Tensions Flare: Fractured Relations between Spartanburg Leaders and Faculty

Spartanburg Community College Faculty Senate Replaced, Sparking Conflict

Shared Governance Concerns

Faculty members at Spartanburg Community College are currently embroiled in a battle with administrators over concerns about shared governance. The conflict began when administrators replaced the almost decade-old Faculty Senate with a new representative body. This decision came after the Faculty Senate planned to vote on opposing a policy related to work-from-home hours for certain professors. Faculty members have expressed their concerns to external organizations, including the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the South Carolina Inspector General’s Office, which have launched investigations into the college.

The Faculty‘s Perspective

Bruce Dillenbeck, former president of the Faculty Senate and current president of the college’s newly-formed AAUP chapter, has been working at Spartanburg Community College for 33 years. Dillenbeck claims that the “attitude of fear among faculty” has never been higher. The tensions between administrators and faculty members escalated when some administrators required professors to spend their work hours on campus. This directive sparked numerous complaints from faculty members, especially scientists who argued for the flexibility to work off-campus.

Dillenbeck sent out a mass email to colleagues, calling for a vote to formally protest the new policy. However, the email was blocked by administrators, who claimed it had the potential to create a hostile work environment. Despite administrators’ attempts to halt the vote, Dillenbeck scheduled a Faculty Senate meeting to proceed with it. Nonetheless, administrators met with Dillenbeck prior to the meeting and urged him to cancel it. When he refused, an email was sent to all faculty members announcing the formation of an Academic Council in place of the Faculty Senate.

Administration’s Response

According to college administrators, the disbanding of the Faculty Senate was not a direct action taken by the administration, but rather a decision to redesign the existing Curriculum Review Committee into the Academic Council. Administrators argued that the Faculty Senate did not adequately represent the thoughts and ideas of the faculty and that this move was necessary to address the concerns of professors who were uncomfortable with the direction of the Senate. They also claimed that the Academic Council would better meet the needs of students in technical fields by having faculty members on campus full-time.

Faculty Concerns and Threat to Academic Freedom

The disbanding of the Faculty Senate has left faculty members feeling voiceless and with concerns about their ability to raise issues and grievances. Many professors fear that bringing faculty-related issues to the new Academic Council will result in them being tabled by administrators or face potential backlash. The lack of a formal representation body has also raised questions about academic freedom and shared governance at Spartanburg Community College. Administrators’ monitoring and blocking of Dillenbeck’s email organizing a Faculty Senate vote have been criticized as an unwarranted intrusion into normal administrative behavior.

External Investigations and Potential Sanctions

In response to the disbanding of the Faculty Senate, a group of professors formed an AAUP chapter, and Dillenbeck filed a complaint with the college’s accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The AAUP is also investigating the actions of the administrators and preparing to issue a report. Depending on the findings, the college may face sanctions from the AAUP, which could indicate serious problems with shared governance and academic freedom. The college is currently experiencing significant enrollment growth, but faculty members argue that this should not overshadow the mistreatment they claim to be experiencing.

Conclusion

The conflict between faculty members and administrators at Spartanburg Community College poses significant concerns about shared governance and academic freedom. Faculty members argue that their voices are being silenced and that policies are being implemented without their input. The administration claims that the disbanding of the Faculty Senate was necessary to better serve students and ensure the college’s success. External investigations by organizations like the AAUP and the South Carolina Inspector General’s Office will shed further light on the situation. The resolution of this conflict will have far-reaching implications for faculty members’ rights, academic freedom, and the relationship between administrators and faculty at Spartanburg Community College.