Mankato profs vote no confidence in chancellor

Minnesota State University - Mankato professors have joined the ranks of faculty dissatisfied with Chancellor Steven Rosenstone.

This announcement just in from campus Faculty Association President Mary Frances Visser:

Minnesota State University, Mankato Faculty Vote “No Confidence” in MnSCU Chancellor Rosenstone”

The Executive Committee of the Minnesota State University, Mankato Faculty Association unanimously voted “no confidence” in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Chancellor Steven Rosenstone at their regular meeting on Thursday, October 30.

This action follows similar votes from the executive committees or senates at both Winona State University and St. Cloud State University. These three campuses are the largest of the four-year schools in the system and represent over half of the students and faculty. All are member of the Inter Faculty Organization, which is the bargaining unit that represents four-year faculty.

Questions about Chancellor Rosenstone’s leadership of MnSCU have been discussed at the IFO State Board as well as the Mankato campus for the past year. Much of the concern has centered on his handling of the Charting the Future (CtF) initiative but extends much further into his oversight of the system.

Outlined in a Bill of Particulars drafted last June, issues include the failure of Chancellor Rosenstone to represent our system effectively at the Minnesota Legislature, to comply with legislative mandates, and to bring our faculty contract to a timely completion. Other particulars cite: His failure to include: faculty input into budget processes and planning initiatives; instances of Rosenstone’s secretive, non-inclusionary, and damaging management decisions, such the hiring of expensive outside contractors (McKinsey) to support “Charting the Future.” He spent $2 million on consultants while the state campuses were suffering crippling budget shortfalls and struggling with declining enrollment.

The failure of MnSCU leadership is all the more disappointing to [MSU - Mankato] faculty as shared governance as practiced at the local campus has resulted in a positive and productive working environment, a relatively stable enrollment, and a good financial footing

The Faculty Association hopes that its action will encourage the MnSCU Board of Trustees to take a greater role in oversight of MnSCU and redirect the Chancellor to more open and participatory leadership.

Again, I've contacted MnSCU for a response.

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