USF faculty senator speaks out on Polytechnic

Posted Dec 8, 2011 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Dec 8, 2011 at 04:32 PM

The USF Board of Trustees is marching forward in its task of helping USF Polytechnic gain its independence.At its meeting today, Chairman John Ramil set up a trustee task force to oversee the job. Brian Lamb will lead Stephanie Goforth, Byron Shin, Stephen Mitchell and Jordan Zimmerman.

The trustees heard a progress report from Polytechnic Chancellor Marshall Goodman. As he spoke, USF President Judy Genshaft watched and listened, unsmiling.

No one had anything to say when he was done, but later in the meeting the USF Faculty Senate representative on the board, Elizabeth Bird, had her say.

She told the board about the USF Poly Faculty Senate taking a no confidence vote in Goodman.This is the “most important censure that any faculty can bring” against a leader, she said.

The Poly faculty is committed to the polytechnic concept, but they are “dismayed in the way politics has intervened.”

They’re also troubled by the approach being taken, with its heavy emphasis on science and technology.

That’s not the classic polytechnic, she said, noting that Georgia Tech is known for its management, architecture and liberal arts programs.

The Poly faculty feel they’ve been disregarded so far and they want a voice now.

“As we move forward with the polytechnic vision…USF faculty have to be involved in the planning and development,” she said.

They’re committed to the vision, “but they need to be a part of that vision.”