What’s going on at UNCA?

Lots of people have been talking about – and even protesting – some moves over at UNC Asheville. Students actually walked out of class a couple of weeks ago to protest the firing of a long-time employee in UNCA’s mental health counseling center. The personnel changes coincide with some structural changes that Chancellor Anne Ponder has made to – in her estimation – better serve students.

Now the publication insidehighered has picked up on the story. Here’s a quote from the story that gets to the heart of the matter:

“Change is inevitable,” says William A. Sabo, a professor of political science and a Faculty Senate member. Yet, he says, “decisions — reorganization decisions and personnel decisions — have to be articulated in the context of an overarching vision or plan. Much of my personal frustration is that’s not really what’s happening. The real challenge that the faculty and administration face here is to learn how to talk to each other.”
He continues: “It’s too easy to see this as a battle or a confrontation between faculty and administration. And that’s not what people want it to be. It’s an attempt to get new administrators to understand our culture and our traditions and our values” – including, Sabo says, a focus on open communication, shared responsibility for the well-being of all employees and equity.

A commenter on the insidehigher ed story adds this to emphasize the point regarding open communication:

Senior administration would certainly like to frame the debate as being between those seeking and those resisting change. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many of these faculty have helped bring about tremendous change at the university over the past thirty years.Rather, it is about the faculty and students insisting upon transparent decision making and an open management style. The debate and decision making regarding the goals, objectives, and financial expenditures of the university should be conducted in full view of the campus community.