Editor's note: The following is an open letter from Phyllis Bernt, Faculty Senate chair, in response to Ohio University Director of Legal Affairs John Burns' letter to the American Association of University Professors. Faculty Colleagues:
As the representative body for all Ohio University Faculty, the Faculty Senate is dismayed at the open letter from John Burns, director of legal affairs, to Kevin Mattson, president of the local AAUP chapter, denying the AAUP the right to use university resources to conduct an evaluation of the president, provost, and vice president for regional higher education.
While the Senate, by its vote, did not endorse this evaluation, the Senate does recognize and support the rights of faculty, as articulated in Section I.A.2.d of the Faculty Handbook:
Although professors observe the stated regulations of the institution
provided the regulations do not contravene academic freedom they maintain their right to criticize and seek revision.
The Senate Executive Committee, which was not consulted about this action, believes that this action undermines the recent progress made regarding shared governance and the evaluation process. ' Phyllis Bernt, Faculty Senate Chair, co-authored this letter with David Thomas, Tim Anderson, Sherrie Gradin who are all part of the senate's executive committee.
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