Marquette faculty consider no-confidence vote in administration

[The Lens]

Sultan, what's going on here?  Is MU right sizing and predictably the rank and file don't like it, or is the admin not navigating the waters well enough?

JSOnline Article

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

So I can't read the article cause I don't have a subscription. But my guess is that, with the news that the University is also trying to thwart an effort by non-tenured faculty to unionize, that Marquette is seeking to reduce the number of tenure track positions in lower demand areas - likely the humanities and social sciences. And will instead use more "visiting faculty" or non-tenure track faculty that come with more flexibility.

The no-confidence vote is usually somewhat of a last resort, and honestly doesn't mean anywhere near what it did a couple decades ago. Just Google up the phrase and you will see a lot of schools going through this. In fact, I think it can generally backfire with the institution's governance by making the faculty look out of touch with a school's financial realities.

Don't get me wrong. It's never good when faculty and the administration don't get along. You really want everyone on the same page when schools trying to navigate what is increasingly a difficult environment. And it doesn't help when MU is searching for a president. But in the end, its likely not going to stop Marquette from doing what it feels it needs to do moving forward.

I do think it makes it harder for Kimo Ah Yun to get the gig permanently if he wants it - but the faculty may want to be careful if they think an outsider is going to be more sympathetic.

[forgetful]

So I can't read the article cause I don't have a subscription. But my guess is that, with the news that the University is also trying to thwart an effort by non-tenured faculty to unionize, that Marquette is seeking to reduce the number of tenure track positions in lower demand areas - likely the humanities and social sciences. And will instead use more "visiting faculty" or non-tenure track faculty that come with more flexibility.

The no-confidence vote is usually somewhat of a last resort, and honestly doesn't mean anywhere near what it did a couple decades ago. Just Google up the phrase and you will see a lot of schools going through this. In fact, I think it can generally backfire with the institution's governance by making the faculty look out of touch with a school's financial realities.

Don't get me wrong. It's never good when faculty and the administration don't get along. You really want everyone on the same page when schools trying to navigate what is increasingly a difficult environment. And it doesn't help when MU is searching for a president. But in the end, its likely not going to stop Marquette from doing what it feels it needs to do moving forward.

I do think it makes it harder for Kimo Ah Yun to get the gig permanently if he wants it - but the faculty may want to be careful if they think an outsider is going to be more sympathetic.

Using a religious exemption to block unionization is a very bad look, and poor leadership/administration. There were so many better solutions than this and it is the culmination of a series of unfortunate decisions, and I would understand a lack of confidence in the administration.

That said, I agree with you that such a vote of no-confidence really doesn't mean much, and isn't going to stop from Marquette from doing what they want.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Using a religious exemption to block unionization is a very bad look, and poor leadership/administration. There were so many better solutions than this and it is the culmination of a series of unfortunate decisions, and I would understand a lack of confidence in the administration.

That said, I agree with you that such a vote of no-confidence really doesn't mean much, and isn't going to stop from Marquette from doing what they want.

Yeah the religious exemption excuse is pretty weak. No doubt about that.

[mu_hilltopper]

Archive.is is your friend:

https://archive.is/20241119200808/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2024/11/19/marquette-university-faculty-consider-no-confidence-vote/76408852007/

[dgies9156]

Yeah the religious exemption excuse is pretty weak. No doubt about that.

That's not what religious exemptions are for!

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Archive.is is your friend:

https://archive.is/20241119200808/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2024/11/19/marquette-university-faculty-consider-no-confidence-vote/76408852007/

Yeah, this is pretty much what I figured. The faculty view is that they were not consulted as much as they should have been on the cuts that took place. The administration disagrees.

[The Lens]

Is this all on Kimo or has this been building?

[MUfan12]

Is this all on Kimo or has this been building?

From my understanding it's been building. I think they turned the heat down after Lovell's passing.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Is this all on Kimo or has this been building?

The Provost, as the chief academic officer, is always going to take the heat from the faculty. Often the Provost serves as the "bad cop" so the President can stay above the infighting.

I once worked for a school where the faculty sued the Board of Trustees during the presidential search process. The new president hired a pretty hard-a$$ provost, who did a really good job, but had no chance on getting the gig when the president retired.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I do think it makes it harder for Kimo Ah Yun to get the gig permanently if he wants i

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Not only was I spectacularly wrong about this, I was wrong about this in less than 24 hours!


https://x.com/MarquetteU/status/1859326491915694367

[tower912]

On to the AD.

