Major changes needed in YSU's hiring practice

Dr. David Sweet, president of Youngstown State University, and Dr. Tony Atwater, provost, met with Vindicator writers recently to assure us that they are taking seriously questions raised in this newspaper about the hiring of Joseph Serowik in the Criminal Justice Department. That's all well and good, but Sweet and Atwater should view this as an opportunity to conduct a top-to-bottom review of standards and procedures used by various departments in their hiring.
Why? Because departmental chairs and college deans have been given carte blanche to fill positions. This means the provost, who is responsible for the faculty, has to depend on the recommendations of his subordinates when making the ultimate decision.
That's what happened in the case of Serowik, who was offered a one-year contract by Atwater as forensic science assistant professor -- even though his previous work as an examiner in the Cleveland Police Department Lab is being scrutinized. The scrutiny was part of a federal court settlement in the Michael Green case. Green's conviction on rape charges was overturned after DNA evidence proved he was innocent.
Serowik's testimony in the trial pertaining to the analysis of evidence contributed to the conviction.
Green subsequently sued in federal court, prompting the city of Cleveland to settle for $1.6 million. The settlement also requires the city to audit Serowik's forensic work in dozens of cases. He was fired from the crime lab job this summer, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
No specifics
Although this information was known to Dr. Tammy King, chairwoman of the Criminal Justice Department, and members of the screening committee, Sweet and Atwater insist they weren't aware of the specifics.
The provost told us that a provision in the contract with Serowik is designed to protect YSU. It states that his continued employment would be re-evaluated if his previous cases revealed evidence compromising his reputation as an expert witness in good standing.
But the fact remains that the university entered into a one-year contract with an individual whose professional performance is now under a dark cloud.
And that raises the following questions: Why the rush to enter into a year's agreement when Serowik was already on the payroll as a part-time instructor? He was hired 11 years ago.
Also, if Serowik was so much more qualified and experienced than the 15 other applicants that YSU did not want to risk losing him, why wasn't he hired on a month-to-month basis until the investigation in Cleveland was completed? It isn't as though he is being courted by all the top universities and colleges in the country.
The Serowik situation becomes even more problematic for the Sweet administration in the wake of the recent controversy involving three other faculty members.
William Bruce Neil, whose doctorate and master's degrees were shown to be invalid, was given a $30,000 cash payment and other incentives to resign as an associate professor teaching hotel and restaurant management courses. He was not fired because the university would have had to pay him a year's salary and benefits as required by the faculty contract, according to Sweet and Atwater.
Likewise, Robert Campbell was offered a separation package to facilitate his departure. A university investigation into a sexual harassment allegation resulted in a recommendation that the instructor in human ecology be fired; instead, he has agreed to retire in May 2007 -- even though he has not been teaching at YSU since November. In April, he went on paid sick leave and will remain on that status until all his accumulated sick leave is exhausted. He will receive his base salary of $66,926 during this period.
When his sick leave is exhausted, Campbell will be placed on nonpaid medical leave until he retires in 2007.
Criminal behavior
Then there is the case of Gary Fry, who was found guilty in 2002 in Girard Municipal Court of attempted unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and having a weapon while intoxicated. He was fined by the court and placed on probation.
The sociology-anthropology professor submitted his resignation after being removed from his teaching responsibilities. The resignation is effective May 2005, which means he is continuing to receive his $87,526 salary. He has taught at YSU since September 1970.
What's wrong with these three pictures? Everything.
It is clear that Sweet and Atwater need to develop some stringent guidelines for the hiring of faculty and establish procedures that include conducting a thorough background and credentials check. They must also work to eliminate the provision in the faculty contract that makes it difficult to fire anyone.
The credibility of Youngstown State University as an institution of higher learning rests with its faculty.
As for the Serowik matter, The Vindicator had sought copies of the evaluation sheets, questionnaires and comment forms provided to faculty and staff involved in the screening. YSU handed over the documents it said existed, but there were so few they shed little light on the hiring process.
The lawyer for the university explained that screening committee members weren't required to fill out any of the forms, and if they did, weren't required to turn them over to the department chair for filing.
YSU should adopt a policy that requires the filling out and safe keeping of all such documents.