Former TSU Law School Dean Sues TSU
Former Texas Southern University law school dean sues school over loss of tenure
Texas Southern University’s former law school dean sued her ex-employer in federal court Wednesday, alleging that she was stripped of her position and tenure without cause.
Joan R. M. Bullock has also accused the university of breaching her contract and retaliating for bringing to the president and provost “matters of public concern” — including ones that she said could potentially affect the school’s ability to remain accredited.
“This affects me in a dramatic way,” Bullock said. “I believe in (Texas Southern’s) mission and its goals, and now it is putting me in an awkward position in looking for other employment. I think it is highly unfair what they have done.”
University spokesman Tracy Clemons declined to comment, adding that the institution does not speak publicly on personnel or litigation matters.
Faculty tenure is a highly protected status that provides educators job security and safeguards freedom to teach and conduct research as they choose.
The status comes with a periodic evaluation process and can only be revoked if the university has “good cause,” defined as “serious professional or personal misconduct.” A faculty member can be immediately dismissed if they have been convicted for an offense that falls under the definition of good cause, or if the faculty member admits to the allegations in writing, according to Texas Southern's most recently posted faculty manual.
Bullock arrived in 2019 at the Historically Black University as the law school's first female dean. At the time, the Thurgood Marshall School of Law was working to repair its academic standing and reputation following a public censure for reports of gender discrimination and sexual harassment, as well as compliance issues related to low bar scores.
While passing rates remained the same or only slightly improved over the next few years, the law school returned to compliance with its accreditor, the American Bar Association. (Neither of the two classes she admitted have taken the bar exam, yet, she said.) Bullock also steered the ship as the school uncovered and responded to a pay-for-admissions scandal, which ousted an assistant dean and led to the toppling of the university president.
During her deanship, Bullock said she was “repeatedly prevented” from advertising and hiring personnel as stipulated in the law school budget, according to the lawsuit.
In June, the university removed her from being dean and professor, only telling her they were going in a “different direction,” Bullock said. She refused to sign a written severance agreement because of her tenured faculty status, leading Acting Provost Lillian B. Poats to say the university believed it had cause, Bullock's attorneys wrote in the lawsuit.
For one, Bullock co-taught an experimental online asynchronous course, Poats said, according to the former dean. Second, she allegedly named a woman whom Bullock said she hired to investigate the admissions process — and who she later made the new associate dean for admissions.
Bullock said she asked for a hearing twice, seeking the opportunity to challenge her termination. Texas Southern officials did not respond, violating the due process clause and Privileges and Immunities Clause of the 14th Amendment, she claims.
Her attorneys added that they believe the timing of her firing points to First Amendment retaliation since she had just raised issues related to accreditation.
"She was brought in to fix corruption at the university, which we believe she was doing and putting proper protocols in place," Todd Slobin said. "(Firing her) may uncover other stones."
Represented by Slobin and attorney Dorian Vandenberg-Rodes, Bullock brought the suit against the university’s Board of Regents and its members; Poats; Senior Associate Vice President for Human Resources Yolanda N. Edmond, and President Lesia L. Crumpton-Young.
Bullock is seeking to be reinstated to her faculty position.
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