Letter to the Editor
Professor Mark Palmer
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Opinion
During the last 3-4 weeks posters have appeared on campus portraying a cat belittling the Provost
of this University regarding changes which will be made to our grading system and possible changes
to our Academic Calendar. These posters are both unacceptable and unprofessional. They reflect
poorly on both the university and those who design or display them. This has to stop and be replaced
by constructive and informed dialog.
Both the grade change and possible change to the Academic Calendar are decisions that either have
been (grade change) or will be (calendar) made by the Provost, President or Board of Trustees based
on a process that is new to Kettering University - Shared Governance.
In the past the Faculty Senate or the Student Senate made proposals which would then be reviewed
by the Administration. This review would take up to 60 days and result in either the acceptance of
the proposal, its referral to another campus body or its rejection. The body making the proposal
would then either accept the decision, modify the proposal, or appeal the decision; then the 60 days
would begin again. Such a process is time consuming. Its adversarial nature is detrimental to the
long term well being of the University. Hence it has been replaced by shared governance.
Shared Governance works as follows.
1) A committee is appointed to make proposals to the Provost, President or Board of
Trustees. This committee consists of faculty, appropriate staff and students.
2) The faculty and student representatives are appointed in consultation with the
respective Senates.
3) There is regular communication between the representatives and the Senates, and
between Senators and their constituents.
In the case of the grade change step 1 occurred, step 2 partially occurred, and step 3 did not occur.
This is not solely the fault of the administration; but everyone (which includes myself). The
representatives could have communicated with their Senates. The Senates could have made their
of this University regarding changes which will be made to our grading system and possible changes
to our Academic Calendar. These posters are both unacceptable and unprofessional. They reflect
poorly on both the university and those who design or display them. This has to stop and be replaced
by constructive and informed dialog.
Both the grade change and possible change to the Academic Calendar are decisions that either have
been (grade change) or will be (calendar) made by the Provost, President or Board of Trustees based
on a process that is new to Kettering University - Shared Governance.
In the past the Faculty Senate or the Student Senate made proposals which would then be reviewed
by the Administration. This review would take up to 60 days and result in either the acceptance of
the proposal, its referral to another campus body or its rejection. The body making the proposal
would then either accept the decision, modify the proposal, or appeal the decision; then the 60 days
would begin again. Such a process is time consuming. Its adversarial nature is detrimental to the
long term well being of the University. Hence it has been replaced by shared governance.
Shared Governance works as follows.
1) A committee is appointed to make proposals to the Provost, President or Board of
Trustees. This committee consists of faculty, appropriate staff and students.
2) The faculty and student representatives are appointed in consultation with the
respective Senates.
3) There is regular communication between the representatives and the Senates, and
between Senators and their constituents.
In the case of the grade change step 1 occurred, step 2 partially occurred, and step 3 did not occur.
This is not solely the fault of the administration; but everyone (which includes myself). The
representatives could have communicated with their Senates. The Senates could have made their
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