has been asked repeatedly whether he is related to the President and what are his academic qualifications. Again, for the record, let me state that I really do not care if he is related to the President. And, I only care about his academic qualifications because he is in charge of a committee that will be examining things that will have a direct impact on how I do my job. And, even then I would not care were there more academic representation on the committee. But this is a public university and we need to be forthcoming with information. This could have been solved with a single simple response.

Since I am asking folks about their relations let me state: I am not related to the Tuckers of Tucker Hall, the Tucker automobile, Tucker Carlson or even Forest Tucker. My Ph.D. is from BGSU, August, 1977. Now, wasn't that simple?

The UT Administrative Paradigm

Bonus Babies in the Time of the $100 Million Budget Cut to the Academic Enterprise. 

Rumors and Questions

I heard on the street that bonuses for the bigshots have once again happened. "All the animals are equal. It is just that some are more equal than others."

What money went into the solar plant in China?

Heard that Provost Gold's brother is working here.

Why has someone with little or no academic background been placed in charge of cutting programs?

Given the unemployment rate in Lucas county, how well is our business incubator working? How much in the way of tax money has gone into this project?

Why do we have to pay consultants to do job searches?

When over 100 people apply for a job, what constitutes "market value?"

The same question applies, only in reverse: when only 10 people apply, why do we pay minimum wage?

I hope all of you are enjoying our solar panel weather here. I understand the sun comes out around April 15th.

Lest we forget ...

... in our madcap race to become 'relevant' ...

"History is a great teacher. Now everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Those who attack labor forget these simple truths, but history remembers them." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, as 'right-to-work.' It provides no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining... -Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaking on right-to-work laws in 1961).

Please support your AAUP throughout the tough contract negotiations ahead of us. Help us preserve the sacred heart the soul of this public university. Help protect us from a strategic plan that aims without remorse to deliver us into the greedy hands of privatization and corporate thugs.

Rumors

I tried keeping my ear to the ground but it's a little cool for that. However, after putting a glass to the wall we here at the blog have heard a couple of things. Chuck Leonard has been placed in charge of the budget cuts. This is hardly news but the fact there is only one academic on the committee is more than a bit disheartening. If we are an educational institution, then shouldn't the faculty have more real say in how all this comes down? Rumor has it the budget cuts may run as high as 100 million. Along those same lines, the College (?) advising office has lost two advisers in the last year and has not been authorized to replace them. That may tell you all you want to know about how extremely student centered we really are. The President wants Schools but folks have no idea how to put them together. Who runs them? Who's responsible for the curriculum for such schools? Who's responsible for advising students interested in such programs? Will they get to advertise as much as the hospital does? You know, some days it's just not worth gnawing through the restraints.

New Ad for the LLSS College

Welcome back!

Here is something a friend of mine put me onto--maybe it will help brighten your return to classes! I thought these were all pretty good, but 2, 5, 8, 11, 13, and 14 seem particularly appropriate for our situation at UT. Hope you enjoy this!

New Words and Definitions from the Mensa Contest

October 21, 2009 @ 4:37 pm › O.
↓ Leave a comment



A correspondent has alerted us to some of the results of the Washington Post‘s Mensa word-challenge:

“The Washington Post’s Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are the winners:

1.   Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2.   Ignoranus : A person who’s both stupid and an [ a-----e].
3.   Intaxicaton : Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you  realize it was your money to start with.

4.   Reintarnation : Coming back to life as a  hillbilly.

5.   Bozone ( n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6.   Foreploy : Any misrepresentation about  yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
7.   Giraffiti : Vandalism spray-painted very, very high
8.   Sarchasm : The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.
9.   Inoculatte : To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Osteopornosis : A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
11. Karmageddon : It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these  really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.
12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
13. Glibido : All talk and no action.
14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
15. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.
16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
17. Caterpallor ( n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you’re eating.”

enduringsense1.wordpress.com/.../washington-post-mensa-international-ii/

then click on

New Words and Definitions from the Mensa Contest

New Acronym/Items Found in Hallway

Proper Pronunciation of New College Acronym Overheard in Hallway: "College of Less."  

Three dense spherical metalloid objects found in University Hall third floor hallway. Can anyone identify these?  

Blade Article of Interest (Excerpt)

---

Article published January 02, 2011
Ties between The Blade, UT should be disclosed

Andrew Jorgensen, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Toledo, is unhappy with the newspaper's Dec. 20 story about ongoing clashes between the faculty and UT President Lloyd Jacobs, primarily over reorganization efforts at the school.

Essentially, President Jacobs is reforming the College of Arts and Sciences into three new, smaller colleges. Many of the faculty aren't happy about that, and are less happy with what they feel is the high-handed way in which he went about it.

"The article did not present a fair, balanced, and appropriately-researched story," said Mr. Jorgensen, a former president of the academic senate. He then lists a number of problems he had with the story. He thought the story wasn't tough enough on President Jacobs, and didn't devote enough space to concerns from groups such as the faculty senate and the arts and sciences council.

The professor had other concerns too, some of them clearly niggling, some not. He would have liked more space given to items such as a resolution passed by the faculty senate, for example.

So, was he right?

Your ombudsman has been a faculty member at Wayne State University for many years, and knows that faculty members and university presidents rarely are completely happy with each other.

As a longtime journalist, I also knows it is somewhere between hard and impossible to write a story about conflicts at a university that would satisfy everyone. I also know that if the newspaper included every detail about internal bureaucratic infighting over what are, essentially, organizational changes, it would put readers to sleep.

But was this story fair?

Having studied it in detail, my conclusion is that writer Christopher Kirkpatrick actually did a fairly balanced job -- though I have a few niggles of my own.

I don't agree with Mr. Jorgenson's apparent perception that the story wasn't tough enough on President Jacobs.

The fourth paragraph had one longtime professor calling the university's leader "a petty tyrant." Other academic voices indicated dismay at which the changes were rammed though in an arrogant, high-handed way that really didn't make them feel part of them.

The story wasn't perfect, however.

The front-page headline "Judge's ruling rekindles fight over reorganization at UT," was misleading. Three days later, the newspaper did publish a correction, noting that the lawsuit, which the faculty union filed to try and block the reorganization, did not "rekindle a fight." The suit had in fact been filed months ago, and a judge had ruled in favor of the university, meaning President Jacobs' reorganization efforts, before the story went to press. The headline on the online edition, "UT president and faculty at odds over academics," is much more accurate.

Professor Jorgenson did raise one concern involving an apparent conflict of interest involving The Blade. "Blade President (and General Manager) Joseph H. Zerbey IV sits on the UT Board of Trustees and is, in fact, chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee … this fact should have been disclosed in the article."

The ombudsman agrees with the professor. When asked, Mr. Kirkpatrick, the staff writer who wrote the story, said his reporting indicated "Mr. Zerbey did not factor into it and did not come up with the changes, [President] Jacobs did."

In any event the story ought to have mentioned the relationship, and the reporter, in my view, should have asked Mr. Zerbey for a comment and included it in this story.

The controversy over the academic reorganization is unlikely to end any time soon.

Dave Murray, Blade managing editor, says the newspaper will continue to cover the story, and that he has asked Mr. Kirkpatrick to seek additional comment from faculty members.