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A MUST READ FOR ALL ACADEMICS! Now on Amazon Kindle. Click on Professor Goat above to be directed to the book.
DON'T BE A SHEEP
UT's Officially Disapproved Information Source and HISTORICAL ARCHIVE. The only source of truth, where Paradox Manifests: Hundreds of thousands of visits. Yet No One Admits to Reading It. Welcome to the "Grey Area" where "Unethical Utterances," i.e., criticisms of administrators, are commonplace. Make U.U. here where genuine civility still reigns, a.k.a., freedom......................... UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO'S EQUIVALENT TO RADIO FREE EUROPE
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NEW!!! Hard Eight by Professor Extreme
HARD EIGHT
Hard Eight: Auto-Ethnographic Essays on Academic Culture Featuring the End of the Arts & Sciences College, University of Toledo, 2010
Daily Koan
Should the newly discovered black hole be named in honor of UT BOT?
Swamp Bubble
Do you agree or disagree that University of Toledo suffers from administrative bloat?
How do you feel about the proposed UT Degree Guarantee program? (Reposted to allow more people to vote.)
How do you feel about the proposed UT Guarantee program?
How would you grade the overall performance of the Jacobs' administration on running the University of Toledo?
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
Bloggie applauds this perspicacious observer:
"The administration is in a panic mode to implement controversial and irreversible structural and curricular changes campus-wide by early February fiscal plan deadlines with only the vaguest notions of their impacts. The plan is, according to an interview with a top administrator published in the most recent Independent Collegian, to cast out many seeds and "see what grows." This experimental garden, as most senators articulated in many different ways, seems a costly recipe for disaster. Utter madness. Stay tuned."
Print Version of Dictionary of Academia Available on Amazon.com
The profound ruminations of the goaty Sage are now available in this 119 page satirical masterpiece. See: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1480292494/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B009RC0SJA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JV8N5BYAYY9WC9SJWD2
"Dictionary of Academia" Read it While it's Hot
A MUST READ FOR ALL ACADEMICS! Now on Amazon Kindle. Click on Professor Goat above to be directed to the book.
Comment of the Week
"This is that old tension between the corporate way of doing things and the academic way of doing things. In the corporate world, you sweep everything under the rug to make your b.s. as shiny, pleasing to the nose, and profitable as possible. In the academic world, you operate with a higher moral standard. Veritas and all that."
Comment of the Week of August 13
Re UT academic posers and hypocrites:
Have their checks calculated in units of postmodern theoretical currency and issued in photocopied legal tender notes signed by Walter Benjamin with a photo of Karl Marx and a seal stamped “In Derrida We Trust”.
Comment of the Era
Wow! Ain't that something.
-Anonymous
Comment of the Week
Mention goes to the the anonymous commentator of Feb 7, who, regarding UT President Llloyd Jacob's "Investing in Faculty" letter, stated: "If we could use the same criteria for 'investing in administrators' we could cut most of those positions."
Comments to HLC
Make sure you address your comments to HLC to the email address listed below in the "Higher Learning Commission Wants to Know" post. This may be the only chance you have to be heard. Bloggie hears that UT administration has discussed giving faculty "training" so that faculty members know how to "properly" talk to the HLC folks. How's that for stacking the deck? Does everyone get a little script to read? Make sure you practice before a mirror at being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Comment of the Week!
Definitely, the Comment of the Week award goes to Anonymous 12:14 pm, Dec 3, under the "Higher Learning Commission Needs to Know" posting by Diogenes. Pithy and pointed!
--Love,
Bloggie
MESSAGE OF THE DAY:
DON'T BE A SHEEP
Independent Collegian Article on Dicey Administrative Spending
IC reporter Casey Cheap looks at bow ties, apartments and movie tickets purchased by UT administrators at university/public expense. See
TO CONTACT BLOGGIE . . .
