AAUP

American Association of University Professors

Louisiana State Conference

Academic Freedom for a Free Society

October 3, 2011

Dr. Belle Wheelan

President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Dear Dr. Wheelan,

Given that the Commission will be making a decision about the approval status of the University of New Orleans in the event of its transfer from the Louisiana State University system to the University of Louisiana system, the state of Louisiana Conference of AAUP would like to communicate reservations that we have in connection with the proposed transfer.

First as you probably know, the University of Louisiana system has adopted previously unheard-of redefinitions of the concept of financial exigency. In its view, exigency, without the provisions that exist for faculty members’ input that exist in the LSU system, can be administratively declared, not in the circumstance of imminent threats to survival of the institution as a whole, but at the departmental or program level.

It was on the basis of this redefinition that Southeastern Louisiana University elected to close its French program (in our bi-lingual state!) and terminate three tenured professors, offering one of them a position as a non-tenured instructor at a sharply reduced salary. The move led the university’s Grievance Committee, unanimously, to recommend the re-instatement of those faculty members, a proposal that was rejected by the administration, as was a subsequent resolution by the Faculty Senate making the same recommendation.

In the light of these actions, the AAUP sub-committee on program closures published sharply-worded condemnation of the actions (the Berubé report, a copy of which is attached). The same actions, and similar events at other institutions in the University of Louisiana system, have resulted in AAUP’s appointment of a committee to investigate the system’s procedures for program closures and consequent faculty terminations. As you are aware, the SELU faculty members involved have also filed a request for an investigation by SACS.

Finally, as you know, AAUP recently voted to lift its censure of UNO, which had been based on violations of AAUP principles in its treatment of faculty in the aftermath of Katrina. The vote to lift censure was based on UNO’s adoption of changes in its policy with regard to declarations of financial exigency and procedures relevant to faculty terminations in such a situation, bringing them into accord with AAUP principles. The national AAUP office informs us that it considers existing tenured UNO professors as retaining the tenure rights they now have, however the University of Louisiana system may define tenure rights.

Thus, in considering the move of UNO to the University of Louisiana system, it becomes crucial to clarify the status of UNO’s recently adopted policies, which are in conformity with AAUP principles and inconsistent with the policies and actions with respect to financial exigency which appear to characterize its proposed new system.

We are urging that any approval by the Commission for UNO’s transfer to the University of Louisiana system stipulate that UNO’s recently adopted policies regarding financial exigency and termination procedures must remain in place.

Thank you.

Alvin G. Burstein, President (for the Executive Committee)

Enc: Berubè Report

Cc: Jordan Kurland, Assoc. General Secretary, AAUP

Randy Moffett, President, State of Louisiana System

Bobby Jindal, Governor, State of Louisiana

Jim Purcell, Commissioner of Higher Education