Emails reveal OU Faculty Senate is working to challenge the formalization of a policy by university leadership to suspend any faculty member who receives a student complaint.
According to an email obtained by the Daily, the OU Faculty Senate learned during its monthly meeting Monday that it is now university policy to give paid suspension to any faculty member against whom a student has filed a complaint.
In a Thursday email to Gaylord College faculty, John Schmeltzer — a journalism professor and faculty senator — briefed the college on conversations held at the Faculty Senate meeting, in which new policies regarding academic appeals were particularly highlighted.
“During the course of the debate, it was disclosed that it is now policy of the university to suspend any faculty member with pay against whom a student has lodged a complaint. The faculty member is suspended under the Title IX program,” Schmeltzer wrote. “This was new information to everyone in attendance.”
Schmeltzer wrote that senators vocally objected to the lack of challenge by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee to the new policy.
The policy comes two weeks after a graduate student instructor was placed on leave during the university’s investigation of junior psychology student Samantha Fulnecky’s public contest of a failing grade for a Bible-based essay.
Another graduate instructor was removed on Dec. 5 after she reportedly told students she would excuse any absence for attending a protest in support of the graduate instructor placed on leave but would not excuse absences for counter-protesters.
In a Friday email to OU Daily, Schmeltzer confirmed the new policy has not been presented and faculty was not notified. He wrote the grade appeals process is typically handled by individual colleges, but it is unclear how it will work going forward.
“Grade appeals in the past were handled by colleges. There are committees in every college that (are) charged with reviewing appeals. The deans of every college ultimately makes the decision. No information has been presented about what happens to those committees or the existing review process,” Schmeltzer wrote.
In the email, a drafted response from the Faculty Senate to the senate’s executive committee states it reaffirms OU’s longstanding commitment to academic freedom, but it is concerned that recent events do not reflect these commitments.
“These incidents — ranging from inconsistent administrative responses to classroom-related concerns, to external pressures shaping course content, to a lack of acknowledgement of the threats to international and LGBTQIA2S+ students and faculty — have a chilling effect on the intellectual environment that OU promises to uphold,” the proposed response reads.
The drafted response reveals the new policy has not been formally written or communicated with faculty and staff. It writes that as faculty, the senate urges the university to provide swift clarity on the issue.
“While the University continues to express strong support for academic freedom and integrity, several situations have left faculty uncertain about the stability and clarity of those protections and the extent to which we can count on the University to actively defend our rights, …” the statement reads. “(The Faculty Senate) Affirms that academic freedom includes not only freedom of expression but also freedom from undue interference, unwritten mandates, or pressures that inhibit teaching, research, and authentic engagement.”
Faculty Senate Chair Sarah Robbins wrote in a Wednesday email to Faculty Senate members that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee met with Hollye Hunt, vice president of executive affairs and chief of staff, on Monday to discuss issues addressed in the statement. The email also reports the executive committee met with OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. Wednesday.
The Faculty Senate will vote on an official statement Monday and will continue conversations with OU administration in the spring, according to the Monday email.
In an email to OU faculty Friday afternoon, Robbins confirmed the meeting with Harroz to discuss the campus climate and OU’s process with graduate instructor suspensions. Robbins wrote that she felt the administration has acted with professionalism and has ensured fair treatment during investigations.
“Many in our community are feeling angry and scared and are calling for answers. We have an obligation to our students to create learning environments where they can pursue truth and explore ideas,” Robbins wrote. “We must come together, discuss the current environment and our reality, examine our structures, policies, and procedures, and chart a path forward where both instructors and students are supported in our pursuit of truth.”
On Friday, the Daily asked a series of questions over email to OU Marketing and Communications, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
A spokesperson with OU Marketing and Communications told the Daily Friday afternoon he “didn’t know a whole lot” about the situation and would look into the policy.
On Dec. 2, the Daily sent three emails and three phone calls to OU Marketing and Communications to clarify the academic appeals process.
The Daily asked the following questions regarding grade appeals:
• How does the process work?
• What does the grade appeal process normally result in?
• How long is the timeline for the appeal?
• Where is this accessible online?
• Does the appeal process differ per college? Ex: Is Dodge different from Price, Gaylord?
• Additionally, has there been an increase in grade appeals since Gov. Kevin Stitt's executive order on DEI? The release is linked below for convenience.
OU Daily sent two follow up emails and called the department three times on Dec. 2 and another follow-up Friday. The Daily was directed to file an open records request late Friday afternoon in response to the questions about grade appeals.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure. Mary Ann Livingood, Sophie Hemker, Gretchen Schultz and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
