A pending petition

Forty-two Marshall University faculty members  signed a petition urging the Faculty Senate to investigate the grade change of the West Virginia state treasurer’s daughter. 
“I certainly hope that the fact that the signatures reflect a wide variety of departments and programs will indicate to Faculty Senate that the issue is a concern of all faculty on campus,” said Laura Wyant, professor in the College of Education and Human Services.  The signatures are from full-time faculty members.
In May, Emily Perdue, daughter of State Treasurer John Perdue, was assigned two incompletes for independent studies by Wyant.
Rosalyn Templeton, dean of the college of education, became the instructor of the student after a meeting with the student and the student’s father.
Wyant was still listed as the instructor of record when Templeton changed the incompletes to letter grades Sept. 3, which is a violation of university policy.
Wyant said she took the petition to the Faculty Senate office 11 a.m. Monday morning and gave it to secretary Bernice Bullock.  The petition was addressed to Camilla Brammer, Faculty Senate chairwoman.
A call to Brammer for comment was not returned.
Wyant originally asked Faculty Senate in an e-mail to investigate the matter to Brammer on Sept. 24.
Faculty Senate discussed the matter behind closed doors in the October meeting.  Provost Gayle Ormiston spoke about retention efforts, and Brammer asked him to explain himself about an issue on campus. Brammer did not elaborate.  Then, Brammer suggested going into an executive session.
“One thing I wanted out of that investigation was I wanted some policy or something so that this doesn’t happen again to another faculty member,” Wyant said.
The FBI contacted Wyant for information about the situation, Wyant said.
“The Faculty Senate’s review of the situation will not in any way hinder the FBI’s investigation,” Wyant said.    
Wyant said she hopes the signatures move Faculty Senate to act.
“There is a concern across campus about the process that was followed during this particular situation,” Wyant said.

Staci Standiford can be contacted at standiford1@marshall.edu.

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2 comments

To Frustrated

Tue Nov 3 2009 10:34

Are you a grad or an undergrad? If you are a grad may I please see all the work that you compleated over your years attending school. Maybe that will reflect in the countless numbers of hours that it took for you to earn your degree. If you're not a grad then can I see all the work that you are currently doing, rough drafts included. Thank You - just wanted to make sure that you're not someone who is trying to just get the grades.

I think something needs to be done. However I do not think that it is any of my business as to what that is. I think it needs to stay with the parties involved and who ever decides to take action and starts the investigation. The end result is all that the general public should be privy to.

frustrated

Tue Nov 3 2009 08:48

I hope they dont sweep this under the rug like the administration did. How about holding the investigation in public and showing the work this student "earned " two A grades with so the rest of use will know how much effort we are expected to do to "earn" an A grade.

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