Another day, another departure (or two) from a state university. The Women's Studies department at USF is losing professor Carolyn Eichner, and the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences department is losing Kennan Ferguson, who submitted their resignations yesterday. (See the letter here here.)
USF tried to keep them with salary negotiations, but the professors say salary isn't as important to them as the value USF puts on "research and pedagogy."
They're leaving for the University of Wisconsin, where they feel their research and academic goals will get far more support. In contrast, the professors write, "the administration's claim of Women's Studies' centrality to the university appears to be merely semantics."
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What a loss for USF! These were great scholars. It only speaks of what is to come it seems ... despite promises. I guess we can change the signs to the University of South Florida Institute of Technology since only science and medicine matters. I really love it here (especially the student diversity), but expect to be back on the market in the coming years.
This is a shame! And while the lack of cost of living increases (i.e., the minimal raises that most receive) is important (by all means in expensive Tampa) - this has much more to do with what these professors note ... the focus and future of USF. Oh well ... I hope Judy enjoys her 300,000 raise while her faculty and workers get none or are laid off! Think of how many people could have been helped if she had the courage and sense to decline her raise in these times. She would have been seen as a 'saint' and loved nationally, but instead she is who she is and thought of how she is thought of. I can't wait to see how and if she responds. Then again, we are laying so many people off and others leavig, that her speech writers may be one now (and she can say nothing on her own except 'Go Bulls")!
And can we stop with the temporary appointments... Has anyone in higher admin been properly hired in the past few years, or is this simply Judy's private army?
Posted by: Concerned USF faculty member | June 22, 2008 at 12:33 PM
What a loss for USF! These were great scholars. It only speaks of what is to come it seems ... despite promises. I guess we can change the signs to the University of Soth Florida Institute of Technology since only science and medicine matters. I really love it here (especially the student diversity), but expect to be back on the market in the coming years.
This is a shame! And while the lack of cost of living increases is important (by all means in expensive Tampa) - this has much more to do with what these professors note ... the focus and future of USF. Oh well ... I hope Judy enjoys her 300,000 raise while he faculty and workers get none of laid off! Think of how many people could have been helped if she had the courage and sense to decline her raise in these times. She would have been seen as a 'saint' and loved nationally, but instead she is who she is and thought of how she is thought of. I can't wait to see how and if she responds. Then again, we are laying so many people off and others leavig, that her speech writers may be one now (and she can say nothing on her own except 'Go Bulls")!
Posted by: Concerned USF faculty member | June 22, 2008 at 12:30 PM