LU's Sewell faces 'no confidence' vote today

Said Sewell, Lincoln University provost and vice president for Academic Affairs
Said Sewell, Lincoln University provost and vice president for Academic Affairs

As Lincoln University faculty members consider how to vote this morning on a proposed "no confidence" vote in Said Sewell's work as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs (VPAA), some alumni are urging them to vote against it.

Greg Hunt, a past president of the Kansas City Alumni chapter, said in a Sunday afternoon email: "We, the alumni of the Lincoln University Alumni Association, passionately condemn the decision to propose a vote of no confidence in the leadership and management style of Dr. Said Sewell.

"Our alumni and stakeholders recognize Dr. Sewell to be a person of unquestionable character who exhibits great skill sets to enhance academic, research and support programs for our alma mater."

But, in a separate email Monday, Mary Rogers - an LU Alumni Association vice president who said she also is the organization's "acting president" - asked Hunt to cease and desist sending such messages.

She added: "The subject of Dr. Sewell is university business. The Alumni Association will have no action with regard to this situation."

However, Hunt told the News Tribune, he sent the email after speaking with quite a few alumni in the Kansas City Metro and other chapters that voiced concern about the vote.

"We all have met Dr. Sewell and think he's a very intelligent educator and administrator," he said, calling Sewell a good fit for the university.

The proposed no confidence resolution, circulated to the faculty last week by the Senate's Executive Committee, argued: "Dr. Sewell has repeatedly violated the principles of shared governance and has not responded in any substantive way to the concerns expressed by our members."

The resolution charges that over the past year, the Faculty Senate said nothing has changed despite complaints to the administration. "If anything, even more violations of our shared governance principles have occurred since that time," it said.

Lincoln's rules and regulations include a chapter, which begins: "The faculty, staff and students of Lincoln University shall share a role in the governance of the institution."

A nine-page "No Confidence Rationale," explaining the proposed resolution, argued: "Under Dr. Sewell, changes to academic programs have occurred that have caused the faculty to have significant concerns about their ability to maintain academic freedom at Lincoln University.

"We are also concerned about the impact these changes could have on the quality of education our students will receive."

The document notes the Faculty Senate has passed numerous resolutions expressing concerns with the VPAA's office, but Sewell didn't take them seriously or respond in any significant fashion.

In his email Sunday, Hunt wrote: "We understand the importance of shared governance and transparent communication; however, we are very concerned how some of the faculty and staff has blatantly displayed their disagreements and disapprovals via local, state and national media outlets."

The Board of Curators' July decision to decertify Lincoln's history degree program has been the subject of several stories in state and national publications.

"We really don't know the internal politics that have taken place there," Hunt said.

He didn't know whether alumni are being told something different from what faculty members are experiencing.

A simple majority vote of the faculty members attending today's meeting is all that's needed to approve the no confidence proposal.

Faculty Senate members also are being asked to approve proposals to:

Urge President Kevin Rome to complete the process of LU's faculty and staff joining Missouri Consolidated Health Care.

Amend the Faculty Senate Bylaws to create a Faculty Senate liaison to the Board of Curators.

Create a Faculty/Staff Informational Panel to be present and officially recognized at all future Board of Curators meetings.

Re-create a standing University Budget Committee.