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Minnesota State University, Mankato
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Faculty Association draws the line on Charting As campus groups around MN drop from embattled plan, MSU faculty group clears the air on recent events.
JAMES HOUTSMA Editor in Chief Tensions between Minnesota university faculty unions and MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone over the latter’s handling of the education plan Charting the Future have hit a new peak after false claims of mediation between the two groups were announced last week. This news follows the announcement late last Monday, Nov. 3, that faculty unions at Bemidji State University and Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall approved a vote of “no confidence” in Rosenstone’s handling of this plan. The addition of these two universities makes for five of seven faculty systems that have withdrawn participation from Charting the Future, including St. Cloud State, Winona State and Minnesota State University, Mankato. Speaking at an open forum Wednesday, Minnesota State University, Mankato Faculty Association President Mary Frances Visser sought to clear some of the misconceptions being made about the actions of the faculty unions. “As soon as Charting the Future starting being discussed and information on it came out, we
were working with MnSCU to change some of the things about it,” Visser said. “Working quietly, working inside, like you are supposed to do.” While the faculty groups across the state insist they are not opposed to every initiative found in the enigmatic plan, many points of conflict come from the lack of communication in the planning process, which affected their decision to remove themselves from the process in October. “The biggest issue, other than some of the Charting the Future initiatives, was the amount of faculty and student representation on the implementation committees. We asked all along “Can we please have more?” “No.”,” Visser said. “Our contention was that we wanted to be a part of this but we disagreed with some of the things that MnSCU was doing. We really felt we needed more of a voice. We asked for it; we never got it. At that point we decided to pull out.” This sentiment was reiterated recently in a letter to Rosenstone by faculty union leaders, which announced their withdrawal from CtF, stating “…in the end, we believe that our concerns about trust and transparency in the process will not be resolved through participation in that pro-
cess.” As of now, 18 people serve on each of the plan’s implementation committees. Of those 18 people, there is one 4-year faculty member, one 2-year faculty member and one student, which many have called foul on. “Even if some of them [nonfaculty and student representatives on the committee] voted against an issue, they’d still win every time. We feel, as faculty and students in this, that we should have more of a say in what’s going on and we don’t.” Rosenstone’s office issued a statement last Tuesday, responding to the no confidence votes, saying: “We continue to be disappointed that the faculty union leaders are continuing to use this tactic to further their goal of stopping the critical conversations that make up Charting the Future.” But according to Visser and several faculty members present at the forum, attempts to talk with Rosenstone have largely been dismissed, citing instances of unreturned phone calls, a monologue response to a Bill of Particulars in June and flat-out refusals to discuss the plan at meetings. “There has been something of a pattern since Rosenstone has been here of ‘things have been
Chancellor Steven Rosenstone is facing increased resistance in implementing Charting the Future.
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decided, they are going forward,’” said Visser. Among the concerns over t r a n s p a r e n c y, many have been put off by the decision to bring on outside consulting firm McKinsey & Co. – a reported $2 million contract that was largely unannounced by Rosenstone. The consulting firm’s subsequent report on the plan was heavily redacted, faculty reps say, due to trade secrets. “MediationWeb Photo gate,” as Visser refers to it, is Minnesota State Faculty Association President Mary seen as just the Visser hosted an open forum to better explain the situalatest attempt to tion faculty groups are dealing with. force the faculty “We are being characterleadership into a compromising ized as people who do not want situation. Last week, after brief change, and I couldn’t say that phone contact between Rosen- about any faculty that I know,” stone and faculty union lead- Visser said. “I find that comers, the Chancellor’s office sent pletely insulting and an obstrucout a press release announcing tion to continue positive discusplans were in motion to mediate sion on this.” between the opposing groups. Visser stressed not only havProblem was, the faculty lead- ing a fair seat at the decisioners reportedly never came close making table but also making to agreeing to mediate, and the sure students are involved and announcement has been rebuffed represented with the process as among the groups as an attempt well. to turn public perception against The student senate at Metro them. Because of that, the chanc- State University in the Twin Cites of mediation now appear ies is the latest student-led orgascarce. nization to take a vote of no con“Two or three weeks ago, this fidence against Rosenstone. could have been a possible way The Minnesota State Student of solving this, had there been a Association met Wednesday to sincere interest in actually do- discuss their stance on the coning what people do in mediation troversial plan, resolving to not – to talk quietly, in confidence,” support, oppose or withdraw Visser said. “Right now, as far as from Charting the Future at this we’re concerned, that has blown time, but did reserve the right to up. We can not go back and say do so in the future if they feel that we’re going to do that.” student concerns are not being Recent implications about addressed. faculty union intentions have also not been well received.
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