photo by: Journal-World Photo Illustration

Lawrence Journal-World Editorial

There is no reason for the University of Kansas to be in such a hurry to fill one if its dean positions that it is willing to set aside traditional protocols.

In fact, given the university’s plans to cut $20 million from its operating budget, every job that comes open should be scrutinized to determine if it’s essential to the university, including dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

This week KU interim Provost Carl Lejuez came under criticism from faculty and staff for suggesting that Clarence Lang be appointed dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Lang, who is the interim CLAS dean, said he has received a job offer from another university and Lejuez is trying to act quickly to keep him.

Lejuez sent an email Thursday to faculty, staff and students seeking feedback on his idea to appoint Lang to the role for a three-year term. Lejuez asked for feedback by Dec. 27, then extended the deadline to 5 p.m. Jan. 3. Lejuez was the CLAS dean before agreeing to serve as interim provost, replacing Neeli Bendapudi last year.

Normally, a dean is appointed only after a search committee has identified and interviewed multiple candidates and finalists have met with the university community and made formal presentations.

“I can’t imagine it is a good thing to simply appoint a dean without a search regardless of how good a job he is doing,” Susan B. Twombly, professor and chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, wrote in a response to Lejuez that she shared with the Journal-World. “Doing so violates some of the fundamental traditions of academia in which faculty play a role in selecting their colleagues and also administrators of academic units.”

Shawn Alexander, the incoming Faculty Senate president, criticized Lejuez for seeking feedback at a time when faculty, staff and students are on holiday break.

Criticism of the timing and of the effort to circumvent the process is fair.

Lejuez labeled his email as “urgent.” He said the university needed to act quickly, because losing Lang now would be critical given the university is in the final stages of the budget cuts and developing a new budget model.

But shouldn’t the opposite be true? The university is seeking to eliminate 150 positions, mostly through attrition. While the university should work to retain its best and brightest, it also has a responsibility to scrutinize every opening to determine if there isn’t a more efficient way to deliver those services.

As interim provost, Lejuez has been tasked with leading the financial reorganization at the university. He has worked hard to be open and honest with faculty and staff on that process and has earned a level of respect and trust as a result. But the move to install Lang as CLAS dean threatens to undermine that trust and Lejuez would be wise to rethink his approach.