SIUC Faculty Association recommends Stapleton, Lane for chancellor position
April 25, 2020
The SIUC Faculty Association has recommended Austin Lane and Susan Stapleton as finalists for SIU’s chancellor position.
Lane was previously the president of Texas Southern University, which he left in February amid allegations of breach of contract regarding informing the TSU Board of Regents of fraud allegations involving a former law school official.
According to an email from TSU’s chief audit executive, Charla Parker-Thompson, the investigation into the law school and violations of Lane’s contract is still ongoing.
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The most recent report from the auditor’s office, published March 10, states the auditors found “several instances” where Lane and other administrators failed to promptly advise and fully report to the board about matters related to the law school and acted in a way that created a material adverse effect on the university.
The full report can be found here.
In addition to the ongoing investigation, the Thurgood Marshall School of Law was also found to be out of compliance regarding a key admissions standard, according to an American Bar Association article.
According to the article, TMSL is “noncompliant with Standard 501(b) requiring it to ‘only admit applicants who appear capable of satisfactorily completing its program of legal education and being admitted to the bar.'”
The auditor’s investigation found several students were admitted into the law school who did not meet admission requirements, and many of these students also received scholarships despite low GPAs or LSAT scores.
In addition, the investigation found 507 applications to the law school for the 2019-2020 school year that were never reviewed.
“Of these applications, approximately 365 were presumptive admits and thus, the TMSL lost an opportunity to have students that could have improved its entering class credentials,” the report said.
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The article said the law school is required to submit a report by April 1 and appear before the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar council regarding admissions noncompliance at its May 14-16 meeting.
Lane said he never did anything unethical and the issue was about an employee, not him.
(See more: SIUC chancellor finalist Austin Lane addresses controversy, departure from TSU)
According to the auditor’s report, Lane was also being investigated by the auditor’s office during the report for the concealment of entertainment expenses.
The report states Lane failed to notify the Board of entertainment expenses paid through the TSU Foundation rather than through the University entertainment expense reimbursement process, as detailed in his contract.
The report also detailed attempts by senior administration to interfere with or obstruct the investigation.
“Although senior executive administration were specifically directed not to interfere with the investigation, several attempts to gain insight into the investigation were made,” the report said. “Specifically, senior executive administration made several requests of TMSL Dean, on
behalf of President, to provide information related to the investigation.”
Lane entered a settlement agreement with the TSU board, receiving a buyout amounting to approximately $900,000 and departing without admission of wrongdoing.
Dave Johnson, president of SIU’s Faculty Association, said Lane’s controversial separation from Texas Southern raised concerns, and continues to be a concern for many faculty.
“But after looking carefully at the documents involved, evaluating his responses to relevant questions in interviews, and speaking with a number of individuals who worked with him at Texas Southern, we came to the conclusion that this controversy should not rule him out of contention for the position of chancellor,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the association believes both Stapleton and Lane would be collaborative leaders who would promote shared governance on campus and forge a productive relationship with the association.
Stapleton is currently special assistant to the provost at Western Michigan University. She has held various positions at Western Michigan since 1990.
Johnson also gave reasoning why the association did not recommend Kenneth Evans for the position.
“Dr. Evans […] showed little understanding of the basic principles of shared governance,” Johnson said. “His track record at Lamar University, and his answers in interviews, demonstrate to us that he would adopt a much more top-down approach.”
The official chancellor search committee has not yet released its recommendation.
All three candidates’ forum interviews can be viewed here.
Editor in Chief Rana Schenke can be reached at [email protected].
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J Brown • Apr 29, 2020 at 12:24 pm
The main person you have to watch for is Mr. Lane’s henchman, Wendall Wiilliams. If he brings him along, you are going to have problems. He terminates people based upon false accusations from other staff members who themselves were doing certain things like drinking on the job and wanting certain individuals terminated before they were reported and boast about doing it….The individuals that were terminated were not involved in the scandal mentioned above.
I believe they both need to see how it is to be out of work for awhile, especially Wendall Williams. However, Lane will not have any problems financially since he was given a buyout.
Tony Williams • Apr 27, 2020 at 5:44 pm
A well known saying is “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.” The same concerns any candidate who applies for a position with a troubled history very much like the late Chancellor Montemagno in The University of Alberta, a history that to its credit The Daily Egyptian investigative reporters disclosed. I’m very concerned about the SIUC FA’s comments about Lane and the fact that the damning Auditor’s Report appears to be dismissed. Is this Union so desperate as to support a questionable character for Chancellor? Perhaps it is now time to question as to whether this body represents the best interests of ALL faculty on this campus now that it has shown itself to be a key part of the SIUC problem? If the majority of faculty do not support it, then it may now be time for de-certification.
Jamesfranklin Sharp • Apr 26, 2020 at 4:44 pm
Dr. Evans is the only one of the three candidates with acceptable credentials. I do not understand why the other two candidates were even considered. Their lack of qualifications is obvious. If these are the only candidates being considered, Dr. Evans is the clear choice.
LASHERIA NANCE BUSH • Apr 26, 2020 at 3:58 pm
In Dr. Lane separation agreement they found no wrong doing and were forced to pay him almost 900,00 for the stunt they pulled. He always put students first. He raised millions of dollars for the school and increased student enrollment. As soon as he found out about the pay for play, he fired all involved, he fired them so fast they still had checks in their desk. Amazing person and President
Mike Larson • Apr 26, 2020 at 10:35 am
Absurd! Evans was head and shoulders above the other two candidates.
Yes, let’s hire the suspected criminal who was just run out out of town at his prior job. Or even better, the random woman with no experience running anything resembling SIU.
What an absolute joke.
Brendan John • Apr 25, 2020 at 8:45 pm
What was the faculty association listening to ? No disrespect to any of the candidates but really? Dr Stapleton has how much experience running a major research University? Dr Austin carries a little to much baggage for SIU at this time . Haven’t we had enough controversial leadership at this University? Dr Evans must scare the Faculty Union, this is laughable and appalling. The Union and bad leadership has run this University in the ground. We should expect this after all we are in Illinois.
Todd Smith • Apr 25, 2020 at 8:33 pm
What the Faculty association must want is a puppet. This endorsement is extremely transparent, they want the status quo. Dr Evans was head and shoulders above the other two candidates. Hopefully whoever is making the final decision has a vision to move SIU forward. This endorsement is laughable.
bill mcgraw SIU ALUMNUS • Apr 25, 2020 at 6:47 pm
I do not know what interview the Faculty Council was watching, because in my view, Professor Evan’s track record speaks for itself in terms of collaboration, innovation, and shared governance at all his posts. The reality is “shared governance” does not mean the faculty has the final say in decision making, rather it has extensive input with the Chancellor, who in concert with the President has the final say in my view. And to consider Lane, even though his resume was long and extensive(not particularly impressive), is tantamount to turning one’s back upon some flagrant errors of judgement and poor decision making in skirting legal and financial obligations. In the final analysis, Lane’s credentials were built upon very low level academic institutions i.e. community colleges with poor academic records, and Texas Southern is recognized for what, as its track record is one of a poor performing institution with no solid academic programs and would not mesh with SIU’s recognized Carnegie Designated Research University status- High Research . Stapleton had very strong credentials, managerial experience, but in her interview, she lacked emotion, vision and did not make her case as to why she should be selected. Professor Evans stood out and would be the solid choice to match with President Mahoney’s managerial expertise to bring SIU into the 21th century, as for too long SIU has muddled around with inept leadership for over 20 years and Evans would be the important cog in the management of this great university. BILL MCGRAW CHICAGO