It’s been over two months since college President Nicole Hurd lost a historic no-confidence vote from the faculty. While she promised “constructive conversations” between them, her administration and a supportive Board of Trustees, the faculty is divided on whether she has meaningfully addressed their concerns.
“I would say that there is a disconnect among different constituencies on what constitutes ‘constructive conversations,’” Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies professor Dana Cuomo wrote in an email.
The motion’s signatories have been largely unsatisfied with the ensuing administrative action.
“It’s unclear to me how, and in what way, any of the substantive issues raised in the motion of no confidence are being addressed,” said religious studies professor Robert Blunt, one of the signatories. Several other professors echoed his sentiment.
So far, Hurd has not announced any specific initiatives in response to the vote.
The most frequently cited venues for faculty to discuss their concerns — an administration speaker series and a trustee dinner in late February — were scheduled before the no-confidence vote. Several faculty members said they believed the dinner had been reformatted to include more faculty voices.
Closed-door conversations between faculty committees, Hurd and Provost Laura McGrane have occurred, and a “mini-retreat” to discuss shared governance has been planned, according to Morse. The Lafayette could not corroborate his statement because it was submitted after its publication deadline.
Hurd and McGrane did not respond to requests for comment.
“The President and Provost communicate directly with faculty, not through media outlets,” Morse wrote in an email.
Those who attended the trustee dinner, to which all faculty were invited, said the event was centered on concerns raised in the no-confidence motion. Several faculty members said the dinner was the first time they had ever had direct access to the board.
“At my table of trustees, faculty, staff and administrators we had an open and honest discussion about the state of the College, challenges of Hurd’s leadership, and potential next steps,” psychology professor Lauren Myers wrote in an email.
In an email to all faculty after the dinner, Hurd provided “action items,” including plans for collaboration on the strategic plan the faculty rejected in December, conversations with faculty committees on shared governance and efforts to increase dialogue between “Trustees, the leadership team, and faculty.”
Board of Trustees Chairman Bob Sell ‘84 did not respond to requests for comment.
Some faculty said the dinner, while meaningful in subject, has led to little in results.
“After the trustee dinner, which was a great start and an important set of conversations, there’s been nothing, no response,” said anthropology professor William Bissell, another of the motion’s signatories.
Several other faculty members pointed to “Forward Together,” a lineup of presentations spotlighting senior administrators and their work at the college. Since February, four presentations have been held on topics like college finances and the student conduct system.
While sharing a name with Hurd’s post-vote response letter, “Moving Forward Together,” the series predates the no-confidence motion by almost a month. College spokesman Scott Morse confirmed in February that the series and Hurd’s “constructive conversations” were “two different things.”
“This series is well-intentioned but misses the mark a bit,” Myers wrote. “It seems to be more focused on one-way presentations about the issues rather than open and honest discussions focused on hearing/listening to community members.”
To biology professor Nancy Waters, who voted against the no-confidence motion, it may be too early to make a judgment.
“I don’t see two months as a very long time in the pace and rhythm of an academic year,” Waters wrote in an email. “Real progress in communication doesn’t happen like turning on a faucet or flicking a light switch.”
For some, the focus has shifted to building mutual respect and optimism.
“I think we are doing our best to come together and to make something good and positive from the place where we are right now,” said Spanish professor Michelle Geoffrion-Vinci, emphasizing the student body as a “shared North Star.”
Others expressed the same.
“I think that there’s going to be a continued interest among faculty to try and make sure that we are the best that Lafayette can be,” said Bissell, explaining that to him, the no-confidence motion was an effort to say “we need to do better.”
“But that depends on having an effective administration and a board that’s going to evaluate and hold them to accountability,” he continued. “And that’s on them. That’s their part of shared governance.”