Rider AAUP Executive Committee Recommendations Concerning Credo Consulting
Dear Colleagues, Below are the recommendations from the AAUP Executive Committee.
Faculty should be aware that the hiring of Credo and the ‘strategic prioritization of academic resources’ process that will follow were initiated outside of the shared-governance structure and without the input of the faculty and the AAUP. Instead faculty were presented with these as fait accompli. Credo will function as an external assessor that will justify disastrous past administrative practice, and embolden further missteps—while giving the false impression that implementation is the result of consensus-building. Credo’s expertise and credibility are very much in question.
The AAUP has surveyed Credo client-institutions and those universities that Credo showcases in their promotional material and found a very disturbing pattern of deep cuts of programs and departments, and reduction in student services. Many of these institutions followed the now discredited prioritization process by Dickeson (https://usaskfaculty.ca/2013/11/15/the-emperor-isnt-wearing-any-clothes-intellectually-bankrupt-academic-prioritization/) that Rider will also use. Note that the Dickeson model immediately assumes that at least 20 percent of programs should be cut, another 20 consolidated, and another 20 given reduced funding. It does not effectively hold administrative structures to the same scrutiny, and in our case, those administrative structures have become overwhelmingly damaging to the Rider community of students, faculty, and staff.
We ask faculty to carefully consider the choices which must be made in the next few weeks. These actions will have a significant impact on the future of our university.
The Executive Committee strongly recommends that you stand in solidarity with fellow faculty members and in non-compliance with the administration’s misguided attempts to veil their failed management decisions and scapegoat the faculty and external circumstances for Rider’s economic problems that were instead caused by years of poor management decisions.
Our specific recommendations to the bargaining unit are as follows:
1. We strongly recommend that bargaining unit members should not participate in Credo focus groups, task forces, or any other events, even if these events are advertised as student-centric. The student experience is inextricably linked to their programs of study, which are overseen by the faculty.
2. Furthermore, we ask you to document, on your social media accounts, the effects of Credo, the prioritization process, and the administration’s continued mismanagement of the university. Spread the word!
3. The AAUP will begin a blog that will be accessible to all Rider faculty with the objective to provide a platform where we chronicle and document our experience with Credo and the subsequent prioritization process.
4. In addition, in the next few weeks, we will call on you to come out with your students and engage in educational but disruptive actions. Credo encourages leadership “through disruption.” Let’s show them what democratic leadership through disruption looks like!
Barbara Franz
President, AAUP
on behalf of the AAUP Executive Committee
Faculty should be aware that the hiring of Credo and the ‘strategic prioritization of academic resources’ process that will follow were initiated outside of the shared-governance structure and without the input of the faculty and the AAUP. Instead faculty were presented with these as fait accompli. Credo will function as an external assessor that will justify disastrous past administrative practice, and embolden further missteps—while giving the false impression that implementation is the result of consensus-building. Credo’s expertise and credibility are very much in question.
The AAUP has surveyed Credo client-institutions and those universities that Credo showcases in their promotional material and found a very disturbing pattern of deep cuts of programs and departments, and reduction in student services. Many of these institutions followed the now discredited prioritization process by Dickeson (https://usaskfaculty.ca/2013/11/15/the-emperor-isnt-wearing-any-clothes-intellectually-bankrupt-academic-prioritization/) that Rider will also use. Note that the Dickeson model immediately assumes that at least 20 percent of programs should be cut, another 20 consolidated, and another 20 given reduced funding. It does not effectively hold administrative structures to the same scrutiny, and in our case, those administrative structures have become overwhelmingly damaging to the Rider community of students, faculty, and staff.
We ask faculty to carefully consider the choices which must be made in the next few weeks. These actions will have a significant impact on the future of our university.
The Executive Committee strongly recommends that you stand in solidarity with fellow faculty members and in non-compliance with the administration’s misguided attempts to veil their failed management decisions and scapegoat the faculty and external circumstances for Rider’s economic problems that were instead caused by years of poor management decisions.
Our specific recommendations to the bargaining unit are as follows:
1. We strongly recommend that bargaining unit members should not participate in Credo focus groups, task forces, or any other events, even if these events are advertised as student-centric. The student experience is inextricably linked to their programs of study, which are overseen by the faculty.
2. Furthermore, we ask you to document, on your social media accounts, the effects of Credo, the prioritization process, and the administration’s continued mismanagement of the university. Spread the word!
3. The AAUP will begin a blog that will be accessible to all Rider faculty with the objective to provide a platform where we chronicle and document our experience with Credo and the subsequent prioritization process.
4. In addition, in the next few weeks, we will call on you to come out with your students and engage in educational but disruptive actions. Credo encourages leadership “through disruption.” Let’s show them what democratic leadership through disruption looks like!
Barbara Franz
President, AAUP
on behalf of the AAUP Executive Committee