Post by norm on Apr 20, 2007 10:12:25 GMT -5
And a related article:
Several staff members set to say goodbye to SBU
By: Michael Crawford
Posted: 4/20/07
St. Bonaventure University faculty and staff will be without 10 of its current members next year. Nine of these positions are from the School of Arts and Sciences, and the other is from University Ministries.
Two professors will be taking leaves of absence, and four other spots are at least temporarily being filled. Reasons for why there are no immediate replacements for the four other still-open positions varied, Stephen Stahl, dean of the school of arts and sciences, said.
"Either we filled the position, we tried to fill it but were unsuccessful, the position opened up too late for a search or we had to spend some time thinking about how best to use the position," he said.
Brenda Snow, vice president for business and finance, said that money is not the main reason why these positions are not being filled immediately.
"It's not solely economics, but in a tight budget, it's very appropriate to assess (the situation) and make decisions that best meet our students needs and at the same time make sound fiscal decisions," Snow said.
She said this was good practice regardless of budget, because of the need to have a solid and appropriate commitment when hiring permanent faculty. Most positions were not filled because of decisions to make some program changes, Snow said.
Sam Sheldon, the only current geography professor on staff, is retiring this year and will not be replaced immediately. Both the education program and the social sciences program formerly had requirements in geography.
History department staff members will also find themselves sans one faculty member next year. Elizabeth Littell-Lamb, assistant professor of history, has recently accepted a position at the University of Tampa. Because this was a late development, conducting a search was not possible, and the position was unable to be filled.
"We anticipate searching next year to fill her position … We'll make do without her sections for the coming year," Stahl said.
New developments, such as the case with Littell-Lamb, in open faculty positions were not factored into the university budget could offer some budget relief next year, Snow said. However, most of the openings were known before hand.
Frank Bianco, professor of modern languages, will not be returning next year either. Bianco was on a part-time retirement plan. Stahl said they hope to search next year to replace him.
The Rev. Cheryl Parris, a member of University Ministries and minister in residence at Francis Hall, will also not be replaced immediately. While there are budget considerations in a recruitment, the reason Rev. Parris is not being replaced is not strictly a budget issue. Bob Donius, vice president for University Ministries, is looking at the best course of action for ministries, Snow said.
Chris Stanley, professor of theology, and Patrick Dooley, professor of philosophy, will each be taking a leave of absence next year as they have accepted Fulbright fellowships abroad. Stanley will be traveling to Ireland in the fall semester, and Dooley will be traveling to Singapore in the spring. Dooley will not need a replacement, as he is teaching additional courses before and after his leave to compensate for the missed time. Adjunct professors and other members of the faculty will cover Stanley's sections, Stahl said.
Snow said while there are occasions one-year replacements are hired for faculty on temporary leave, they do not usually conduct a search for replacements for those on a Sabbatical leave of absence like the Fulbright grant.
David Schummer, lecturer of philosophy, will not have his contract renewed next year. Schummer had been filling the position of former Clare College dean Michael Chiariello, who is now returning to the position on a part-time basis.
A decision was made in the fall that Geraldine Nash-Smith, a visual arts lecturer, will also not have her contract renewed.
"We decided to go in a different direction programmatically … We needed to emphasize theater," Stahl said.
A second theater professor will be hired on a tenure-track basis to fill the position. Two candidates for the job are scheduled for interviews, he said.
"It's not an easy decision, but one that makes sense for the institution … Permanent lines (positions) are precious, and we have to use them wisely," Stahl added.
Two more professors, Harold Gelfand, professor of psychology, and Michael Lavin, part-time psychology professor, will be replaced this coming year. Hiring permanent replacements will be looked into next year, and for now, the positions will be filled by one-year, visiting assistant professors.
Stahl said the open faculty positions will not be a negative factor to class sizes, and the enrollment numbers will override any potential effects the openings might have had.
