Survey: YSU board doesn’t have a clue

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Are Youngstown State University’s trustees out of touch with campus issues affecting faculty, staff and students?

Some members of the board of trustees reacted with surprise when informed that a campus climate survey done in the spring showed a high percentage of respondents suggested the board doesn’t understand faculty, staff or student concerns.

The survey is just one part of a YSU self-study being conducted in preparation for a 10-year academic reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission.

The commission is scheduled to send a visitation team to YSU in February.

The campus survey was sent to 1,109 YSU employees, including administrators, faculty and classified employee groups, and 500 responded.

One question on the survey showed that 44 percent of the respondents felt the trustees don’t understand student concerns, 55.2 percent felt they don’t understand faculty concerns and 62.8 percent said they don’t understand staff concerns.

Trustee Dr. Sudershan K. Garg said he was surprised to hear that people feel the board doesn’t have regard for their issues.

Trustee Dr. H.S. Wang suggested that the university’s human resources department needs to hear these concerns so that those issues can filter up through the system.

Perhaps there is a need to give people a chance to express themselves beyond just a survey, offered Atty. John L. Pogue, board chairman.

He pointed out that the time demand for the position of trustee is difficult.

People are often surprised with his lack of details on certain issues, but the board can’t micromanage the university, he said.

For complete story, see Monday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.