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Date Stamp

Response

Comment

 1

2018-03-15 12:33:50

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

My general is that 405.1 does weaken tenure and faculty rights.  I think the vote now should be on a request to UA Systems for further negotiation rather than  a simple up and down vote.  Negotiation is needed rather than a full confrontation.           

 2

2018-03-15 14:13:48

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

In light of the recent round of very poorly handled firings, it is very important that UAMS leadership consult with its employees and take their input very seriously before proceeding with more decisions about employment.

 3

2018-03-15 15:04:00

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

What is the rush and the avoidance of faculty buy-in?               

 4

2018-03-15 16:06:43

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

   tenure and non tenure description creates only discrimination. There is no difference at the education, talents and productivity and many times scholarly activity     among tenure and non tenure faculty. This discriminative division has to stop        

 5

2018-03-15 16:24:31

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

             I am concerned about the changes and how they will impact faculty.  I am even more concerned that the changes seem to be proceeding ahead to institution despite several faculty concerns and opposition raised.  I am not sure that it will ultimately matter what the faculty's opinion of this change is and that is what is most unsettling about the proposed change.  (It was also my impression that faculty were disrespectfully  interrupted and not fully allowed to voice their comments/questions at some of the forum settings.)  

 6

2018-03-19 11:12:35

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                The manner in which these revisions have been drafted without faculty input is unacceptable. I urge the BOT to table this vote until a faculty committee representative of all UA campuses can be formed to review and provide substantive revisions to the current 405.1 draft. The approval process should involve faculty input at all levels.

 7

2018-03-19 11:46:57

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

I really think we ought to just drop the whole idea. There is no need for this change and no real problem that it solves. There is not reason at all for academic institutions to be moving towards greater authoritarianism in our society and culture at this time; in fact, we ought to be pushing back against it.

 8

2018-03-19 15:05:24

I need more time to understand the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

 Not sure I fully agree with it.  I don’t think anyone is above being fired.  Yet we have to be protected from the dysfunctional supervisor. And there are many.               

 9

2018-03-15 12:00:57

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

Too many statements that affect people's lives are simply not defined well.  No faculty involvement.

 10

2018-03-15 12:01:18

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                This is still an attack on tenure and free speech.

 11

2018-03-15 12:03:23

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I have actually put in my notice at UAMS, because I think the UA Board of Trustees (and to a lesser extent, UAMS as an institution) is hostile to UAMS faculty.

 12

2018-03-15 12:06:20

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

None of the questions raised by the faculty were addressed

 13

2018-03-15 12:07:52

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

The proposed changes will be serious blow to Arkansas's university system. I couldn't in good-faith recommend UAMS as a place of employment to any of my colleagues if 405.1 passes. Moreover, Board Policy 405.1 and handling of UAMS's budget shortfalls (i.e. the manner in which employees were fired) informs me that UAMS is a poorly run institution who does not respect its employees. Morale is low within my department, and as job security is threatened, we risk faculty flight. I already know several faculty members who have started to investigate other employment opportunities.

 14

2018-03-15 12:08:25

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Leadership is void, when does Cam get here?

 15

2018-03-15 12:09:20

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

This policy is an embarrassment and a slap in the face to UA faculty. It is a deliberate attempt to undermine the academic free will of the many scientists, physicians, and other professional scholars who work for the University. If approved, it would make UA and the state of Arkansas look like an unsophisticated backwater run by people who have no knowledge or respect for the academic system around which all modern universities are based. 

 16

2018-03-15 12:12:12

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I am concerned with decisions made on free speech and academic freedom concerns without input from all stakeholders, including the institutional faculty

 17

2018-03-15 12:14:13

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I was one of the faculty (tenured) affected by the recent UAMS layoffs. Where does this end? Where is the academic freedom? Give me one reason to come and work at UAMS in such a negative environment. By the way, I am quitting UAMS and make sure I will spread the word so that people hear what UAMS has done and ensure none of my friends come to UAMS.

 18

2018-03-15 12:14:16

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Currently the Chairs of the departments control all of the power. If a faculty member does not get along with that chair and is performing satisfactorily by reasonable standards then that faculty could be terminated.  Although we have a Dean of Faculty Affairs, that should help with disputes there has been a long standing culture of protecting the Chair over the faculty. There really is no place for faculty to seek to resolve conflicts with the Chairs.

