The SouthernUniversity faculty senate recently voiced their concerns of Southern UniversitySystem President Leon Tarver’s substantial benefits deal once he retires onJune 30.
On Feb. 26, theSUS Board of Supervisors granted Tarver a one year sabbatical leave effectiveJuly 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, with full pay as system president, as wellas a travel allowance of $7,500.
He will returnas a Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and will receive an annual salaryof about $168,000, which is 80 percent of the salary he receives as systempresident.
“I think it’sabsolutely marvelous,” said Tarver. “It isn’t everyday that you get a chance toleave a post like a presidency and continue to be able to make contributions tothe academic and intellectual environment of the school; and that I lookforward to. I am very honored that the board of supervisors would extend thatopportunity to me.”
“Being a professorwas a wonderful, wonderful experience. I always thought I was a betterprofessor than a president.”
Considering thebudget freezes which is preventing many departments and colleges from havingbasic needs, several faculty members believe that his high pay is insensibleand unjust. Questions about whether Tarver has met the criteria of adistinguished professor as well as his proposed pay.
“Having thetitle of distinguished professor is a honor. It is almost sacred and should notbe handed out liberally,” said Dr. William Moore, a chemistry professor andfaculty senate parliamentarian.
Tarver wasappointed the position of Executive Administrator of the Center for CulturalHeritage and International Programs, an office that will be held on the BatonRouge campus.
Although thefacility has not been developed, Tarver will spearhead the development of thecenter.
“How can he(Tarver) get paid to work for something that has not even been built yet,” saidDr, Thelma Deamer, professor in the College of Education.
In effort toget resolution, the faculty senate issued a statement to the board requestingthat they explain their actions:
“TheSouthern University Faculty Senate expresses its great concern with the respectto the very generous and unprecedented positions allocated by the SouthernUniversity Board of Supervisors to Dr. Leon Tarver upon his resignation aspresident of the Southern University System.
Specifically,our areas of primary concern are: sabbatical leave at full pay for one year,which is inconsistent with the half pay provision in the Faculty Handbook,appointment as Distinguished Professor of Public Policy without appropriateacademic review, and the academic tenure status of Dr. Tarver.
The approvalof an unspecified budget for the operation of a Center for Cultural Heritageand International Programs and for Dr. Tarver’s duties associated with theDistinguished Professorship and Dr. Tarver’s appointment as executiveadministrator of the above mentioned center, which has not been approved by theBoard of Regents.
The facultySenate will be considering appropriate actions and recommendations on thismatter in the near future.
It is in thespirit of equity, due process and academic integrity that the faculty senatecalls the Southern University Board of Supervisors’ attention to thesematters.”
After reviewingthe letter, board chairman Johnny Anderson held a meeting with Eva Baham,faculty senate president.
“I spoke withAnderson in an effort to seek clarity on the issues pertaining to Tarver andwas informed that the exit package for him was established in the originalcontract, there is nothing we can do about it,” she said.
