The resolution articulates “serious concerns” about University leaders’ ability to advance GW’s mission in response to the results of the recent faculty survey.
Media Credit: File Photos by Jack Borowiak and Jack Fonseca | Staff Photographers
As the Board of Trustees conduct its regular review of University President Thomas LeBlanc, some faculty doubt that LeBlanc will be able to rebuild trust with the community.
Faculty said University President Thomas LeBlanc may not be able to salvage relationships with the GW community on the heels of a year marked by ongoing tensions between the two and calls for LeBlanc to resign.
Tensions between LeBlanc and faculty members have been escalating since last February but have heightened this past year as various student groups, faculty and alumni launched petitions and statements criticizing his performance and calling for his resignation. Now, as the Board of Trustees works to conduct its standard review of LeBlanc – which they last conducted in spring 2019 – half a dozen faculty members said relations with the administration may have “passed the point of no return,” as they continue to await
Columns By Kiran Hoeffner-Shah Apr 19, 2021 1:22 AM
The GW community’s tolerance of University President Thomas LeBlanc’s leadership is dwindling.
Students have expressed previous frustration with LeBlanc, ranging from criticism over insensitive remarks to concerns about an extravagant inauguration in his very first semester at GW. Faculty and students have found themselves angered over layoffs and have expressed frustration with LeBlanc’s administrative priorities, like his 20/30 plan that has now gone stagnant because of the COVID-19 pandemic or his decision to hire Heather Swain. But until recently, those concerns had been limited to faculty senators or members of the Faculty Association, who make up a minority of overall faculty.
Media Credit: File Photo by Eric Lee
Faculty approved the survey s launch in November after tensions rose with administrators over enrollment and hiring decisions.
Professors expressed “overwhelmingly negative” views of GW’s leadership and campus climate in a recent faculty-wide survey, raising concerns over major University initiatives and a lack of collaboration, documents reveal.
Faculty noted GW’s leadership team, consultation, decision-making, University vision and competence as their top five concerns, according to an analysis conducted by the group of faculty managing the survey, which was obtained by The Hatchet. The widespread concerns in the more than 4,000 qualitative faculty responses address administrators’ “overall capacities, values and performance,” the group said.
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