Why are we spending $110,000 salary on a new job position during this pandemic?

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Why are we hiring a highly paid job position in a pandemic?  Below is an email from Provost Harris that appears to show that this would be a good decision for position of “Executive Director of Curriculum & Graduation Initiative Position”.  But is it really such a good decision especially when we still do not know when TSU will open for the fall semester?  We have no idea what our enrollment will even be.  And finally, since when has this past administration even seemed to care about our students’ graduation?  Last president who appeared to care was President Rudley and that was 4 years ago.  King Lane came in with 9500 students but the rumors are that we are down to under 7000 and maybe even less now with the pandemic. 
Need we forget our graduating students’ GIANT student loan debt as reported by the New York Times in 2012?  It could not have gotten any better especially with this pandemic even 8 years later.  (See below weblink- Top 5 public schools).  Shouldn't the Board and the President focus on assisting our students with better decisions on student loan debt or efforts to alleviate the student debt? 
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/08/business/bad-student-debt-stubbornly-high-as-collection-efforts-surge.html?ref=business
 $110,000 is a lot of money to spend on a salary.  We hope that Provost Harris is not wrong about the new hire and this newly created position.  After all, we should remember that a terrible series of destructive and truly bad decisions can destroy anyone’s career.  Just ask King Lane. 
From: Harris, Kendall
Subject: Executive Director of Curriculum & Graduation Initiative Position
Mr. Huewitt,

There appears to be some concern around the new position of Executive Director of Curriculum & Graduation Initiatives (occupied by Dr. Derrick Manns) that started on May 1, 2020.  The Executive Director of Curriculum & Graduation Initiative’s position was initiated last year in October 2019 and has been openly and widely discussed in meetings given our need to increase our substantially low graduation and retention rates. This position is critical to the office of the Provost and even more so now given the COVID crisis situation. Institutions across the globe are concerned about how this will impact graduation, retention and persistence rates.  

Although this position was initiated in October 2019 (see the time table of the position below), we were finally able to extend an offer in March prior to any type of hiring freeze.  If it wasn't for the COVID-19 he would had started in March but with the University working remotely, I decided to wait until May 1, 2020 to start the position (please find attached his offer letter dated March 26th, 2020 and a copy of the position request, and job description).

In addition, Dr. Manns brings a wealth of knowledge in both academics and student services having served as faculty, Dean, Asst. Provost, VP of Institutional Research and VP of Enrollment Management at institutions in MI, OH, LA, MA and most recently TX.

This is the first permanent administrative position that I have hired since being appointed Provost at TSU in the last two and half years.  The Provost Office has been operating with incumbent and temporary interim staff.  It is time to make positive steps towards stability in the office.  Even in times of budget cuts and crisis we still must do the things to move this University forward.  
  
 I hope this clarifies things and note that this is a staff position without teaching responsibilities and is currently on the Title III budget.


Time Line for the Position of Executive Director of Curriculum & Graduation Initiative 

August-September 2019
Discussion regarding new position with former President Lane and other administrators:
Position Purpose
- To provide assistance with new graduation initiatives
- To support Retention projects
- Assistance with Degree Reclamation Initiatives
- Assistance with new academic tools to support student success

October 2019
EER Completed and Signed by all University areas (including Provost Office, Budget and President's Office)

January 2020
Position approved for posting
Position advertised and candidate pool was developed

February 2020
Three finalist candidates were interviewed by a search committee

March 2020
Finalist was selected (Dr. Manns)
Offer extended (March 26th, 2020)
Regards,
Kendall T. Harris, PhD, P.E.
Provost and 
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research 

Comments

Anonymous said…
It difficult to access o e position without looking at the overall administrative burden. Just hope they have the right people on the bus and also the bus is going in the right direction.
May 15, 2020 at 6:00 AM
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