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Letter and Petition from Foreign Languages Faculty Member
A couple weeks ago, at the beginning of summer break, we in the Department of Foreign Languages were informed that our secretary's position was being eliminated and that while she will not lose her job (she'll be transferred), that position is not to be filled. We apparently will be expected to do our own jobs plus what we can of the secretary's. That is clearly not acceptable, and so one of the steps we in FL are taking against it is an online petition now available for any who want to (including those who for whatever reason--not a registered Ohio voter, not a US citizen, etc.--cannot sign the petition against SB5), to read and sign.
I know not everyone on the blog will be interested in this; I'm not asking anyone who doesn't want to, to sign or even read the petition. I do think that there are many who would be interested and would want to sign it--if they knew about it.
It's scary to post this under my own name; I'm as afraid as anyone of repercussions. But this is simply too important to keep quiet on, and we have to do something! FL is not the first department that this has happened to, and it's almost certain not to be the last if we don't speak up in a way that the administration will hear us and in a way that makes clear that other people are seeing that it's going on.
Here's the link to the online petition:For those who can make it, there will also be an informational meeting--including lunch and petition-signing--next Friday, May 27 in FH 2420, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
I know not everyone on the blog will be interested in this; I'm not asking anyone who doesn't want to, to sign or even read the petition. I do think that there are many who would be interested and would want to sign it--if they knew about it.
It's scary to post this under my own name; I'm as afraid as anyone of repercussions. But this is simply too important to keep quiet on, and we have to do something! FL is not the first department that this has happened to, and it's almost certain not to be the last if we don't speak up in a way that the administration will hear us and in a way that makes clear that other people are seeing that it's going on.
Here's the link to the online petition:For those who can make it, there will also be an informational meeting--including lunch and petition-signing--next Friday, May 27 in FH 2420, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Katherine Best
Wave of the Future or Merely Sometime Later This Week?
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a deeply fascinating article called, "When to Dissolve a Faculty Senate." Apparently this is any time that it becomes "adversarial" to administration.
The online comments to the article are priceless.
Nemeth on Mammon in IC
David Nemeth's most recent tour-de-force
Professor Nemeth has another fabulous and timely article in the new and increasingly wonderful Independent Collegian. See http://www.independentcollegian.com/forum/the-kraken-attacks-1.2340091
Nemeth Does it Again
See the forum article in The Independent Collegian at:
Nemeth's New Article in Collegian
The Independent Collegian has run another of Professor Nemeth's fine and provocative articles in its latest edition. This one discusses the double-talk by mouthpieces for the current UT administration concerning the effects of and reasons behind so-called strategic reorganization. Make sure you get the latest version of Newspeak 5.1 if you want to decode what UT administrators are really saying.
UT Ranks 13th Nationally on Administrative Bloat
See Appendix B of the Administrative Bloat report posted on 8/28 for evidence, but UT now has a higher proportion of administrators to students than all but 12 public universities in America. President Jacobs has finally put University of Toledo in the top tier. With Strategic Organization he may be aiming for number one.
This Blog is a free and independent information source. Contributions and comments are welcome. Contact: ASCBloggie@gmail.com WARNING AND DISCLAIMER !!!! This blog is entirely non-official!! People may express opinion here, exercising freedom of speech and association.
Recent Letters from The Blade
Jacobs' arrogance is astonishing
Recently, President Lloyd Jacobs of the University of Toledo stated that bonuses were justified because his administrators "took all the risks."
As a professor at UT, I am outraged that President Jacobs claims that administrators take all of the risks. What risks do they take that the other faculty and staffs on campus do not?
Administrators are protected by state and federal employment laws and by their contracts.
When ex-President Vik Kapoor was terminated, he remained a professor with a salary near what he was paid as president.
As president emeritus, Dan Johnson retained a salary greater than his pay as president.
In the recent layoffs, exceptionally few administrators were terminated. It seems to me that low-level personnel at UT have far more risks because the greater proportion of the layoffs have come from their ranks. And they did not have continuing salaries.