 19

2018-03-15 12:15:59

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

While I do not approve of the most recent Board Policy 405.1 revisions, I do feel that the ongoing conversations between the Board and Academic Senate have been productive and are close to reaching a suitable resolution. Also, I do NOT approve of the AAUP's inflammatory, hard-line handling of this matter. I want the UAMS Academic Senate to represent me, NOT AAUP.

 20

2018-03-15 12:17:57

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I think of the promotions that came through last year that have come through, they might not have given tenure to some who should have received it. They are preparing ahead of time now!

 21

2018-03-15 12:20:31

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

In addition to opposing the proposed changes, I object to the secret way in which the policy was drafted, w/o input from those who will be most affected.                

 22

2018-03-15 12:21:23

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

               Recent actions by the University,  have already impaired academic recruitment. This proposed change reflects further unnecessary action that will induce further erosion of faculty.

 23

2018-03-15 12:24:47

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

faculty tenure should be protected.

 24

2018-03-15 12:26:01

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                As a faculty member of more then 20 years, I do not approve these changes.  I think they were rushed and have not gone through an appropriate process to engage faculty and administration so that the consequences can be understood.  I do not think it is appropriate to have the ability to have tenure be essentially negated this quickly and easily by the review of a dept chair.  I also have concerns about the free expression of faculty.  I appreciate this opportunity to share my concerns.

 25

2018-03-15 12:43:48

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

This is emblematic of the war administrators are waging against the faculty.

 26

2018-03-15 12:46:01

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I believe that the proposed changes are a threat to the future of UAMS, to  academic freedom and to faculty job security and will negatively affect both retention and recruiting.

 27

2018-03-15 12:53:13

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

The proposed changes are a threat to the future of the university, to the principles of academic freedom and to faculty job security.  The faculty members will be fired for essentially not being team players under the proposed changes.  Tenure MEANS you are recognized as a valuable contributor, whether or not you agree or not with the current PC driven administration, who are afraid of everything and whose financial polices have driven the school to this edge.  The very concept of tenure is under attack, clearly by people who have NO idea what an academic medical center, or any other school for that matter, really is. IF these changes are passed, the Board might as well completely shut down the medical school and open a for-profit-hospital in its' stead.

 28

2018-03-15 13:06:58

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

There is a no clarity regarding the P & T process and they did not answer any questions related to the faculty benefits.

 29

2018-03-15 13:43:00

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

Quality faculty are going to flock to this sour deal.  “Arkansaw... leeder in gettin’ ‘em edukated, y’all.”

 30

2018-03-15 13:48:59

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

     The existing policy is working fine so leave it as it is. It may be old, but not broken, so leave the darn thing alone!.          

 31

2018-03-15 13:50:03

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

UA system is making a grave mistake and taking several steps backward in its treatment of faculty.  But who is surprised after the way 258 people were laid off in January and the other actions being taken to deal with the UAMS budget deficit.  This board policy is one more way to demoralize and destroy faculty and put more power in the hands of administrators who continue to play favorites and listen to the wrong advice.            

 32

2018-03-15 13:50:35

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I would like to have more clarity on the grounds for termination and know specifically what will be looked at and also think opportunity for remediation is important should you be found to not be producing. 

 33

2018-03-15 13:51:41

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

         Main concern is the vague descriptions of "cause" for dismissal and placing it in the hands of essentially a few to just initiate a process of dismissal. Even though these are made today in good faith, how they may be implemented many years down the road, and by whom , in a different environment is concerning. In general, any major change in law/rules should not be retrospective and implementation should start with the new hires, who may (or may not) accept being employed with the upfront knowledge of all information. If performance is an issue, rather than pinning is to an evaluation by one or a few persons, implementation of a more formal and open process similar to P&T process that will be done periodically by a committee on all faculty (or tenured faculty) may provide a more uniform and less incriminating system.

