Probe of credentials prompts fears for university's credibility

A panel discussion is being held at YSU on Wednesday.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown State University ethics expert said he fears that concern over the questionable academic credentials of an associate professor has spilled off campus and into the surrounding community.
"YSU for years has been struggling to assert its academic integrity," said Dr. Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, director of the Dr. James Dale Ethic Center at YSU. "The problem with this is it questions the academic credibility of the institution."
Being investigated
Dr. William Bruce Neil, an associate professor of human ecology, is being investigated under a new professional conduct policy. A committee of faculty and administrators is reviewing his credentials, including the master's and doctorate degrees he holds from the now-defunct unaccredited LaSalle University in Louisiana, and was to meet today to discuss the issue.
Neil remains in the classroom as the investigation continues.
Palmer-Fernandez said he serves on various community boards and has heard members of the off-campus community voice concern over the matter.
Dr. William Binning, professor and chair of the political science department, also said there seems to be community interest in the credential issue. At stake, he added, is the university's reputation.
"I think the university needs to address that ... so people are comfortable with the credential issue," he said.
Dr. James Morrison, professor and chair of the psychology department, said he is not aware of community response to the issue but feels frustration about the hiring of a person with questionable credentials.
"Any time a question like this is out in the community it doesn't bode well for our image," he said. "It's frustrating for a lot of people here because we take considerable care in our search processes."
'Astounded'
Morrison, who has taught at YSU for 35 years, said he was "astounded" to hear of the possible hiring snafu because hiring policies at YSU are so rigorous.
"It's an extremely isolated case," he said.
Caused some resentment
The matter has caused resentment among some faculty members on campus, who are critical of the rank and salary at which Neil was hired in 2003, especially in light of his questionable credentials, said Dr. Michael Finney, associate professor of English and president of the faculty union.
"There is a certain danger that the Bruce Neil affair could damage the academic reputation of the university," Finney added. "But I seriously doubt it will have an impact on any part of the university except the department involved."
Neil has taken on an increased class load this term because another associate professor of human ecology, Robert Campbell, was removed from teaching duties after a claim of sexual harassment in which a former student alleges that he made unwelcome sexual advances toward her.
Jimmy Myers, director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, has recommended firing Campbell based on the complaint. The sole corroborating witness in that matter is Neil.
Campbell has denied the accusation.
In an e-mail to various faculty and administrators, he has called the search process to hire Neil "a real mess," and said that one candidate for the job given to Neil was flown from Colorado to Pittsburgh but that committee members never made arrangements to have him transported from the airport to YSU.
In the e-mail, Campbell says he voiced his concern about Neil's background, but Neil was still hired. He also says the sexual harassment claim came shortly after the two professors had an argument, and that Neil's formal statement in the claim came several months after his initial complaint, and after Campbell had alluded to another faculty member that there were problems with Neil's credentials.
Neil has denied knowing that his degrees were unaccredited and said last month that he was blind-sided by the news.
Campbell makes a salary of $63,697 a year. Neil's annual salary is $60,000.
Palmer-Fernandez said the two issues have prompted the faculty union and the ethics center to present a panel discussion on professional conduct and sexual harassment at noon Wednesday in rooms 121-122 of DeBartolo Hall.
Palmer-Fernandez said the event is not going to deal with specific cases but with relevant policy so those attending can make informed decisions about the issues.