President Kevin Guskiewicz announced that he would leave MSU for Clemson University, pointing in his message to disagreement and public criticism from members of the Board of Trustees.
The announcement came shortly after a special Board meeting at which the MSU community had been told that the president was not interviewing elsewhere, did not have another offer, and required a substantial compensation increase to secure his continued commitment to the university. His departure raised serious questions about what information was available to trustees and what was communicated to the campus community.
UTSF is proud that President Guskiewicz’s tenure included the university’s formal recognition of the Union of Tenure System Faculty. At the same time, the union is disappointed that faculty, staff, and students are left to manage the consequences of decisions made without meaningful faculty participation.
Those decisions include deep, unilaterally imposed reductions to academic programs and graduate education while senior administrators received unprecedented compensation increases. UTSF will work to reduce the harm these cuts create across the university community.
The next presidential search
As MSU begins another presidential search, the administration and Board of Trustees should proceed with transparency and integrity. The next president should value faculty expertise, respect shared governance, and include the academic community in decisions that shape the institution.
Despite the disruption created by another unexpected departure, UTSF members remain committed to students and to excellence in teaching, research, service, and community engagement.
The union will continue bargaining over faculty raises for the coming academic year and will continue the work required to negotiate its first full contract with MSU.