 34

2018-03-15 13:58:46

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

  There is no review of superiors or managers by their physician subordinates at UAMS. Clinical doctors and clinical  educator physicians see lots of patients, teach students & residents and are expected to do scholarship (usually on family time)  and are reviewed by patients with no recourse to a bad or mean patient comment

(comments published under the UAMS logo on the world-wide web). They are also evaluated  by their students and their chairs but faculty aren't given an opportunity to review the management/chair in a meaningful way.  The subordinate physician does the daily work & is constantly reviewed , so if they get to a full professor level with tenure it is a hard earned title & should not be so easily removed.  If the chairs do their due diligence, toxic or unprofessional or lazy physicians would not get promoted in the  first place.   Similarly administrators overseeing the department chairs need to do their due diligence in reviewing a chair's work and relationship with faculty as well. There needs to be due process and not the assumption that the faculty is guilty and has to prove his/her  innocence in a complaint forwarded by the chair that would result in dismissal.  Please work on improving the culture, such great doctors are at UAMS &  unfortunately leave UAMS . If this weren't anonymous no one could say this as they would never get promoted. Please go to the  troops to find out the issues, talented doctors and researchers will give heart and soul to an institution but it has to respect & be loyal to them back.        

 35

2018-03-15 14:00:24

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                if nothing else, the serious affect that these proposed changes would have on recruitment and retention are not acceptable or wise of the UA system.

 36

2018-03-15 14:25:55

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

     If tenure is significantly changed for the U of A system, this will have long reaching effects on our ability to keep the current faculty here, to recruit new faculty, and a decision that weakens our tenure system will ultimately, because of loss of faculty decrease the research and granting capacity found in  our U of A system.           

 37

2018-03-15 14:38:33

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

I understand that occasionally faculty do have to be terminated and do not believe that tenure should confer something  akin to a lifetime appointment.  Having said that, I think the proposed changes to the policy significantly undermine the basic tenets in which tenure is based, notably the ability to seek truth and disseminate the truth without fear of retribution.   The policy changes have the potential to undermine the credibility of the University.

There are several things wrong with the proposed changes but will note what I find to be the most egregious.   In general, I support the critique and suggested amendments that Joshua Silverstein has suggested. 

Though I certainly trust and respect most department heads and have worn a Division Head's shoes for over 10 years evaluating faculty, the notion that  proceedings to revoke tenure  based on the determinations of just a single person's opinion of unsatisfactory performance is simply too prone to abuse to afford the protections of tenure.   It is not hard to imagine a scenario where a person's research and their willingness to publish research that might be controversial or place the University at odds with donors, sponsors, or the state / local government funding the University raises the ire of a department head or dean who can with just 1 or 2 performance evaluations without any oversight have a tenured faculty terminated.   I think it is reasonable to have department heads provide annual performance evaluations for the purposes of feedback and modest adjustments to salary, but strongly believe that in matters of tenure, such evaluations should be informed by a committee of peers or persons that hold higher rank.  Certainly department heads can and do make mistakes and strongly believe that in matters concerning the future employability of a tenured person, some additional oversight is essential.  

 38

2018-03-15 14:44:12

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                In these proposed changes, that directly affect the  faculty, revisions were generated by UA System Counsel initially, with absolutely minimal faculty input, then released only to Academic Senate Council members who were told to keep the revisions in confidence, secret from the rest of the faculty. I request that all Board of Trustees Policies involving faculty should be formulated by a group with equal composition of administrators and elected Academic Senate faculty observing complete transparency. Academic Senate faculty should be free to consult other faculty and administrators to consult other administrators and UA System and UAMS Counsel.

 39

2018-03-15 14:54:54

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

 The propose changes are in violation of existing contracts for tenured professors well as personnel already hired under tenure track.  Tenure provides also a safeguard for the independence of research, free speech and is a basic cornerstone what makes up a University in contrast to a business enterprise. Several of the proposed changes to 405.1 undermine these very principles. It is essential to consulting both sides, meaning admin- and tenure track personnel before making changes to that policy.

Yearly evaluations of tenured personnel should never be solely in the hands of people that never were part of the educational and research personnel as there would be a lack of insight. Also basing dismissals on one or two shortcomings ("unproductive or uncooperative behavior") in one calendar year is highly subjective, vague term and is proned to be abused by those who make these decisions.              

 40

2018-03-15 15:04:15

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Universities should be an example of the principle of shared governance.  These policy changes have not been fully vetted by the faculty.  If they are enacted by the Board of Trustees at this time it will only serve to demonstrate how "backwoods" the UA system has become under their leadership.  At least take the time to do this in an honorable way.  Stop making us look like fools.

 41

2018-03-15 15:35:34

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                The change is precipitous, without academic leadership input. The ambivalent language a threat.


