The Exigency Quiz Bowl

 
Where key figures from colleges and universities dealing with financial emergency or exigency answer questions to earn their colleges what they are lacking, money.
The questions are concerning the tough decisions and sacrifices they face to grow stronger beyond financial crisis. This is Southern University’s 2^ndappearance but, past participants have included Morris Brown College, Florida State University, and Clark Atlanta University.
Every university is different and is faced with different missions, student clientele, financial aid prevalence, employee base, faculty, academic program offerings, funding, and administration hierarchy.
The way the quiz bowl works is similar to Jeopardy but, the categories are selected based on the decisions made and to be made before, during and after declaring financial exigency.
Southern University at Baton Rouge is under scrutiny but, being a part of the Southern University System, leaves the name Southern University at risk. SU administrators and Faculty/Staff have agreed to participate.
Our categories are doing more with less, Policy and Procedure, Roles in Exigency process, restructuring and reorganizing and The New Southern. There are 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 level questions for each category.
Let’s introduce our teams… For the SU administration we are joined by SUBR Chancellor James Llorens, SU System President Ronald Mason and SU Board of Supervisors Chairman Darren Mire; welcome administrators.
From the SU Faculty and Staff we are joined by Faculty Senate President Sudhir Trivedi, SUBR Physics Chairperson Diola Bagayoko, and SUBR Education Professor Jacqueline Jacobs; welcome faculty members.
We’re going to start with doing more with less for 100. SU Faculty have agreed to answer this, What is the key to creating a  following and combating financial crisis?
Strong leadership. Good faculty and students that can work together –Sudhir Trivedi.
Correct. Leadership is everything.
“We would like to choose Policy and Procedure for 500 please,” Diola Bagayoko.
Ok. What is the policy and procedure for the Board of Supervisors to define a financial exigency?
“A bonafide financial exigency is an imminent financial crisis which threatens the survival of the institution as a whole and which can only be alleviated by adopting drastic means,” Trivedi.
Do you believe that the exigency at Southern was bona fide?
“No I along with the Faculty Senate do not feel a bona fide financial exigency was present and that is why we are filing a lawsuit for injunctive relief against the Board of Supervisors,” Trivedi.
Ok, SU administrators which category would you like to take on?
“The New Southern for 500, please” James Llorens.
Where do you imagine the new Southern University?
“The 21^stcentury model institution. Top notch in technology, effective processes, high​ recruitment, retention, and graduation rates, and prepared graduates to be competent citizens.” Llorens.
How do you propose Southern gets there?
“Through the restructuring and reorganization of Southern will leave a stronger institution.” Llorens.
Ok administrators… The Faculty has 600 while you have 500. After this question we will go into the last question so make your choices wisely.
“Roles in the exigency process for 500 please”-Ronald Mason
What role does the faculty play in the exigency process?
“Well they have a role in participating in committees to generate ideas for college and department consolidation and they contribute knowledge on academic matters that the administration may not be aware of.” Llorens.
Chancellor Llorens that question must be answered by Mason. What role does the faculty play in the exigency process?
“I work on the system level and have no interest in managing campuses. I support the Chancellor in his decision of the role of the faculty while his campus deals with financial exigency. The system should play a background and supportive role to campus chancellors.” Mason.
Ok. The committee has agreed to grant 150 for that answer considering the chancellor’s answer.
With the Administrators at 650 and The Faculty at 600 we are down to the last question…
This question comes from the students and the students will vote to choose the winner.
As a student who has done everything they were advised, urged, and encouraged to do and approached cautiously things that they were told not to pursue, Why are students still treated poorly, dealing with issues beyond their control, and the university doesn’t consider their circumstances?
Before you answer this question consider that more than half of your students are on financial aid yet it is understaffed, The registration and refund processes are improving but, still have inconsistencies between paper and electronic systems, and your mission as a university is to serve the underserved which means you will not make bank off of your students.
Faculty… your answer.
“Well in line with our mission we must serve the underserved and as long as that is our mission profitability is less important than the ability to educate those in the community. Yes we need money to survive but, that is not the only thing we need; we require a strong faculty, student base, technology, and support system.” Jacobs.
Administrators…
“Students understand that we have to give them a better product. We need to work together on every level of leadership. Student, staff, faculty, alumni, and system leadership to make the product, brand, and system stronger and better.” Mire.
We will now rate answers and take a poll of general approval ratings from SU students. Students please pick up your voting devices and cast your votes.
​(jeopardy music)
The results show that SU students have rated the administration with a dismal 15 percent rating while the faculty is rated at little higher with a 25 percent approval rating.
Looks like the faculty comes out on top while the administration hangs it’s head.
Back to work on Monday, we recommend that you pay attention to those who provide you with a job and your real bosses: the students of Southern University.
That’s all the time we have for the Exigency Quiz Bowl, if you didn’t know where your administrators and faculty stood before now you know.
Thank you and good night.