*From the point of view of a full professor
PRIDE
at the College of Business at the University of Southern Mississippi*
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Our core mission reflects taking PRIDE in all we do - Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence
“Administrators, eager to buy peace and avoid scandal, deny the obvious truth of what is occurring, and, when pressed, invoke false doctrines of being legally bound by absolute confidentiality.” Kors and Silverglate, The Shadow University, p. 5.
Confidentiality - Uses and Abuses
If not social security numbers and credit card account information, what information, then, do administrators actually consider important enough to vigilantly police as confidential?
In my experience, and based on my discussions with others, administrators’ passion for confidentiality is to stifle inquiry into their insupportable decisions about evaluations, promotions, and tenure, while ignoring personal and legally mandated confidentiality when it suits them.
Faculty are evaluated on their teaching, research, and service. What isn’t public about any of these activities? After all, we teach in public. Over the years, I have taught thousands of students. I have invited faculty and administrators to visit my classes. My most recent publication (an A level publication which is a rare event at the School of Accounting and Information Systems) has a circulation of approximately 63,000, as well as internet access. Our service is also done in public as we meet with colleagues and deal with various issues.
Pay raises and promotions, which should reflect the quality of research, teaching, and service, are also publicly available. Salaries are reported in University budgets and can be read at the library.
Faculty are evaluated on their teaching, research, and service. What isn’t public about any of these activities? After all, we teach in public. Over the years, I have taught thousands of students. I have invited faculty and administrators to visit my classes. My most recent publication (an A level publication which is a rare event at the School of Accounting and Information Systems) has a circulation of approximately 63,000, as well as internet access. Our service is also done in public as we meet with colleagues and deal with various issues.
Pay raises and promotions, which should reflect the quality of research, teaching, and service, are also publicly available. Salaries are reported in University budgets and can be read at the library.