Alumni & Friends of Whittier College

From: Norden Deborah
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2023 11:22 AM
Subject: Questions from faculty for today’s Town Hall

Dear Whittier College Board of Trustees,

We thought we should share with you the questions that faculty submitted to us for the President’s town hall with the faculty today, since some of these seem to be more directed at you than the President. We would have preferred that more had followed our guidance to pose their questions in the spirit of Quaker civility, but have nonetheless opted not to edit what was submitted to us. So what you are receiving is entirely unfiltered.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to read, hear, and consider.

Regards,

Deborah

Dr. Deborah Norden
Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Faculty
Whittier College
Preferred pronouns: she/her

Dear Linda and Ana Lilia-

Below are the questions submitted by faculty to FEC, for the town hall. We had offered to read these for people who would prefer to remain anonymous, but since it seems unlike that there will be the opportunity to do so, we are forwarding them directly to you. Please note that the questions are entirely unedited.

Since some of the questions seem more directed toward the Board than the President, we will also be forwarding these to them. Hopefully, Miguel will be able to address the Board-related questions in his meeting with faculty next week.

Thanks,
Deborah

Questions for President Oubre, Feb. 23, 2023

1. It was refreshing to hear you suggest in the “State of the College” that you might be reversing your prior approach and intend to hear and welcome criticism.  Yet, only a couple of days after that, the Board suspended two of the few remaining long-term board members, presumably because they were less supportive of your decisions.  So, which is the truth? 

2. In your vision of the future, you again described two imaginary students with a college experience very different from anything that we—or really, any liberal arts college—does at the core of its mission.  Is your plan diversification of our offerings, or to entirely erase Whittier as a liberal arts college?  Where are the other students who come to a place like Whittier both for the in-person education and the well-rounded experience of a liberal arts college?

3. You appear proud to note that you are a professor on Business Administration. How many classes have you taught and how often do you lecture in the classroom?

4. How can we get to a point where our retirement plans are restored? This is tied to faculty retention and frankly, we need that promptly. Is there something in the budgeting that we can trade away for this in exchange?

5. If Board bylaws are bent and enforced to the benefit of the president’s agenda, as they were last week, what assurances do we have that other college policies are not subject to the same specious interpretations?

6. What is your position on the recent forced departure of two long term BOT members?

7. There is a widespread perception that the president is hostile to athletics, which makes up a large and important part of the Whittier College community. How will she invest in the athletics community, both with resources (answer specifically) and emotionally by taking an active interest in what athletics does?

8. Two related major concerns: 1) The current state of the College (low enrollment, low faculty, student, and staff morale, insufficient academic support for both faculty and students, no pension matching contributions, faculty and staff leaving, lack of vision for the institution). 2) The publicity of the toxic environment at WC (I fear that this will further exacerbate the problems listed above — I would not want to attend an institution that’s dealing with these issues). It’s the leadership’s role to resolve these critical problems, not to ask the underpaid, overstretched faculty to come up with ideas.

9. It has been reported that two current trustees were blocked from attending the trustee meeting of Friday Feb 17th. What is the reasoning? How is this allowed?

10. I noticed that you did not refer to the value and importance of a liberal arts education in your recent address to the community. Can you express to us what you feel is the value of a liberal arts education?

11. In your answer to a question from the State of the College you stated, “We have been able to hire and retain an excellent group of faculty, staff, and leadership even during difficult times. These individuals are drawn to Whittier because of our mission to serve students and our vision for the future”. Additionally in the Inside Higher Ed article you stated that most faculty are “very happy and very excited about the future,” Whittier does not offer competitive salaries, does not contribute to retirement and attrition is high. Additionally, recent surveys. (FEC and FAC) have shown that a lot more than a few faculty are very concerned and morale is very low. Why do your responses overlook these facts?

12. “Tyler” is only one example of a student. Can you cite specific examples of current students or alumni who have thrived and succeeded per “Tyler’s” definition of a WC educational experience?

13. In the recent Inside Higher Ed article, Linda is quoted as saying, “…our financial situation is extremely strong, we have an extremely strong balance sheet, we have strong liquidity and we have about $400 million in assets”. How many additional millions of dollars does she need to a) reinstate the employer TIAA-CREF contribution and b) close the salary gap between Whittier faculty and our counterparts at comparison cohort schools?

14. As you have stated, the College is on firm financial ground. Given this, when do you intend to reinstate the College’s retirement contributions? If you don’t ever intend to restart them, I would like you to say so and not leave people hanging. By withholding these contributions you are adversely affecting people’s futures.

15. Linda Oubre has become the brand, and, rightly or wrongly, the brand is currently tarnished due to poor enrollment, conflicts of interest, poor and inaccurate communication, mistatements about decisions, student and employee satisfaction and much, much more. Do you (the president) believe that the college can successfully separate itself from these problems without distancing itself from you?

16. What are the enrollment assumptions in the budget model going forward? What are the advertising and technology assumptions in the budget going foward? What are the faculty/lecturer/employment assumptions? What % of the existing upper and lower campus does the Administration and Board intend on selling or leasing in the budget plan and how do such actions drive 5-10 year cash flow models?

17. Does or did the President or her family members benefit from a renewed membership to Friendly Hills Country Club at any time in the last 5 years? If so, what specific accomplishments in terms of fundraising and community relations can you point to?

18. Why did the Board apparently violate Board by-laws by suspending two Board members at last week’s Board meeting?

19. Actions taken by the president and her administration have eroded all trust on campus. I would like to know how many staff, faculty, administrators, and board members, both current and past, that the president has threatened to take legal action against and what the rationale was for those threats. I know the number is greater than zero. My hope is the president will be truthful and if not that someone will be brave enough to speak up.

20. If Board bylaws are bent and enforced to the benefit of the president’s agenda, as they were last week, what assurances do we have that other college policies are not subject to the same specious interpretations?

21. What are the cash flows for Lux? State revenues if you do not know the costs.

22. What do you hope to do after you leave Whittier College?

23. Which properties have been offered or floated with potential buyers or lessees? Do any of the properties include buildings along Painter, Philadelphia or Earlham?

24. Does the President, her family, or close friends, or do any board members or their families and friends have an interest or stand to profit or gain business from any Whittier College property sales?

25. What is the total amount of $$$ support of current board members compared to boards 5, 10, 15 and 20 years ago?

26. What role, if any, does trust-building play in your administration?

27. At a November faculty meeting you stated that “you’re going to have to pay me if you want me to leave.” What is the amount stated in your contract and how do we begin that process from a faculty perspective?

28. When will the College resume paying our retirement?

29. There is a widespread perception that the president is hostile to athletics, which makes up a large and important part of the Whittier College community. How will she invest in the athletics community, both with resources (answer specifically) and emotionally by taking an active interest in what athletics does?

30. Two questions.
    1) What evidence would convince the president that the majority of WC employees do not support her? 2) How would she respond to such evidence?