Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a seven-part series examining the evaluations of Ohio University's deans. Seven of 10 Athens deans were evaluated this year.
Faculty reviews of Ohio University's College of Business dean jumped 16 points this year and corresponded with strong evaluations from the college's staff and the provost.
Hugh Sherman, who has been dean since August 2007, received an 81 percent approval rating from faculty this year, up from 65 percent last year. The response rate also rose from 36 percent to 46 percent.
Sherman earned $247,200 in base salary this year.
In his annual report, the dean wrote at length about the current state of business schools across the country and said he sees OU as uniquely positioned to provide an outstanding residential undergraduate business experience.
Our priority as a college will continue to be to maintain our position as state leaders in providing a premier undergraduate professional business education to traditional college students
Sherman wrote in his annual report.
The dean said in an interview he thinks his plan for the college is largely responsible for his lowest score. He received a 46 percent approval rating from the faculty this year in effectively emphasizing the college's research mission.
It seems pretty clear that teaching is emphasized over research one faculty member wrote. In fact the performance evaluation policy is set up so that someone who does well in research cannot receive as high a merit raise as someone who performs well in teaching.
Sherman said his biggest frustration from this year is that he has not gotten all of the faculty to completely support his decision
to prioritize teaching over research.
My big disappointment is I haven't gotten that understanding and commitment to the College of Business' mission
he said. They just may have a sincere disagreement ... (but) that's been an area that I haven't totally resolved.
Sherman's faculty, however, were more satisfied this year with his communication, which earned him his highest approval rating - 96 percent in terms of budget communications and 91 percent in general. His communication rating last year was 72 percent.
The dean said he feels it's necessary to engage faculty in budget discussions because budget allocations are the most concerning problem facing the college. But he has also worked with faculty this year to streamline graduate education, develop a new business degree for the regional campuses and better integrate international students into the college.
Staff generally gave Sherman positive reviews, including 100 percent approval ratings in three categories and overall. Those high ratings came in academic programming, student orientation and external relations. Sherman's lowest staff review - 66 percent - was in goal achievement. The results were based on a 28 percent response rate.
Sherman said he tries to keep all staff and faculty updated on the college's goals through monthly e-mails. He added that the college staff received the brunt of recent budget cuts, and he understands uncertainty about their jobs might be impacting his performance review.
Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit praised Sherman for tightening the college's mission, reducing its structural deficit, helping with academic restructuring and increasing students' opportunities for applied learning.
1
News
Emily Grannis
31940a.jpg
Hugh Sherman