"The only changes made in course or section offerings are based on enrollment and the size of the incoming class," he said.
Several staff members set to say goodbye to SBU
By: Michael Crawford
Posted: 4/20/07
St. Bonaventure University faculty and staff will be without 10 of its current members next year. Nine of these positions are from the School of Arts and Sciences, and the other is from University Ministries.
Two professors will be taking leaves of absence, and four other spots are at least temporarily being filled. Reasons for why there are no immediate replacements for the four other still-open positions varied, Stephen Stahl, dean of the school of arts and sciences, said.
"Either we filled the position, we tried to fill it but were unsuccessful, the position opened up too late for a search or we had to spend some time thinking about how best to use the position," he said.
Brenda Snow, vice president for business and finance, said that money is not the main reason why these positions are not being filled immediately.
"It's not solely economics, but in a tight budget, it's very appropriate to assess (the situation) and make decisions that best meet our students needs and at the same time make sound fiscal decisions," Snow said.
She said this was good practice regardless of budget, because of the need to have a solid and appropriate commitment when hiring permanent faculty. Most positions were not filled because of decisions to make some program changes, Snow said.
Sam Sheldon, the only current geography professor on staff, is retiring this year and will not be replaced immediately. Both the education program and the social sciences program formerly had requirements in geography.
History department staff members will also find themselves sans one faculty member next year. Elizabeth Littell-Lamb, assistant professor of history, has recently accepted a position at the University of Tampa. Because this was a late development, conducting a search was not possible, and the position was unable to be filled.
"We anticipate searching next year to fill her position … We'll make do without her sections for the coming year," Stahl said.
New developments, such as the case with Littell-Lamb, in open faculty positions were not factored into the university budget could offer some budget relief next year, Snow said. However, most of the openings were known before hand.
Frank Bianco, professor of modern languages, will not be returning next year either. Bianco was on a part-time retirement plan. Stahl said they hope to search next year to replace him.
The Rev. Cheryl Parris, a member of University Ministries and minister in residence at Francis Hall, will also not be replaced immediately. While there are budget considerations in a recruitment, the reason Rev. Parris is not being replaced is not strictly a budget issue. Bob Donius, vice president for University Ministries, is looking at the best course of action for ministries, Snow said.
Chris Stanley, professor of theology, and Patrick Dooley, professor of philosophy, will each be taking a leave of absence next year as they have accepted Fulbright fellowships abroad. Stanley will be traveling to Ireland in the fall semester, and Dooley will be traveling to Singapore in the spring. Dooley will not need a replacement, as he is teaching additional courses before and after his leave to compensate for the missed time. Adjunct professors and other members of the faculty will cover Stanley's sections, Stahl said.
Snow said while there are occasions one-year replacements are hired for faculty on temporary leave, they do not usually conduct a search for replacements for those on a Sabbatical leave of absence like the Fulbright grant.
David Schummer, lecturer of philosophy, will not have his contract renewed next year. Schummer had been filling the position of former Clare College dean Michael Chiariello, who is now returning to the position on a part-time basis.
A decision was made in the fall that Geraldine Nash-Smith, a visual arts lecturer, will also not have her contract renewed.
"We decided to go in a different direction programmatically … We needed to emphasize theater," Stahl said.
A second theater professor will be hired on a tenure-track basis to fill the position. Two candidates for the job are scheduled for interviews, he said.
"It's not an easy decision, but one that makes sense for the institution … Permanent lines (positions) are precious, and we have to use them wisely," Stahl added.
Two more professors, Harold Gelfand, professor of psychology, and Michael Lavin, part-time psychology professor, will be replaced this coming year. Hiring permanent replacements will be looked into next year, and for now, the positions will be filled by one-year, visiting assistant professors.
Stahl said the open faculty positions will not be a negative factor to class sizes, and the enrollment numbers will override any potential effects the openings might have had.
"The only changes made in course or section offerings are based on enrollment and the size of the incoming class," he said.