President Jacobs' answer to questions on two occasions regarding relinquishing part of his bonus was to the effect that he earned his bonuses and what he did with them was his business.
Administrators do not risk their personal money in their duties: they use taxpayer money and funds collected through donations and grants to the university.
Administrators take home salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and then add bonuses for longevity and whatever else the president decides is fitting for their contracts.
However, the lower-level personnel have much lower salaries and no such bonuses. Where is the risk?
It seems to me that these bonuses are convoluted: The lower-level personnel are taking the greater risks with no bonuses while the administrators with very rewarding jobs with little risk receive large bonuses.
Am I missing something here?
WALTER W. OLSON,
Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing
Engineering,
University of Toledo
It's the same old, same old at UT
I could hardly believe the arrogance of Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, president of the University of Toledo, when a reporter asked if he would be willing to forgo his bonus in light of the layoffs, raise in tuition, etc.
His comment was that he worked for it. Is that to say that the ones being laid off did not work for their pay?
All I can say is, business as usual at UT. Some things never change.
SANDY FLICK
Rose Acres Drive
UT also has checks, balances
In response to letter titled "Professors must focus on teaching," I would like to point out that the University of Toledo operates on the basis of shared governance.
This means that faculty members participate in the administration of the university.
A focus on teaching requires faculty to address administrative issues such as policies, procedures, and yes, finances, because these all affect classroom outcomes. A university with solid and equitable finances benefits everyone, including and especially the students. Just as the U.S. government is constituted to have checks and balances, so is our university government.
The UT-AAUP is one of those checks against UT administrators who most recently have displayed more concern for their own profit rather than a concern for the common good.
LINDA M. ROUILLARD,
Associate Professor
of French,
University of Toledo
Quote of the Year (so far)
The following is excerpted from the recent UT AAUP newsletter concerning the official university response to news of the bonus scandal:
. . . . Either Jacobs is misleading the media or he has misled the Board of Trustees. President Jacobs objected to "the general tone" of the UT-AAUP Newsletter. Many persons on this campus object to the "general tone" of the Jacobs Administration. During his tenure as President, he has introduced an administrative culture of fear and intimidation. . . . A point of logic must be raised here, with all respect to UT AAUP, the conclusions that President Jacobs has (1) misled the media and (2) the Board of Trustees are not mutually exclusive. Both would seem likely given his considerable talent at spinning "visions." |
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30 comments:
After seeing candidate Howard's presentation yesterday and today, and reading background information about him, I have the following concerns:
1. Other than four years at Oklahoma,mostly as a mid-level administrator, he doesn't seem to have any experience working at a large state institution.
2. His presidency of a small, conservative, private, all-male college in the South, that doesn't have graduate programs, any research to speak of, no unionized faculty or even a faculty senate, appears to in no way prepare him for the job at Toledo.
3. It is a concern that he appears to have no experience as a faculty member or researcher.
4. The Facebook page started by some at his current school, has some disturbing allegations about his job performance. Although anyone can start a Facebook page, there are enough red flags to question his ability, especially for UT as we try to recover from a failed presidency. We can't survive another one.
He does have leadership and did not put up slides, not prepared by him. Is that what you want?
Why did you not ask about the Facebook Page?
9:30AM -
1. I don't know if any of the other candidates prepared their own slides. Howard, however, read from a prepared script during 90% of his presentation at Doermann yesterday. I found that disconcerting.
2. I didn't ask about the Facebook page because I'm in Columbus until Thursday.
Leadership is fine but you also have to have the experience and skill set to manage an institution with over 25,000 staff and students and a $800+ annual budget. Howard at this point in his career simply does not have those and his presentations have been flat and unimpressive, the audience was not interested or engaged, at one point early in the Q/A it looked like there would be no questions, and clearly showed his lack of experience related to the issues and complexity of running a large university in this day and age, especially when compared to the other two finalists. If the Board picks him solely on personality and leadership, and because he comes across in one on one and small groups as engaging, they are failing the University and creating much greater risk of impacting the future of the institution.
