Friday, July 23, 2004
The group must convene publicly, though private talks will be permitted.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown State University panel will be regulated by Ohio's Open Meetings Act when it weighs a finding that a professor misrepresented his teaching credentials.
That determination was made by the Ohio Attorney General's office, which was consulted by the four-member faculty group as it prepared to begin meeting this week, Ron Cole, YSU spokesman, said Thursday.
"That panel will treat itself as a public body," Cole said.
Being subject to the open-meetings law means, among other things, that the panel must provide notification of the time and place of its meetings to those who request such notification. It must also convene its sessions publicly, though it will be permitted to adjourn into a private meeting for certain reasons.
The panel must do all its voting publicly.
Appointed by Sweet
YSU President Dr. David Sweet appointed the panel to assist him in making a decision on an appeal filed June 30 by Dr. William Bruce Neil, an associate professor who teaches hotel and restaurant management courses.
Neil is appealing a June 25 decision by a YSU professional conduct committee.
The committee upheld the findings of a subcommittee that concluded Neil had misrepresented his teaching credentials.
Neil, who faces possible firing over the matter, has insisted he is qualified to teach at YSU.
Dr. Sweet may accept, reject or modify any recommendation submitted to him by the faculty panel he's appointed.
He faces a deadline of July 30 or close to it to make a decision.