Email: Five Priorities for Lifting Faculty Morale

Quoted Document:

From: Nelson Jr., James
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 10:42 AM
To: Faculty; Library
Cc: Newsome, Dr. Clarence G.; Perry, Martel; Thomas, Dr. Herman; Banks, Deogratias; Crawford, Diane
Subject: Five Priorities for Lifting Faculty Morale

Attachment: <>

During the last few weeks, twelve senior faculty members at Shaw University discussed five priorities to improve faculty morale and productivity. The attached report is full of recommendations that will help Shaw grow into the glorious institution we all desire. We seek faculty who firmly, yet respectfully, ask our University to adopt these priorities.

While some may dismiss these priorities as just another criticism of our administration, they are not written to disparage our fine administrators who probably love Shaw as much as we do. In particular, an initial discussion with our Vice President, Dr. Herman Thomas, indicates him to be a concerned, decent man who will support the broad outline of these priorities.

Instead, these priorities are written because we admire our faculty. It saddens us to see so many loyal faculty members at Shaw relegated into low paid jobs where they get dreadful respect, trust, or support. It further dismays us to watch teachers expend much energy either in expressing anger and resentment, or in suppressing those emotions to keep their job. We sought to visualize what outstanding work faculty could accomplish if their presence at Shaw evoked more positive emotions. These recommendations are provided to elicit these positive emotions.

Unfortunately, when faculty members acquiesce without resistance, we align ourselves with the very forces that seek to deny us participation in our university. This acquiescence further assures these forces that we are not worthy. As a consequence, they become emboldened into imposing even harsher sacrifices and penalties on faculty.

We urge all faculty members to do at least two of three simple, non-threatening, yet courageous acts:

(1) Write a letter to our President, Dr. Clarence Newsome, and other top administrators, indicating your support for the priorities and urge the administrators to adopt them;

(2) Introduce motions and suggestions at all future campus meetings involving faculty to discuss and approve recommendations in the priorities, such as

“I move that this area recommends the University reinstates the Faculty Senate by December 1, 2007”

“I recommend that Faculty Salaries be placed on the agenda of our next meeting”

“I propose that Faculty Loads and Overloads be placed on our agenda today”

“I move that this area recommends that the University abolish at-will appointment letters and reinstate a minimum one-year contract by March, 2008”

“I recommend that the University restores faculty input into the governance of the University by December 1, 2007”;

(3) Volunteer to serve on a committee of faculty that will coordinate all further efforts to improve faculty morale and productivity.

When we do these simple acts, we take the first steps that demonstrate our sincere desire to be an integral part in making this University great.