University of Windsor faculty questions appointment of interim president Kneale
Issue of transparency and governance cited over decision without explanation
The Windsor University Faculty Association is questioning the legitimacy of Monday’s decision by the Board of Governors to appoint provost and vice-president Douglas Kneale as interim president. Kneale will take over July 1 while the board continues its search for a permanent replacement for current president Alan Wildeman. Wildeman had announced a year ago his intention to depart after completing his term June 30. “There’s growing consternation on campus among faculty that we haven’t heard a thing for a year now,” said WUFA president Jeff Noonan, who added faculty are “shocked” over the appointment. “The Board of Governors has made a decision to appoint an interim president with no explanation to faculty, the student body and the broader community.
“We have no issue with the individual appointed, but it’s an issue of transparency and governance.” Noonan said there’s concern about not having a president in place at a time when the university has been building momentum, hiring new faculty and enhancing its image nationally.
“We don’t want to lose that momentum,” said Noonan, who confirmed there are two or three faculty members who are serving on the presidential search committee. “This is not the way to do it. “There’s a suspicion growing about the process, about what’s actually happened. There’s a vacuum that’s being filled with speculation and that’s not helpful.”
John Coleman, the university’s director of public affairs and communications, said the university doesn’t feel the faculty has been kept in the dark.
“The board of governors has recently issued two communications to the campus community in regards to the search,” Coleman said. “I believe the second update issued March 1 answered the questions put forward in the (faculty) news release.
“In addition, we can’t speak about why a candidate declined an offer.”
In the March 1 statement, the board of governors confirmed a qualified individual had been identified and offered the position. However, for personal reasons unrelated to the university, the individual declined the offer. The governors added it wasn’t realistic to identify a new candidate by the end of June and authorized the search committee to continue its search in the new academic year. Coleman said there’s no time frame attached to Kneale’s appointment. It’s the university’s intention a qualified candidate be in place as soon as possible. In addition Wildeman said he would make an announcement about an acting Provost and Vice-President, Academic, to fill in for Kneale, in the coming weeks. “It doesn’t say anything,” said Noonan, of the governors’ March 1 statement.
“It doesn’t say how deep was the pool of talent considered? Was there a second candidate on the list? How many were shortlisted and if there was only one candidate, why was the pool of talent so shallow? “The key question is why don’t we have a president after a yearlong search?”
Noonan said the faculty association isn’t looking for personal details, candidate names and isn’t interested in placing blame. However, he also conceded there’s nothing compelling the university ’s administration to give such an update.
Noonan said he’s received no response to the association’s news release and wasn’t sure there would be one. “Ironically, I’m going to be seeing Alan Wildeman at the official signing of our new collective agreement (Tuesday afternoon),” Noonan said. “I’m going to have to tell him, ‘Alan, you’re a hard man to replace.’”