12 Professional Staff Personnel have been given notice by the Administration, and many of them support critical student services. Among these individuals are the Director of our Passport to Academic Success program, one of only two Academic Advisers in the Spanish-Speaking program, and a Financial Service Coordinator.
What's more interesting is that these people are not new-hires, that five of these people have been working at Kean for 19 to 31 years. Furthermore, not one of these valued staff members was told the reason for their termination.
There has also been contention concerning the Ethnic and Gender makeup of this group of Staff Members:
83% are Women
50% are African-American, including the only two Males in the group
16% are Hispanic
33% are White Women
(Data taken from Dr. Wheeler's article in the KFT Voice)
So, what explanation is the Administration giving in response to questions from the Faculty? Debt Service!
Because of the Farahi Administration's debt, our student body is forced to pay the price. Dr. Katz points out that Kean students are paying 62% more for tuition then they did five years ago and are getting in return a higher student-to-faculty ratio as well as a Faculty that is overstressed by increasing demands from the Administration.
Faculty members now serve as our advisers and councilors as well as our teachers—such a turn of events would not be terrible if there were enough full-time faculty to go around. 75% of Kean's course instructors are Adjuncts who cannot remove registration blocks, and 95% of all Freshmen and Sophomore classes are taught by Adjuncts. This means, in all likelihood, that incoming Kean Students will not have the same opportunity to pursue advisement that upperclassmen do. Furthermore, Faculty who must serve as advisers to Freshmen and Sophomores are unlikely to be able to personalize those students' schedules based on interest or ability.
To quote Dr. Katz, Kean Students are only paying for "more trees and shrubs, more signage and public relations, more buildings and privatized maintenance," and worst of all, "more Deans and Vice Presidents."
For some time it has been my strong convection that part of the Kean administration are corrupt, but is it possible that there are sexist and raciest elements as well?
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point... I think that this requires more than just a comment as a response, because racism is a heavy issue.
ReplyDeleteCheck back later today. I need to collect my thoughts...
This information holds many truths. It raises others to believe that since they were not given a reason for their layoffs, could their race, religion, political view, or sexual orientation be to blame considering the times we live in? Also, the poor economy is affecting everyone but out of respect, the faculty members who have been here longer should at least be given a valid reason. This hurts Kean overall because what if: I am a h.s. student looking to apply to Kean and read this info. Then should I even come to a school where people are let go for no real reason and why would I go to a school where my advisor treats me differently from other students because I am at a lower level than they are? Am I not worthy enough for equal treatment??
ReplyDeleteTyrell, your concerns are incredibly valid and, as detrimental as this sight could prove to a prospective student, I believe its benefit to the current student body is a better-than-even trade. After all, your words that we're not the only ones who are apprehensive.
ReplyDeleteThere is one point I need to make to you and every other student at Kean or prospective high-schooler: Kean's best attribute is its caring and dedicated faculty.
I did not mean to imply that Advisors might treat underclassmen differently because of bias. Rather, my concern is that Advisors who are overloaded and working with Underclassmen who they have never met cannot help these new students select a course load that caters to those Students' particular interests and abilities.
Anyone can tell you what classes you need to graduate, but it takes a skilled Advisor to recommend Professors who cater to your learning style and classes that interact with your past study.
This being the case, TBK (And I'm sure the 12 KFT Staff who have been given notice) are glad to hear that you agree this action by the administration is uncalled for. Considering the repercussions of halving our Spanish Speaking program's Advisory Staff, as well as cutting the heads off Passport and Financial Services, I hope it will be possible to reverse these dismissals.
As far as the rest of the Administration's curious practices go, keep reading TBK because (forgive me for the corniness) Knowledge is Power.
There's a saying that my parents use a lot "the truth hurts". The Farahi Administration might get upset over "eventual" accusations of being a racist and sexist but what other conclusions could we obtain from the following evaluation, i.e 83% of the professional staff are woman and 50% are African-American. What other idea could I get from this.
ReplyDeleteI am a student and am appalled at this whole situation. I was told about the site by a friend at school and I will now go out and tell others to do the same. We need solidarity.
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