Beg pardon? Are you objecting to the use of PowerPoint or to the possibility that it was actually typed out by support staff? Is either relevant to a candidate's qualifications?
I was more impress with his talk and it is very consistent with his others talks.
He stands out and one can see he is I sitting president.
He is clearly charismatic. I suspect he would make a terrific ambassador for UT and would probably do very well in fund raising and community involvement. He seemed genuinely humble and I could see people rallying around him. I think he has a bright future in higher education administration. I think his focus on team building and empowerment is a critical need here at UT.
Having said all of that, I think he lacks the experience needed to run a school the size of UT.
Also bravo to the faculty members asking about his involvement in torture in Afghanistan.
3{12 PM - Unfortunately one of the criticisms about him at his current school is that he couldn't raise money.
I think he will be good for UT.
UT community, it is embarrassing how we have treated Dr.Howard. The only reason the page was created, because he is a Blackman. He said no and forced the community to deal with issues. This is very difficult for a Southern White Male. This institution is a better place since his arrival.
It is sad that we stoop so low to destroy an individual life. Yet, he is still working and helping students. We will be sad to see him go but will a wonderful addition to your institution.
There were a few things I liked about Dr. Howard. First, his wife seems to be a powerhouse that could do some real good in the UT community. Second, I completely agree with his determination that there is a size mismatch between the clinical and academic sides of UTMC. Partnering with a larger clinical operation is badly needed.
That said, I did not like how he was so tied to his notes during the presentation and there were so many speech and pronunciation flubs (maybe just nerves) to represent out university well.
The most bothersome thing to me was that when asked about diversity and Greek statistics, he inflated both. He non-whites at Hampden-Sydney made up 20% now when it is a little over 18%. There was a similar inflation of the Greek numbers. I really do not put the two issues on the same plane, but his inflation for both stats shows a character flaw.
His testy replies to both questions about his time in Afghanistan reminded me of Lloyd Jacobs' habitual response to implied criticisms. One would hope that he would be more skilled at dealing with sticky questions; he'd face far stickier ones as UT's president.
As a veteran, I, too, might get testy in answering a snarky question about my time in service and how I answered my country’s call in its time of need, especially since there is a 99 percent chance that the question came from someone who never served in the military, never made a commitment to defend this country’s freedom, and doesn’t know the safe end of an M-16, which likely describes the entire UT faculty.
Bravo to Dr. Howard. He doesn’t have to take that crap!
It’s too bad that Faber College dean Vernon Wormer isn’t one of the finalists. He’d know the exact percentage of Greek members on campus.
Gimme a break!
Assigning a character flaw to Dr. Howard because he missed Hampden-Sydney College’s diversity number by 2 percentage points is lunacy.
I’m surprised a faculty member didn’t ask him what he would do if a UT fraternity dropped some fizzies into the Student Rec Center pool.
The Constitution does not apply to the military but it does apply to public educational institutions.
Regardless of the questions asked (and with any public forum you never know who is asking and what questions may come up), based on the three candidate forums and presentations Howard is clearly the least experienced and qualified as a President at a very small private exclusive men only college with no research no graduate programs. Nothing he his experience in higher ed prepares him for this job, but watch the Board will hire him as they are sold that he can be a transformational leader
Clearly Howard is easily the least qualified of the three. Hiring him would be a mistake. We should hire the most qualified candidate period and it is clear it's not him. I learned even in high school not to just read from my notes. I expect much more from a "leader."
Blade reporting March 9th afternoon that Howard has removed his name from search.
Dr.Howard withdrew because of his commitment to the Liberal Arts Education. Our sister school is closing, he had a meeting with several of the community and alumni. His commitment, leadership and military integrity is what helped him make the decision. Also, based on the news article and his statement the UT board asked him to apply, thus he had the job!!Thank you for staying Dr. Howard. Good Luck UT.