[TallTitan34]

On to the AD.

While Craig Pintens is my hero and I want him to return, I think Broeker probably makes the most sense. 

[Billy Hoyle]

While Craig Pintens is my hero and I want him to return, I think Broeker probably makes the most sense. 

I definitely think Broeker is the most likely. I'd rank Brian Hardin of Drake (former MU athlete, Scholl's protege, Deputy AD at MU, and a really strong record as AD there) as the second option.  He's the guy who hired Darian DeVries.

https://godrakebulldogs.com/staff.aspx?staff=296

[4everwarriors]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Not only was I spectacularly wrong about this, I was wrong about this in less than 24 hours!


https://x.com/MarquetteU/status/1859326491915694367




First time ever, hey?

[wadesworld]

Main objective for Yun and for a new AD hire is keeping Shaka happy.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Main objective for Yun and for a new AD hire is keeping Shaka happy.

He m not sure it's the "main objective," but it's certainly important.

[wadesworld]

He m not sure it's the "main objective," but it's certainly important.

Yeah, I know.  As an MU basketball fan, that's the only thing I personally care about.  But in reality, it isn't the main objective but it is more important than that would be at most schools.

[Uncle Rico]

Shaka to Virginia picking up steam

[MU82]

Congratulations to Dr. Ah Yun.

In addition to wishing him good fortune as he serves our students and the entire university, here's hoping he is as supportive of Marquette athletics as his predecessor was.

[Apolitical Warrior]

Congratulations to Dr. Ah Yun.

In addition to wishing him good fortune as he serves our students and the entire university, here's hoping he is as supportive of Marquette athletics as his predecessor was.

Congratulations to Dr. Ah Yun.

In addition to wishing him good fortune as he serves our students and the entire university, here's hoping he is as supportive of Marquette athletics as his predecessor was.

A president named Ah should be a nice boost for the dental school

[WarriorFan]

Sorry.  Bad choice.  He's a nothing.  Very disappointing.

[Scoop Snoop]

Shaka to Virginia picking up steam

Works for me. I could get season tickets and be at every home game.

[forgetful]

Congratulations to Dr. Ah Yun.

In addition to wishing him good fortune as he serves our students and the entire university, here's hoping he is as supportive of Marquette athletics as his predecessor was.

I'm definitely wishing him the best. But this does not look like a good hire, I'm wondering if due to the budget cuts and backlash that other candidates bowed out.

His number 1 priority needs to be a major capital campaign. MU really needs to double its endowment.

[MU82]

I don't follow the inner workings of Marquette's hierarchy.

Why is this a bad hire?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I'm definitely wishing him the best. But this does not look like a good hire, I'm wondering if due to the budget cuts and backlash that other candidates bowed out.

His number 1 priority needs to be a major capital campaign. MU really needs to double its endowment.

My guess is they wanted continuity - they ran the search off cycle and hired quickly. Hopefully it works.

Also they just wrapped up a pretty successful campaign just over a year ago. I'm sure they are already planning the next one.

[muwarrior69]

I'm definitely wishing him the best. But this does not look like a good hire, I'm wondering if due to the budget cuts and backlash that other candidates bowed out.

His number 1 priority needs to be a major capital campaign. MU really needs to double its endowment tuition.

Then maybe they can offer their non-tenured faculty better pay, benefits and working conditions.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Then maybe they can offer their non-tenured faculty better pay, benefits and working conditions.

I really am interested to here what your solution is to your problem with Marquette's tuition pricing. You complain a lot about it, but really don't offer much in the way of solutions.

[WarriorFan]

I don't follow the inner workings of Marquette's hierarchy.

Why is this a bad hire?

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

LOL, there is no "side agreement." Seriously? He's the new President.

Obviously you don't like the choice for whatever reason. ("Diversity hire..."      )  The Trustees disagree. I guess we will see.

[jesmu84]

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

Is he just a diversity hire? Why would the university place someone in a position where they're unqualified? Was he qualified for his prior position?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

He's plenty qualified. Whether or not he will be good at the job remains to be seen. Hopefully he will be.

