Media Credit: File Photo by Kate Carpenter | Staff Photographer
Faculty from non-STEM fields said they have been frustrated with the humanities taking a backseat to STEM priorities during LeBlanc s tenure.
Liberal arts faculty who disapproved of University President Thomas LeBlanc’s leadership welcomed his retirement announcement last week.
A dozen liberal arts professors said LeBlanc’s presidency has been troubled with numerous controversies, like his now likely “obsolete” 20/30 plan to increase STEM enrollment at GW, which sparked concerns that the plan would come at the expense of non-STEM programs. They said they hope the incoming president and the Board of Trustees will collaborate more with faculty on a shared vision for the University that will restore and enhance GW’s reputation.
Media Credit: File Photo by Donna Armstrong
STEM professors said LeBlanc had the right idea in placing an emphasis on advancing STEM but was unable to get the wider University community to stand behind him in this goal.
Despite University President Thomas LeBlanc’s efforts to enhance STEM research and enrollment at GW, mathematics and engineering professors said they’ve been disappointed in his inability to unite the GW community behind his University vision.
LeBlanc faced mountingpressure to resign over the past year as the GW community widely opposed his controversial 20/30 strategic plan to promote STEM development at the expense of the humanities in addition to violations of shared governance principles. More than half a dozen STEM professors said LeBlanc managed the University’s COVID-19 pandemic appropriately but failed to consult the wider University community about his vision to increase GW’s focus on funding, enrollment and academics for STEM disciplines.
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