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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
Stetson Departure | Dean's at-will status not the norm for admins
Though other deans enjoy tenure, Stetson's contract lacked security
Anthony Campisi
Even former Marketing professor Scott Ward was only fired after his 2006 arrest for child pornography because he had officially retired but was teaching on an annual appointment and thus did not have tenure.
He was, however, allowed to stay on in 1999 when he was still a tenured faculty member, even after entering an Alford plea in his trial for child sex crimes that acknowledged sufficient evidence for conviction but did not constitute a confession of guilt.
The situation for an at-will employee is totally different.
Barring certain discrimination restrictions - people can't be fired on account of their race or age, for example - an employer is free to lay off an at-will employee at any time and without any reason.
"You can call them at-risk employees," said Dennis Kuhn, a Villanova professor of business law.
And for faculty members, Gladney says, there may be certain restrictions in professors' employment contracts that restrict their right to resign when they want.
Restrictions like that are found more often in schools like the Medical School, where professors, often associated with the Penn Health System or the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, can have responsibilities to their patients that they must fulfill.
Gutmann and University spokeswoman Lori Doyle have refused repeated requests for comment as to why Stetson abruptly left his position as dean of admissions at the beginning of the semester.
Gutmann would only say that it was "better for him to step down now," and she has refused repeated requests to elaborate.
Stetson and his family have also refused repeated requests for comment.
Doyle has also refused to comment as to the nature of any severance package that Stetson received on his departure.
He was, however, allowed to stay on in 1999 when he was still a tenured faculty member, even after entering an Alford plea in his trial for child sex crimes that acknowledged sufficient evidence for conviction but did not constitute a confession of guilt.
The situation for an at-will employee is totally different.
Barring certain discrimination restrictions - people can't be fired on account of their race or age, for example - an employer is free to lay off an at-will employee at any time and without any reason.
"You can call them at-risk employees," said Dennis Kuhn, a Villanova professor of business law.
And for faculty members, Gladney says, there may be certain restrictions in professors' employment contracts that restrict their right to resign when they want.
Restrictions like that are found more often in schools like the Medical School, where professors, often associated with the Penn Health System or the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, can have responsibilities to their patients that they must fulfill.
Gutmann and University spokeswoman Lori Doyle have refused repeated requests for comment as to why Stetson abruptly left his position as dean of admissions at the beginning of the semester.
Gutmann would only say that it was "better for him to step down now," and she has refused repeated requests to elaborate.
Stetson and his family have also refused repeated requests for comment.
Doyle has also refused to comment as to the nature of any severance package that Stetson received on his departure.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Edwrad Wiest
posted 10/11/07 @ 9:24 AM EST
As a long-time alumni interviewer, I'm as bewildered by this story as everyone else. The question which remains unanswered in this article, however, is whether administrators who were not tenured faculty--or admissions directors at other schools--have either tenure or long-term contracts. (Continued…)
Stephen J. Marmon
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:33 AM EST
I am fairly sure that actually neither the President, the Provost nor the Deans have tenure in their positions. They do have contracts, but I am fairly sure that the Trustees have the right to terminate those contracts at any time. (Continued…)
parent of a Penn student
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:34 AM EST
I appreciate your on-going stories about Dean (he's still "Dean" as far as I'm concerned)Stetson. Each nugget adds information, which is good, solid journalism. (Continued…)
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