By Alyssa Allemand
Appointments will not be renewed for a number of Edgewood College faculty after this spring semester. Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Noreuil told faculty in a Feb. 28 letter.
Shad Wenzlaff, director of student research and senior lecturer of Art History, said there are 10 faculty in this group of cuts, though Noreuil has not confirmed that number.
“I can’t provide specific answers on individual members of our community,” she said.
Confirmed faculty that received the letter are:
- Wenzlaff
- Stefan Hagemann, senior lecturer of English
- Audrey Wax, box office manager and lecturer of Theatre Arts, and
- Dan Mortensen, lecturer of Philosophy
However, the letter said, “As we continue to work through restructuring in the Academic Affairs area of the College, it is possible your current or a similar position may remain in place. If so, you will be asked of your interest in continuing employment. While undetermined today, we anticipate knowing more regarding needed positions by April 1, 2020.”
Wenzlaff said he does not anticipate accepting the April 1 offer. “If I were to take a deal with reduced pay and no benefits for basically the same job, it feels like giving the college absolution – forgiveness for their sins,” he said. “I refuse to do that.”
Senior Lecturer of Art History and Director of Student Research Shad Wenzlaff.
According to the college faculty handbook, faculty must be notified by March 1 whether their contracts are renewed. Wenzlaff said he suspects the ambiguous letters were dated Feb. 28 to avoid violating this rule of the handbook.
Noreuil responded. “The college issues annual contracts to faculty who serve as lecturers and senior lecturers, so decisions are made about renewing those contracts, or not, every year,” said Noreuil. “We make those decisions based on the needs of students, including what courses and how many sections of the courses need offered to ensure students have the courses they need in order to graduate on time.
“We do this every semester and that informs the number of faculty we need for the following year.”
Wenzlaff said he is skeptical because he was to confirm with his department chair what classes he will teach in Fall 2020 by March 23 – but does not know that answer until he finds out the stance of his position on April 1.
“This just tells me that our administration doesn’t understand the process, doesn’t understand how the college works,” Wenzlaff said. “I see it as now the college has given itself the legal authority to say, well, we can’t afford to keep you in your position, but here’s this new position.”
Hagemann said he is still teaching classes in the fall. “I will be doing roughly the same work for less pay,” he said. “I don’t know, and I don’t think anyone does yet, what that pay cut will look like.”
Wenzlaff said he believes these lectureship cuts are ways for the college to save money without violating rules that would result in legal issues, like what would happen if Edgewood let go of tenured faculty.
“It doesn’t necessarily seem like they’re making decisions that are necessarily intentional or making decisions that are necessarily strategic,” he said. “What they seem to be doing is making sure that they are staying within a particular legal parameter.”
In particular, Wenzlaff said he is concerned about the future of the student research program. He said the college has invested a fair amount of money in him to ensure he is properly trained to be director of student research.
“It’s a real blow,” Wenzlaff said of receiving a letter. “It doesn’t make sense. But legally, it’s the only way that makes sense.”
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