 

 42

2018-03-15 15:59:48

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

        What problem is this intended to solve?!  There is no excuse for the disregard for faculty leadership and current policy in this process. The result will be an expensive lawsuit that the University will lose.     this has already hurt recruitment at UAMS and faculty moral. It has the potential to put UAMS on a downward spiral.  And for what purpose?  The UA system had been quoted saying this is to deal with a very, very small number of faculty (that they can't describe or provide evidence are a problem!?). The board is in a position to slow this down and allow faculty their right to have input and time to investigate. Please STOP this before more harm is done!

 43

2018-03-15 16:02:53

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

         This UA board policy is like our constitution created by our fore fathers for our Universities to thrive and excel independently, with check and balances (with Tenure, academic freedom & shared governance), and this why America is great and exceptional.  If we want Arkansas to thrive, we need to strengthen these policies, not water them down.  It appears that UAMS and UA system administration is covering up their negligence, mismanagement (by financial and management engineering) and not having proper policies and procedures and or not following them.  Most senior leadership is responsible and accountable for the current financial crisis and chaos.  Administrators are behind this policy changes for power, money and control and administration is top heavy and they are sucking up blood and energy!  Instead of involving a and  engaging the Physicians, nurses, faculty and other professionals/staff,  administration  that is in a "bubble", based on bad "consultant" advice, is making things worse!, The morale is getting worse and yet everyone else is expected work harder, resulting in stressful and toxic work environment and more and more are burning out.  This is the time to stand up and speak up and it is our duty.  Truth will eventually come out with freedom of Information act (Arkansas has the best FOIA).      

  We need to focus on what is best for our students, patients, UAMS and Arkansas.  We hope and pray that when the new chancellor Dr. Patterson comes in June, he would change the direction of the UAMS.  UAMS has progressed for more than 140 years and thrived under Chancellor Ward  for many years and after he left , UAMS has been going in the wrong direction.   Doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different results is what?   We need to do a root  cause analysis  and  an independent audit/investigation ( current UA system audit is like Fox guarding the chicken coup) and make evidence based decisions and changes. 

 Finally, please take a moment to pray for those who were fired on Black Monday in January this year without any warning or without proper justification, and financial crisis is not their fault,  and those whose salary has been cut (some more than 30%) during the last few years and all others anxious and scared that they may be next!               

 44

2018-03-15 16:25:07

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

Faculty at the University were selected because their high qualifications,  adminstration have to stop treating Faculty as if they were children

 45

2018-03-15 17:06:59

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                This essentially takes away my rights of tenure, where by the way the bar is higher for promotion than non tenure tracks. Which essentially means I could have been promoted earlier and have been making more money for longer like my non tenure colleagues. It also eliminates academic freedom and speech for us full professors and a degree of self determination as we get older

 46

2018-03-15 18:42:49

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

     Changing terms of faculty's hire after the fact ( and without faculty input), making performance  which may have perceptional bias tied to compensation, allowing an undefined  subjective assessment to be able to justify dismissal, removal of tenure, removal of faculty based on potential  U of A's financial situation - are all in opposition to the good faith decision we as faculty made upon joining the institution.   

 47

2018-03-15 19:55:13

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

 I believe President Bobbitt should be censured for the manner in which he has proceeded with these changes in the policy with absolutely minimal faculty input.  He has shamelessly and intentionally falsely contended to  outsiders that there is only minor faculty opposition to this plan from one UA institution.  The Board of Trustees should give him no credence on this issue.    

 48

2018-03-16 08:55:56

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

None of this is fair. It is unethical and embarassing that these changes would even be considered.  The proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1 should not be implemented for current faculty who came to UAMS under the current Board Policy. The second version of board policy changes between UA system counsel and Presidents of the UA Academic/Faculty Senates) was no better than the first version. This gives the administrators the right to fire faculty at will, and it is unfair. Not only that, but it is completely backwards thinking. If this is approved, not only are faculty going to leave and take their grants with them, but it will be difficult to hire anyone especially with the downward salary adjustments.

 49

2018-03-16 09:36:12

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                The proposal puts in jeopardy the future of academic medicine

 50

2018-03-16 12:10:54

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

         I believe this policy will be used to curtail the academic freedoms and tenure guarantees of faculty, and needs to be revised.      

