Administrators

The Pittsburgh office of the National Labor Relations Board on Monday rejected a request by Duquesne University to block a vote by adjuncts on whether to unionize, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Duquesne, a Roman Catholic university, argued that its religious affiliation should exempt it from a union election. But the NLRB noted that Duquesne had agreed to a union vote just weeks earlier, and that long-established NLRB policy bars parties from opting out of an election they have agreed to barring truly unusual circumstances.

Charitable giving to education at all levels hit $38.87 billion 2011, a 4 percent increase, according to the annual "Giving USA" study, released today. Adjusted for inflation, the increase is just under 1 percent, reflecting the slow recovery in giving following the economic downturn of 2008.

Terrence A. Gomes resigned on Monday as president of Roxbury Community College, according to the college's board chair. Roxbury, which is located in Massachusetts, has been dogged by several controversies, The Boston Globe reported, including an ongoing audit by the U.S. Department of Education and a state probe that found questionable allocations of financial aid. The college has also been under fire for allegedly underreporting crime on campus.

A survey being released today suggests that arts graduates -- counter to the stereotype -- are not all facing unemployment. The survey, the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project, includes graduates of arts colleges and of arts programs within broader universities. Among the findings:

• 87 percent of arts graduates who are currently employed are satisfied with the job in which they spend the majority of their work time.
• Of those employed alumni, 82 percent are satisfied with their ability to be creative in their current work, whether working in the arts or in other fields.
• Only 4 percent of respondents report being unemployed and looking for work – less than half the national rate of 8.9 percent.
• 84 percent of employed alumni agree that their current primary job reflects their personalities, interests and values, whether their work is in the arts or other fields.
• Those with degrees in the performing arts and design are the most likely ever to be employed as professional artists, with 82 percent of dance, theater and music performance majors, and 81 percent of design majors working as professional artists at some point.

A new document leaked Thursday raises yet more questions about the ouster of Teresa Sullivan as president of the University of Virginia. Board members have suggested that Sullivan was not "bold" enough or engaged in the kind of strategic thinking that they wanted. But in the memo to board members, Sullivan said she had been explicitly told not to do a full strategic review, but went on to outline a series of strategic issues that needed addressing. Sullivan also outlined difficult challenges -- including a view that some departments at Virginia are resting on their laurels -- suggesting a willingness to ask tough questions. On campus Thursday, faculty members were saying that the memo suggested board members had been terribly unfair in their (minimal) explanations of their decision to seek a new president. The Daily Progress published information about the leaked memo.

Amid all the anger, someone has decided to make a humorous criticism of the university's board by offering it a "final exam." One of the multiple choice questions:

Statements and rumors of all kinds are flying over the decision of the University of Virginia board to oust Teresa Sullivan as president. The decision, announced Sunday, stunned faculty leaders and many others who thought Sullivan was off to a strong start in her nearly two years in office:

• The Council of Chairs and Directors released a letter blasting the way events have transpired. The letter said that these academic leaders were "very pleased" with Sullivan's "superb" leadership, and that they were stunned by her ouster, and frustrated by the lack of faculty knowledge of the reasons behind the board's action. The letter called for "a full airing" of the issues.
• A petition is gathering support calling for the board to reverse itself and to keep Sullivan.
• Helen Dragas, the rector (board chair) released a letter to the faculty in which she said that "the Board of Visitors understands the serious concern and anxiety raised by the announcement of President Sullivan’s agreement to step down. We comprehend how deeply the entire University family feels a sense of loss and distress at what appeared to be an abrupt turn of events." However, citing confidentiality requirements, Dragas said she could not detail the issues that divided Sullivan and the board. She did, however, say that "there was ongoing dialogue with the President over an extended period of time, regarding matters for which we are responsible. These include ensuring the long-term health and well-being of the University through development of a credible statement of strategic direction and a long-term resource plan."

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the University of Cincinnati's limits on protests or political activity outside a "free speech zone" are too restrictive, Cincinnati.com reported. "It is simply unfathomable that a UC student needs to give the university advance notice of an intent to gather signatures for a ballot initiative,” the judge wrote. “There is no danger to public order arising out of students walking around campus with clipboards seeking signatures.” The ruling barred the university from using its existing policy, but permitted the university to propose new rules.