Tag Archives: Termination

Union president says professor’s dismissal first in 25 years

Calgary Herald: Union president says professor’s dismissal first in 25 years

OTTAWA — Denis Rancourt is the first tenured professor fired by the University of Ottawa in at least 25 years, according to the president of the university’s professors’ union.

“To my recollection, it generally doesn’t happen at the university,” said Atef Fatim, president of the Association of Professors at the University of Ottawa.

Rancourt, a physics professor and self-described anarchist, was suspended by the university in December after attracting national media attention for his unorthodox teaching methods, which included giving an A-plus to every student in an upper-year physics class.

Ottawa professor fired over perfect grades

National Post: Ottawa professor fired over perfect grades

OTTAWA — The University of Ottawa has fired its controversial physics professor, Denis Rancourt.

He was suspended in December after he attracted national attention for his teaching methods, including giving a grade of A-plus to every student in an advanced physics class.

Rancourt plans to grieve the dismissal with his union, which in turn will take it to court, he said.

Court Upholds Dismissal of Delaware State Professor

Inside Higher Ed: Court Upholds Dismissal of Delaware State Professor

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld Delaware State University’s firing of a professor, Wendell Gorum, after he was found to have changed grades and enrollment status in official university records for 48 students. Gorum claimed that he was fired in retaliation for certain statements he made in the context of his job duties — statements that disagreed with administration positions. The court rejected Gorum’s free speech claims, citing a Supreme Court ruling in 2006 that limited the free speech rights of public employees when they are speaking on job-related matters, not simply speaking as public citizens. That decision has concerned advocates for public college faculty members, fearing that they could be punished for criticizing administrators. In the Delaware State case, however, the appeals court found that Gorum’s conduct changing grades would have led to his firing, for legitimate reasons, even if he had never spoken out in ways that may have offended the administration. Gorum’s actions changing grades, the court found, showed “disregard for the academic integrity of DSU.”

SU president’s contract not renewed

Advocate: SU president’s contract not renewed

The Southern University Board of Supervisors voted 11-5 not to renew Southern President Ralph Slaughter’s contract. Though the board found Slaughter’s job performance satisfactory, they decided to meet again on April 15 to determine if he would be put on administrative leave until his contract expires on June 30.

Texas: UTMB faculty members fight for old jobs

The Galveston County Daily News: UTMB faculty members fight for old jobs

GALVESTON — Hearings have begun for about 30 University of Texas Medical Branch faculty members who are fighting for jobs lost in mass layoffs after Hurricane Ike.

The 30 are among 127 faculty members dismissed after the Sept. 13 storm flooded more than 1 million square feet of buildings on the island campus, knocking John Sealy Hospital, its main revenue maker, out of commission for months.

Washington: Denial of tenure spurs grievance, accusations; Clark College newspaper adviser suspects retribution

The Columbian: Denial of tenure spurs grievance, accusations

Clark College newspaper adviser suspects retribution

Clark College got a surprise in 2006-07 when the new faculty adviser for the school’s student-run newspaper pushed an aggressive, investigative style that pleased some on campus but chafed at several administrators.

Edgy stories and editorials in The Independent questioned campus security, the competence of student advising and top-level decisions to eliminate academic programs or trim services in response to the current deep state budget crisis.

Judge rejects suit in firing of Alabama university president

The Huntsville Times: Judge rejects Jennings suit in A&M firing

School’s trustees had argued forboard’s immunity

An Etowah County circuit judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed in July by former Alabama A&M University President Robert R. Jennings against the university’s board of trustees.

Editor of Turkish Scientific Journal Reportedly Is Sacked for Darwin Cover Story

Hurriyet: 200 years after Darwin, 83 years after Scopes

ANKARA – A last-minute decision to pull Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, off the cover of a top Turkish scientific journal and the chief editor off the job has fueled criticism that Turkey’s national research council is too politicized.

Ward Churchill’s Day in Court Arrives

The Chronicle: Ward Churchill’s Day in Court Arrives

The trial in Ward Churchill’s lawsuit against the University of Colorado got under way here on Tuesday with lawyers for the opposing sides painting starkly different pictures of both the controversial ethnic-studies professor and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal by the university in 2007.

U Wisconsin fires prof for truancy

Chicago Tribune: U Wisconsin fires prof for truancy

MADISON, Wis. – An accounting professor fired for not showing up for a job at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire said Thursday his absence was the result of eye surgery and he planned to work there.

Philip Siegel said he gave up a job at Florida Atlantic University and moved near Eau Claire for the position last summer. He said he had a university office and computer, published papers under the school’s name and went to a national conference for accountants before his contract started in August.

Prof fired for giving all A+s

Globe and Mail: Professor makes his mark, but it costs him his job

OTTAWA — On the first day of his fourth-year physics class, University of Ottawa professor Denis Rancourt announced to his students that he had already decided their marks: Everybody was getting an A+.