Some classified employees have voiced concern that Ohio University President Roderick McDavis has not followed university policy with some recent changes, calling into question the importance of shared governance at the university.
Policy change decisions are currently being made at the cabinet level
said Jack Jeffery, media specialist, in an e-mail received last night. Consultation occurs with a variety of staff members he added.
It was unclear at press time whether other representatives, such as members of the various senates, were still involved in policy change decisions, as dictated by university policy.
The cabinet is not directly listed as one of the reviewers in the university policy, but the policy does note that it is imperative that new or revised policy and procedure drafts be circulated to all interested parties both individuals and groups (e.g. departments
senates and the like)
for review and comments.
If the cabinet is going to be a policy-making group, it needs to be identified as such, said Jill McKinney, administrative coordinator for the Center For International Studies and a former member of Classified Senate. The members of the cabinet include the vice presidents and the provost. While the classified employees are not upset about the recent change in policy dictating summer and winter break hours - which changed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - university policy reads that those involved in reviewing proposed changes should include members of the Policy and Procedure Review Committee, which includes at least one member from each senate - Student, Graduate Student, Faculty, Administrative and Classified.
Wendy Kaaz, chair of Classified Senate, said in an interview last month that she was not involved in the change in hours, which is a policy. Classified Senate represents more than 600 non-bargaining employees, including clerical, technical and information technology positions.
I am tired of living under the illusion of shared governance
McKinney said.
McDavis said he was unaware that the summer and winter break hours were set in a policy in a Sept. 21 interview. But on March 9, Jim Kemper, assistant vice president of administration for human resources, sent an e-mail to all OU employees clarifying spring break hours. Its policy number was included in the e-mail.
What I would want to ask President McDavis is whether he believes in shared governance
said Cathey Glenn, an administrative assistant in the classics and world religions department, and former Classified Senate chair. If he does
then why did this happen?
Classified Senate and employees are worried the policy dictating approval of new policies is going to be changed, Kaaz said. She said she is meeting with McDavis next week.
McDavis wants to uphold shared governance and believes it is important to OU, Jeffery said. He said McDavis would not comment further.
In a Sept. 19 letter from McDavis to classified employees, he said he and members of his cabinet were in charge of recent policy changes, including the winter and summer hours changes.
Certain people need to be involved with policy approval. According to the university's human resources page, Kemper, by virtue of the Ohio Revised Code and the university's Board of Trustees, has responsibility for all policies
procedures and practices relating to classified (hourly) employment.
Kemper has been involved in the consultation process, Jeffery said in the e-mail. McKinney said she and others were unsure about his involvement.
Kemper was unavailable after multiple phone messages and calls.
In a Sept. 22 Post article, McDavis said that as public universities across the state are facing budget cuts, the administration prefers to keep as many faculty members as possible, leaving administrators and classified staff at risk potentially to face cuts.
That (quote) was just a means of intimidation
McKinney said.
