Reflections on Academic Year 2004-05
Truman State University Chapter of AAUP
David K. Robinson, chapter president
November 1, 2005
The past
academic year saw some minor accomplishments, but very little movement toward
improvement of faculty situations in our university. The life of our chapter
was dominated, more than ever, by David Gruber, Professor
of Philosophy, who died on August 5. And that was as it should have
been. One member (a historian) remarked, “As far as AAUP here is concerned,
we have left one era and have entered another, the post-Gruber time.” Indeed,
that is true. Still, we can be grateful that we had some opportunities to appreciate
David’s work and to thank him and his family. Most of the commemorations
occurred before he left us.
We thought
we knew how important David Gruber was to us. Knowing that he was seriously
ill, our members sent him a Christmas box full of cards, mementos, and tributes.
Few of us had any notion, though, what a giant David had become in state, regional,
and national AAUP circles. I began to understand this when I attended my first
MO Conference meeting (in David’s place, of course) on March 5. In recognition
of his outstanding leadership, the Missouri Conference of AAUP established
the David F. Gruber Leadership Development Award.
David served as an officer of the MO Conference starting in 1993 and was a
member of the National Council since 1996. For years to come, this award will
give monetary support to AAUP members who attend training seminars and regional
or national meetings. On March 23, Truman President Dixon presented David with
a plaque commemorating the naming of this award in his honor. There was more
to come.
In a special
presentation at Truman State University, on May 9, David received the Tacey
Award of the Assembly of State Conferences (ASC). Tom Guild, Chair
of ASC, made the presentation in a well-attended ceremony in the SUB Spanish
Room. Tom also read a resolution of appreciation from the (national) Executive
Council and the letter of nomination from the MO Conference. David responded
with a touching and serious speech of acceptance, explaining how important
it is to do the work of AAUP. The ASC currently represents 41 state conferences
nationally. Its Tacey Award recognizes outstanding service to a conference
over a number of years, and only one annual award is given nationally.
David’s
battle with cancer ended on August 3, and on the evening of
August 6, under a brilliant but dimming northern Missouri sky, Laura
Gruber gathered David’s people in her back yard for a wonderful
celebration of his life and work. It was just a party, really—the kind
that David always liked, only bigger. We interrupted the comity for just a
few moments, for a short AAUP memorial. I announced that our chapter was pledging
$500 to the Gruber Leadership Development Fund (see above). Keith Hardeman, VP
of the MO Conference, explained how David had mentored the officers of that
organization. Mary Burgan, past Executive Secretary of national
AAUP, explained some of his work at the national level (especially on policy
for contingent faculty), and she also regaled us with warm and witty remembrances
by lots of people that we did not know (but David obviously did). It was over;
I was exhausted but on the next day our work continued for the new academic
year.
Out chapter
actually managed to accomplish a few things in David’s last year with
us. In the fall of 2004, chapter VP Judi Misale completed our very detailed,
nearly-annual “State of the University” survey. The findings are
very interesting; I quote only one summary remark: “… it is fairly
clear that morale is quite low, the faculty responding feel they are underpaid
and overworked, and there are many aspects of the University work and teaching
environment with which they are dissatisfied. Nevertheless, when asked about
their commitment to Truman, 80.16% agreed it was very strong.”
Keeping
another tradition going, we held a Town Hall Meeting on October 12; the topic
was “Sabbaticals and Contingent Faculty” (David Gruber being a
national authority on the latter issue). Actually, the discussion ranged pretty
widely, as is typical of these meetings, and we were delighted that President
Dixon broke out of her observer status to take an active part. Both the survey
and the Town Hall are documented on our chapter website.
In my previous “Reflections” I
felt balanced between problems and hopeful signs. Thinking about 2004-05, I
have to say that I feel more frustrated this time. It seems as if our administration
does a bit of this and that; but not much gets better; indeed the arrows keep
pointing downward. I will remark on a few cases, pertinent to shared governance
and academic freedom (as always in AAUP).
In spring
of 2004 our chapter was very pleased to provide President Dixon with AAUP policy
statements on non-discrimination. We were delighted that she mentioned AAUP
policy in her formal request that Truman’s Board of Governors change
their nondiscrimination policy explicitly to include mention of sexual orientation.
They refused by unanimous vote on December 4, but we still cheer the president
for her effort. The change will come.
Even more
frustrating was the lack of action in the improvement of administration affecting
faculty and curriculum. (President Dixon has made some promising changes in
some other areas.) Oh, yes, now we have Deans of Divisions rather than Division
Heads, but few faculty members can find much advantage in that change. Indeed,
administrative problems only seemed to deepen last academic year; the faculty
had to fight to keep some kind of sanity, as many began to suspect that something
sinister was afoot. The Head of Social Science announced his retirement in
September, and Social Science faculty found themselves attending long, nightly
meetings in the busy March season, trying to convince Vice-President Gordon
not only that the first steps toward an interim appointment were long overdue,
but also that it made little sense to try to merge Social Science and Language
and Literature Divisions, at the very time that President Dixon was in the
middle of her “conversations” with faculty about administrative
structure. Catching news of this time-wasting mishandling of the process for
this interim appointment (which finally went to Doug Davenport), faculty across
campus had to wonder what was in store for all of us, as we hear vague references
to administrative and curricular restructuring. Let us hope that our (relatively)
new president can keep impressing us with her ability. As time goes on, I fear,
that becomes more difficult and the new wears off …
Let me
give a plug, because we certainly hope for better things. President Dixon has
announced that she will be meeting with faculty on an “Academic
Reorganization Plan.”
Open Sessions are
Thursday, November 3 4:30
p.m. Violette
Hall 1000
Friday, November 4 1:30
p.m. SUB
Alumni Room
Friday, November 4 3:30
p.m. SUB
Alumni Room
Wednesday, November 9 2:30 p.m. Violette
Hall 1000.
Never to
be outdone, AAUP will be having a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, November
8, 5:30-7:30, Violette Hall 1000. The topic is “Plans
for the 16/1 Ratio” and representatives of the Faculty Senate
Budget Committee will begin the discussion.
Looks like
a busy season now.
Keep in
touch with AAUP at aaup.truman.edu ! Come to our next
meeting, Friday, November 4, 4:30 p.m., University Clubhouse, 516
Patterson. All faculty are welcome!