Yes the Board called perspective applicants who were clients of the search firm, normal practice in recruiting leadership. I doubt very much that anyone including Howard would take that alone as a sign the job was his as the finalists would also include other very experienced and qualified candidates. Besides he was not a good fit here and welcome to go back to his current small college.
Home / News / NY Times
The Success of All-Male Schools
March 10, 2015
New York Times LogoPublished March 10, 2015, in The New York Times
in "Room for Debate"
The Success of All-Male Schools
It is perhaps more important now, than at any time in recent history, to offer multiple, viable paths to young men to help them succeed. Allowing all-male educational options to fall away deprives boys and men of the institutions that may be personally and intellectually right for them.
Institutions solely dedicated to teaching and encouraging males to achieve - when society often expects so little of them - remain important.
Institutions solely dedicated to teaching and encouraging males to achieve - when society often expects so little of them - remain necessary for primary, secondary and undergraduate education. Men fail out of school at a higher rate than women, boys read at a lower level than girls and earn fewer A's and B's than their female counterparts. The number of male high school valedictorians pales in comparison to the number of females who earn that distinction and women graduate at higher rates than men.
But all-male schools have seen incredible success for their students, who have a wide range of abilities, talents and interests. That is why schools such as Chicago's Urban Prep Academy with its 100 percent college placement rate, and Hampden-Sydney College with its strong graduation rate - 11 percent higher than the national average for men - occupy an important space in America's education mosaic.
Colleges like Hampden-Sydney, Morehouse, St. John's University in Minnesota and Wabash afford the sons of an astonishing number of diverse families the opportunity to attend places that are focused explicitly on assisting students with their journey from boyhood, to "guyhood," to manhood. Although it can be a difficult task regardless of the student's circumstances, modern men's colleges and boys' schools have done it well for years.
Christopher B. Howard
Christopher B. Howard is the president of Hampden-Sydney College, a private, liberal arts school for men.
He really is a big supporter of the Liberal Arts. I can also confirm he is very positive about UT. Sad how the Blade twisted a few things in the paper today.
8:12 I have a feeling there was more-- At the advice of UT’s search firm and with the aim of recruiting talented applicants, a couple of trustees met with potential candidates early in the search process to encourage them to apply. Ms. Speyer talked to Mr. Howard, Mr. Zerbey said. She could not be reached for comment.
He never thought he had the job. I thought that was one of his worse speeches that was the first time he ever used notes. Since the announcement we followed him closely. Something happened... The board, newspaper and past interview was very pro Howard. What happened? I donot believe it is because he was not the front runner, he ejected out of a airplane, had to deal with his racist college. Does not look like someone who would give up.
As an accomplished BLACK MALE I think he is very comfortable and happy.Again. we are shocked because he really wanted the Liberal Arts to be more involved at UT.
He refuses to discuss the situation in VA.
Given that the majority of public and private comments at UT about Dr Howard clearly indicate that due to his lack of experience (coming from a small budgeted male only college with no research or graduate programs) he was not the best qualified candidate here, I doubt very few here at UT are interested in why he choose to withdraw. As to the press and comments from our Board, seems to be that all three candidates were viewed positively based on their interview experiences here. Those in Richmond interested do not need to be posting here but simply ask him yourself as we have no interest, just glad that he is out of the pool of candidates. Wish him the best of luck in his career as we look forward to our new President tomorrow.
We wish you well and very happy Dr. Howard stayed at the tenth oldest school in the USA. I college older than the United States. A place needed in Higher Education. Please look at the graduation rate of men at UT and at the graduation rate of BLACKMEN.
Good Luck!
How is it that Dr. Howard has all this free time to post these comments?
As a BLACKMAN in VA we have followed this process very closely. With everything going on in this country, we are concern. That is one of the reason we are interested in this story. Based on the questions be received about diversity, the graduation rate and a piece in the New York Times about men and graduations rates.Therefore, as an informed student watching a public search I can asked questions. I'm just stating the facts.
My last post.
Good Luck!
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