CREDENTIALS CASE YSU panel rules against professor

The educator knew, or should have known, his credentials were invalid, officials concluded.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown State University instructor who was found to have misrepresented his teaching credentials now faces penalties, including dismissal.
Dr. William Bruce Neil, an associate professor, has 14 days to notify YSU whether he will appeal a decision reached Friday by a professional conduct committee. The panel determined that accusations that Neil, a human ecology professor, engaged in professional misconduct are substantiated.
Neil, 53, who teaches courses in hotel and restaurant management, was unavailable to comment on the decision.
The 11-member professional conduct committee -- made up of faculty and administrators -- upheld findings issued earlier this week by a subcommittee that probed the matter, which included interviewing Neil.
Based on the investigation, it was determined that Neil was aware, or should have been, that his credentials were invalid.
Officials didn't go as far as accusing Neil of being intentionally false.
"We cannot conclude without doubt that this misrepresentation was active on his part," stated a report issued by the subcommittee and released Friday.
Invalid degrees
The committee has found that Neil holds invalid master's and doctorate degrees. He was granted the degrees in 1994 and 1995 from the distance-learning LaSalle University in Louisiana, which was not legitimately accredited.
Neil previously has acknowledged being aware that LaSalle had faulty accreditation. But he insisted that he did the work to earn his credentials and is qualified to teach at YSU.
Neil's punishment will be up to Jean Hassell, chairwoman of YSU's human ecology department. In making her decision, Hassell is permitted to consult other university officials.
There are no specifications on how long she can take to make a decision, which could include having Neil dismissed, said Walt Ulbricht, YSU spokesman.
Though Neil can appeal the professional conduct committee's conclusions, there can be no separate appeal of Hassell's decision, Ulbricht said.
Contract
Neil's teaching contract ends Aug. 6. But it may be automatically extended into the 2004-2005 academic year because the university was required to inform instructors by Feb. 15 whether it intends to non-renew annual contracts.
Neil received no such notification. The credentials allegations weren't lodged until late March.
It's unclear whether a dismissal would override Neil's contract and immediately end his association with the university, Ulbricht said.
One possibility is that Neil may be banned from teaching but continue to receive pay for non-teaching duties through May 2005 as a result of an extended contract.
Neil's annual base salary is $60,000 for handling a regular teaching load.
During the past school year, he earned more than that. He was paid $10,773 for teaching extra courses during the fall and spring semesters.
He also is being paid an additional $20,250 for teaching three summer courses.