[Zog from Margo]

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

Diversity hire? Seriously. Are you concerned he won't do as good a job as Fr. Pillarz or Fr. (MU Gold) DiUlio?

[tower912]

Trying not to be political here, but you are correct, Zog.  MU has had celibate white males who were poor presidents.   To criticize this hire simply simply due to pigmentation and ethnic background is poor form.

He may be good, he may be bad.  Whatever the answer is, it has nothing to do with his parents.

All we can do is hope he succeeds, as that would mean MU succeeds.

[100AcreNation]

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

Providing no other reason for why this wasn't a good hire besides calling him a "diversity hire" is a surefire way to know that you have no idea what you're talking about. How about providing decisions or policies that President Ah Yun implemented that you disagreed with? Otherwise you just sound like a whiny bigot.

[Warrior2008]

Trying not to be political here, but you are correct, Zog.  MU has had celibate white males who were poor presidents.  To criticize this hire simply simply due to pigmentation and ethnic background is poor form.

He may be good, he may be bad.  Whatever the answer is, it has nothing to do with his parents.

All we can do is hope he succeeds, as that would mean MU succeeds.

Well said.  Kimo is a good man and is worthy of the promotion.  Time will tell if he's a good President, he certainly has huge shoes to fill.  But I'd rather take my chances with a known figure who was the right hand person of the last guy(who was pretty successful), than a complete unknown from the outside.

[swoopem]

I'm assuming him and Shaka already know he each other and have a good relationship. That's good enough for me. Now let's focus on growth and victory

[MU82]

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

Ah, so you offer no evidence whatsoever to support your claim that "there is no way this is the best candidate." You're just leaning on a racist, political-talking-point reason for disliking the hire. Thanks!

[forgetful]

I don't follow the inner workings of Marquette's hierarchy.

Why is this a bad hire?

This is just my personal opinion. Usually a President hire involves bringing someone in from prestigious peer/aspirant universities, to look like a splash hire and to drive excitement and to institute change/growth.

This was an internal hire, of a qualified, but not exceptional candidate, during a time of significant upheaval at MU.

My guess, is that like Sultan indicated, this was a continuity hire, to maintain the direction of planned budget cuts by the board of trustees. It is likely that external candidates were likely to want to institute their own plan/vision, and/or were not enthusiastic about the current internal issues at MU.

So one of two possibilities. A continuity hire, or a lack of interest by strong external candidates. Both are not good situations for the University and why I called it a bad hire (but might be their only or best choice).

[Badgerhater]

As long as the new president doesn't mess with Shaka Smart's happy he will be fine.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Usually a President hire involves bringing someone in from prestigious peer/aspirant universities, to look like a splash hire and to drive excitement and to institute change/growth.

The last guy we hired from UWM.

[MU82]

The last guy we hired from UWM.

Yep ... you beat me to it. Some thought Lovell was a bad hire and that Marquette had settled. I think most came to believe Lovell was a darn good university president.

"Good" hires can come from anywhere, as can "bad" hires.

Because I have seen no information leading me to believe otherwise, I'm going to trust Marquette's process, believe them when they say Dr. Ah Yun deserved the promotion, and hope he's a very good president for my alma mater.

[Uncle Rico]

Yep ... you beat me to it. Some thought Lovell was a bad hire and that Marquette had settled. I think most came to believe Lovell was a darn good university president.

"Good" hires can come from anywhere, as can "bad" hires.

Because I have seen no information leading me to believe otherwise, I'm going to trust Marquette's process, believe them when they say Dr. Ah Yun deserved the promotion, and hope he's a very good president for my alma mater.

Some here didn't like Lovell

[rocket surgeon]

He's plenty qualified. Whether or not he will be good at the job remains to be seen. Hopefully he will be.

  oh, so

My guess is they wanted continuity - they ran the search off cycle and hired quickly. Hopefully it works.

Also they just wrapped up a pretty successful campaign just over a year ago. I'm sure they are already planning the next one.

 the search checked the box just like the vote for the nickname change

I believe our HAVE to have a "search"

[Uncle Rico]

oh, so
 the search checked the box just like the vote for the nickname change

I believe our HAVE to have a "search"

7 out of 10

[Lennys Tap]

His number 1 priority needs to be a major capital campaign. MU really needs to double its endowment.

