visit us at kutower.com
@KeanTower Field hockey grabs NJAC Page 8
Thanksgiving is coming! Page 4
2015-16 2016-17
NJCPA General Excellence 2nd Place winner
NOV | 2017 WWW.KUTOWER.COM TH E I N DEPEN D EN T VOI C E O F KE AN U N IV E R S IT Y
“It has caused me unnecessary anxiety,” said an anonymous professor.
Kean professors fear disciplinary action over ‘excused’ Professional Day absences Photo by Zeete
Kean Hall
By Joshua Rosario Thirty five Kean University professors have been threatened with disciplinary action from the university’s Academic Affairs department for not attending their professional development days after they were excused by their deans, according to Kean Federation of Teachers President, James Castiglione. According to Castiglione, the professors were excused by their deans because of research, teaching, or service commitments that they were assigned to by their deans. “They followed the procedure to be excused from attending [professional development days] to do other work for the university and now the university is threatening to discipline them,” said Castiglione in a September interview with The Tower. If disciplinary action is pursued , a letter is placed in their files and would affect decisions made on perks such as travel funds, research money from Kean for scholarly activities (for presenting at conferences) , the opportunity to teach summer and winter
classes, and other requests they submit to the administration. “[The University] is threatening to haul people in for disciplinary hearings and we are concerned how that might play out,” said Castiglione. Professional development days are for faculty and employees. These four days are filled with sessions to help train and teach new things that they can use with students or for their own use as professionals. According to the University website, some of the sessions from 2017’s January professional development days were “How to Get your Content on Kean’s Website,” “Managing Disruptive or Emotionally Distressed Students” and “Creating a World Class Experience.” These days take place some time before and after the spring semester. Professors are currently not paid for these professional days. “It was my understanding I had permission not to attend,” said a professor who is facing disciplinary action and has asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution by the administration. “ I was shocked.”
The anonymous professor received a memorandum from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jeffrey Toney, that had a little checklist indicating a referral to Human Resources for a disciplinary inquiry regarding a “behavioral infraction” for missing the professional days. “It has caused me unnecessary anxiety,” said the anonymous professor. “ It is my understanding that most of us who have received these letters are professors who have earned tenure. It’s a little bit insulting.” The professor is concerned this issue will continue to be an issue and understands the majority of the people who work for Kean University and the administration are “not evil” and understands they’re “as important as the professors.” “I believe they just have to do their jobs,” the professor said. “ I wish more would be done to encourage unity instead of division. The spirit of professional days is not for our betterment.” Kean spokesperson Margaret McCorry said no disciplinary action has been issued
as of Nov. 16 and disciplines are never issued without an employee having the opportunity to present his or her point of view. The University does not comment on specific personnel matters. “All faculty are required to attend 32 sessions of professional development each academic year as part of the University’s continuing commitment to providing a world-class education and outstanding academic services to Kean students,” said McCorry. “Faculty who missed in excess of 90 percent of their mandatory obligation have been referred to Human Resources for further review to determine if their absences are excused.” Chair of the Grievance Committee for the Kean Federation of Teachers, and a fulltime tenured Political Science Professor Jacqueline Keil said there are people receiving notices for impending meetings. Those who have met with Human Resources have received no feedback. “The really disturbing part in all of this is faculty thought they were following protocol,” said Keil. “In other words, continued on page 2
Kean’s new ad campaign promotes low cost and proper pronunciation By Sara Ridgway In July 2017, Kean University revealed its newest advertising initiative: 10, 48 foot-wide billboards with the message “KEAN /cane/ noun 1. NJ’s most affordable comprehensive university.” The billboards can be spotted along highways in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania and are scheduled to remain through June 2018 according to Director of Media Relations, Margaret McCorry. “This billboard literally defines Kean by name and by values to a huge new audience in the community,” McCorry said. The website Capitoloutdoor.com elaborates the effectiveness of billboard advertisements. “When you consider that billboards remain a visible part of the landscape almost everywhere you go, and that advertisers continue to invest heavily in them as part of their marketing campaigns, it suggests that there is more to
billboard advertising than meets the eye,” the website states. It claims that advertising through the use of billboards is one of the most valuable and effective advertising mediums at an organization’s disposal. “A common misconception is that the messages on outdoor billboards are too brief and simple to be persuasive. Advertising industry professionals will tell you that those who think like that are probably missing the point,” according to Capitoloutdoor.com It is clear that Kean University is not ‘missing the point’ as $313,000 was spent on the ‘brief and simple’ advertisements scattered among the tri-state area for the next seven months. McCorry said the concept was generated in University Relations as the team was brainstorming marketing strategies. “One thing our research has shown is that many people in New Jersey and the surrounding region do not know how to pronounce the name
The University’s new billboard takes a stand on pronouncing “Kean”.
of the University,” McCorry said. A video produce by the University Relations team asking students to pronounce the University’s name, found that the confusion surrounding the pronunciation of “Kean” exists
Photo courtesy of Kean University
right here on campus. “Think of it this way: if someone mispronounces your name, do you correct that person or do you let the mispronunciation continue,” McCorry asked rhetorically. “You continued on page 2