UT faculty target vice provost

5/11/2001

The University of Toledo's faculty senate has recommended the censure of one of the university's vice provosts.

The group decided in a 16 to 12 vote Tuesday to seek an official reprimand for Dr. Earl Murry, vice provost of faculty development since 1999. There is no record of a previous effort to censure a UT official, according to Dr. Andrew Jorgensen, senate chairman.

“That censure has no legal status, but we're saying his performance has been unacceptable. His actions in the office have provided significant impediments to faculty-administration relations,” he said.

Dr. Murry said the issue is an example of the senate executive committee posturing to have a voice with the incoming president, Dr. Daniel Johnson, who takes office July 1.

“The recommendation means nothing,” he said. “They can only recommend it to the president and the board of trustees, both of whom are my bosses.”

A statement by the senate lists five instances of Dr. Murry questioning the senate's authority and not moving with reasonable speed on faculty grievances as examples of why it made the recommendation to Dr. William Free, interim provost.

“We have the prerogative in our constitution to make recommendations and statements about anything affecting the university,” Dr. Jorgensen said.

Dr. Murry said Dr. Jorgensen and the senate have at times tried to exercise authority where they have none. As for the grievances, he said the problem lies with the faculty union and not the administration.