Buy bitcoin.

[MU82]

Some here didn't like Lovell

I remember that there was one numb-nuts who couldn't even give a rational reason for why he hated Lovell, but maybe there were others. I mostly remember Scoopers growing to appreciate Mike, though maybe I'm misremembering.

[4everwarriors]

Half-Heimers, aina?

[MUfan12]

A lot of the same faculty complaints were aimed at Lovell as well, so that doesn't bother me about the hire.

As for athletics, you can see Kimo stand and jump up when Stevie canned the three to give Kam the triple double. He made mention at his introduction of how he lost his voice at the game.

[tower912]

AD up next.

[Skatastrophy]

Half-Heimers, aina?

Is that like a half-chub?

[forgetful]

The last guy we hired from UWM.

Lovell had some risks associated with his hire, but he had been the equivalent of University President for 3-years already. He was a prolific researcher who was known for bringing in money.

He was hired to bring in money, and was well qualified to complete that task.

He would have been competitive for equivalent position at peer and aspirant universities.

This hire, as you noted, looks like the goal is to create continuity. Maintaining the status quo is not what MU needs.

Again, I wish him the best, and he is a well respected professor, but I think MU settled here.

Or, I'm just bitter, because the search committee didn't contact me.

[TallTitan34]

you can see Kimo stand and jump up when Stevie canned the three to give Kam the triple double. He made mention at his introduction of how he lost his voice at the game.

Got lost in the fight.

[real chili 83]

It's hard to get rid of diversity hires even when they fail.  There is no way this is the best candidate if a proper search was done.  I just hope there's a side agreement that he gets the job for 2 years while they find a proper leader.  He gets it on his resume and leaves quietly and the university gets time to find someone who will properly take the institution forward. 

That's a really bad look.  Assuming that a hire is just because of minority status.  How about this take...he is qualified for the job.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I've gotten to speak to Dr Ay Yun and hear him give an address to crowds of donors since he became president and I came away impressed. Theres a lot more to being president then that of course,  so we will see how it works out.

[Billy Hoyle]

No Confidence vote passes. Of course it was led by a Philosophy professor.

https://marquettewire.org/4129253/news/marquette-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-university-leadership/

https://marquettewire.org/4128060/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-do-marquettes-administrators-understand-marquettes-values/J

[WarriorFan]

That's a really bad look.  Assuming that a hire is just because of minority status.  How about this take...he is qualified for the job.

Ready the university's announcement - it basically says 3 things - diversity, catholic, and continuity.  Not one single achievement cited.  Because there are none.  That's a diversity hire, and that's a problem.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

I'm assuming him and Shaka already know he each other and have a good relationship. That's good enough for me. Now let's focus on growth and victory

Shaka and Kimo are tight. This hire will definitely make Shaka happy

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Ready the university's announcement - it basically says 3 things - diversity, catholic, and continuity.  Not one single achievement cited.  Because there are none.  That's a diversity hire, and that's a problem.

1. That's not accurate

2. Thinking a university announcement should be a list of accomplishments is lol-worthy

3. Doubling down on a dumb take is a choice I guess.

[Uncle Rico]

Shaka and Kimo are tight. This hire will definitely make Shaka happy

Well, some thought Shaka was a diversity hire

[forgetful]

1. That's not accurate

2. Thinking a university announcement should be a list of accomplishments is lol-worthy

3. Doubling down on a dumb take is a choice I guess.

Agreed. As I noted, I don't love this hire, but calling it a diversity hire is just dumb.

[real chili 83]

Ready the university's announcement - it basically says 3 things - diversity, catholic, and continuity.  Not one single achievement cited.  Because there are none.  That's a diversity hire, and that's a problem.

Ummm...you made that up.

[Billy Hoyle]

Ready the university's announcement - it basically says 3 things - diversity, catholic, and continuity.  Not one single achievement cited.  Because there are none.  That's a diversity hire, and that's a problem.

I'm very much opposed to DEI but nowhere in this announcement is there anything about diversity, unless you are triggered by the use of "first generation" and that can apply to any race or ethnicity.

https://today.marquette.edu/2024/11/acting-president-and-provost-kimo-ah-yun-unanimously-elected-25th-president-of-marquette-university/

It's about continuity more than anything, IMO. A safe hire in a time of instability.