Faculty Senate Resolution

On Wednesday, November 2, the Faculty Senate approved the following resolution by a vote of 17 to 1:

R E S O L U T I O N

          Whereas: American University values service, inclusiveness, social justice, and the highest ethical and intellectual standards. These values, essential to our identity and taught throughout our institution, both by our words and behavior, are integral to the spirit and purpose of the University - and have been so from its inception. They have sustained it through good times and bad, have been central to the progress of the University in recent years, will guide it for generations to come.

          Today we have a particular responsibility to profess in our classes and reinforce by our deeds the idea that malfeasance should result in sanctions rather than extraordinary rewards. The Board has chosen to disregard the position of the university community that Dr. Ladner should receive no "golden parachute." Instead, it has agreed to a severance package which can only be described as grossly excessive, reached by a procedure that was clandestine, covert, and in camera, withheld any opportunity to discuss and debate it, and was inconsistent with the Board's prior promise of openness and accountability.

Therefore we resolve that

(1) the Faculty Senate condemns as excessive the severance package reached by the Board of Trustees with former President Ladner.

(2) The Faculty Senate expresses its lack of confidence in the Board of Trustees as currently constituted and calls for (a) a thoroughgoing reform of Board governance before the Board undertakes a search for a new president, (b) adoption by the Board of twenty-first century governance practices, for the whole and in its committees, that embrace transparency, accountability and participation, (c) a thorough restructuring of the Board's Charter and By-Laws, and (d) giving these matters the highest priority in the Board's upcoming agendas, all in order to put behind us the continuing crisis,

          American University is strong and resilient. We are proud of its components: our students, faculty colleagues, administrative staff, our academic programs, and our contributions to the discovery of knowledge. We are confident of its future. We are encouraged by the Board's letter of apology to campus. We look forward to working with a reorganized and revitalized Board of Trustees to continue the advancement of this great University.