Controversy still swirls on the Oakland University campus
in Rochester Hills as professors seek an explanation for the OU Board of Trustees’
decision to create a $325,000-a-year university job for one of their own.
The faculty’s union representatives met with key Oakland
officials on Monday to discuss the position instantly awarded to Scott
Kunselman but it appears that no progress was made. In fact, board Chairman
Mark Schlussel appears to have issued a Nixonian defense of the secretive manner in which
the trustees ignored OU rules and protocols for hiring.
Here is a press release issued by the American
Association of University Professors (AAUP):
Association of University Professors (AAUP):
The appointment of
a new Chief Operating Officer at Oakland University continues to be a major
source of friction at OU. In an effort
to resolve the conflict, members of the faculty union, the AAUP, met with
President George Hynd, Provost James Lentini, and Board of Trustees Chair Mark
Schlussel (Monday).
a new Chief Operating Officer at Oakland University continues to be a major
source of friction at OU. In an effort
to resolve the conflict, members of the faculty union, the AAUP, met with
President George Hynd, Provost James Lentini, and Board of Trustees Chair Mark
Schlussel (Monday).
However, the board chair
and president asserted that they acted appropriately. The conflict first
emerged on October 27 after the sudden announcement of a new administrative
position at OU. The Board of Trustees
appointed former Chrysler Vice President Scott Kunselman to a $325,000 job
without considering other candidates. Kunselman had resigned from Oakland’s
Board of Trustees only two days earlier.
and president asserted that they acted appropriately. The conflict first
emerged on October 27 after the sudden announcement of a new administrative
position at OU. The Board of Trustees
appointed former Chrysler Vice President Scott Kunselman to a $325,000 job
without considering other candidates. Kunselman had resigned from Oakland’s
Board of Trustees only two days earlier.
President George
Hynd continues to assert that Kunselman was “the right person at the right time
for the right reason.” Faculty are not
assuaged, pointing out that the new COO has no job description or specific
responsibilities and that Kunselman had no previous experience in higher
education.
Hynd continues to assert that Kunselman was “the right person at the right time
for the right reason.” Faculty are not
assuaged, pointing out that the new COO has no job description or specific
responsibilities and that Kunselman had no previous experience in higher
education.
During a Board of
Trustees meeting on December 2, Barry Winkler, professor emeritus of Biomedical
Sciences criticized the appointment, arguing that the board’s actions had
lacked “honesty, transparency, integrity, respect, and adherence to established
rules.”
Trustees meeting on December 2, Barry Winkler, professor emeritus of Biomedical
Sciences criticized the appointment, arguing that the board’s actions had
lacked “honesty, transparency, integrity, respect, and adherence to established
rules.”
Chair Schlussel
responded to Winkler, insisting, “The board establishes its own policy. And if it establishes a new position, it can
establish the parameters by which it chooses to fill that position.”
responded to Winkler, insisting, “The board establishes its own policy. And if it establishes a new position, it can
establish the parameters by which it chooses to fill that position.”
The AAUP believes
that major administrative appointments at the university should be filled
through an open search process built on our established hiring practices.
that major administrative appointments at the university should be filled
through an open search process built on our established hiring practices.
