My alma mater has fired the president of the university, 8 months after extending her contract. I don't know what could have changed in 8 months when the official position is "enrollment has declined 15% in the three years of her tenure." They offered quite a nice little package to get her out but she refused, so they fired her. Apparently she's thinking about fighting the "wrongful" termination.
I guess the only bright spot is that my beloved President, Diether Haenicke, has been named interim. Diether was prez when I attended and what I remember about him is what I think universities lack these days - I saw him walking on campus, he held open office hours a few times a month where kids could walk in and talk about anything that was on their mind, and I guess mainly that people KNEW him. Who he was, about his family, his love of Western. A good choice for the trustees to make.
My thought about why enrollment is declining at WMU? The only news I receive is about new graduate research facilities, science facilities, engineering facilities, more buildings, buildings, buildings and research, research, research. I don't see where Western is honoring their core - the teaching profession - nor any of the "liberal arts" majors. I also wonder about fees, the requirement of a laptop of all incoming freshmen, and that sort of thing. And the declining income of people in Michigan in general. Ah well, perhaps Diether can rescue things.
I guess the only bright spot is that my beloved President, Diether Haenicke, has been named interim. Diether was prez when I attended and what I remember about him is what I think universities lack these days - I saw him walking on campus, he held open office hours a few times a month where kids could walk in and talk about anything that was on their mind, and I guess mainly that people KNEW him. Who he was, about his family, his love of Western. A good choice for the trustees to make.
My thought about why enrollment is declining at WMU? The only news I receive is about new graduate research facilities, science facilities, engineering facilities, more buildings, buildings, buildings and research, research, research. I don't see where Western is honoring their core - the teaching profession - nor any of the "liberal arts" majors. I also wonder about fees, the requirement of a laptop of all incoming freshmen, and that sort of thing. And the declining income of people in Michigan in general. Ah well, perhaps Diether can rescue things.
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Diether once walked into my residence hall room and introduced himself to my father - now that is a man I want running my school!