 51

2018-03-16 13:18:18

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                I agree with the positions stated by the UAMS chapter of the AAUP. In particular, the most problematic policy revisions to me are the broad description of the "pattern of conduct.." cause for dismissal and minimal time, if any, for remediation and appeal. 

 52

2018-03-16 14:43:28

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

          It's a bad deal.     

 53

2018-03-18 10:34:21

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

 Changes as written are atrocities to academic freedom and to our mission.

You should be ashamed.              

54

2018-03-19 11:51:42

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

      I do agree with creating a system that holds tenured faculty to more stringent criteria for performance and review. They suck resources and time. I would rather the system look at lowering the age for medical evaluation rather than creating a policy that effects ALL faculty-- even those who work hard. This policy comes off as giving people (who do not do my job) the ability to unilaterally lower my paycheck. It is all about how the message is delivered and right now UAMS and the UA system come across as untrustworthy who will soon lose all good people and find themselves recruiting to deliver patient care. There should be some kind of ability to focus on RETENTION not FIRING people as this policy comes across as.

55

2018-03-19 11:54:14

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Academic freedom! 

 56

2018-03-19 12:36:24

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                the retention and firing should be based on 4 criteria:



extremely satisfactory

highly satisfactory

satisfactory

not satisfactory



these should have scores tied to them. a faculty getting satisfactory and not satisfactory should be placed on probation and if shows no progress termination

57

2018-03-19 12:38:17

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                These proposed changes will harm the choice of academic for a career

58

2018-03-19 12:38:30

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

         I am a department chair and I know this will have a strong and negative impact on our ability to recruit high quality new faculty to UAMS.   We are also likely to see an outflux of good faculty.  People with funding and strong credentials are highly employable elsewhere; if these faculty members don't have family ties or other reasons to stay in Arkansas, we are at increased risk of losing them.   

59

2018-03-19 12:46:04

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

               This change in policy will have a significant negative impact on the ability of UAMS (and the rest of the UA System) to recruit and retain quality faculty members.  Given the recent debacle of firings with armed escorts off of the premises, it is clear that the UAMS administration has little to no respect for its employees.   We are becoming a laughing stock as a result of the Board of Trustees actions. The next thing you know, they will begin removing books from the libraries (oh wait, they've already started that one...). As a tenured faculty member of over 15 years, I have started the process of leaving and it will not be too soon.

60  60

2018-03-19 14:11:44

I do not approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

na               

61  61

2018-03-15 12:13:36

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                very appropriate action for the board

62  62

2018-03-15 12:17:49

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

 The university needs a way to deal with tenured faculty who are either no longer contributing  to the mission or their contributions are significantly less than expected.  These faculty earn salaries that, even though they may be decreased over time, are still affecting the bottom line and could be applied to others who are working hard each day toward the mission.  These faculty decrease morale and are poor role models for students, residents, faculty and staff.              

63  63

2018-03-15 12:23:26

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Improved over first draft. UAMS  is behind other academic centers in post tenure review.

64  64

2018-03-15 12:28:10

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Tenure should not mean life long employment when you are no longer positively contributing to the environment of an institution.

65  65

2018-03-15 12:31:35

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

                Faculty must be held accountable for doing their job and their professionalism.

      66

2018-03-15 12:35:48

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

   The System office has worked with faculty on this issue and made significant changes to the document.  We need to accept this level of compromise and move on to ensure UAMS policies work as well for faculty as possible.             

67   67

2018-03-15 13:33:23

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

Faculty have had opportunity to participate in this process.  Changes are needed to ensure academic success of our institution and support stewardship of our institutional resources.

68  68

2018-03-15 13:44:43

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

When times are difficult, I do understand that difficult decisions must be made.  I do think we need to hear from UAMS before the paper.  That is best way to deal with rumor control.               

69  69

2018-03-15 15:04:35

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

We have already lost tenured and non tenured faculty who had a contract for their services, but this institution fired them without following current board and institutional policies.  What makes anyone think that a revised tenure policy would even be followed by this institution?  As several hundred of our coworkers have been let go due to administrative mismanagement it is time for the faculty to stand up for this institution and not simply for something they feel will better their position when the campus has already made it clear that they don't have to follow the current policies because no one will question them on it.

70  70

2018-03-16 05:53:07

I approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 405.1

     I believe that all employees, including tenured faculty should be held accountable for there performance and behavior.  There must be some way to address problem employees, no matter what rank or title. (I AM a tenured professor)