UNT Provost Howard JohnsonThe University of North Texas voted “no confidence” yesterday in UNT Provost Howard Johnson. The “no confidence” vote by tenured and tenure track faculty was 356 to 135 (63% to 28%) with 63% of eligible voters participating.

Provost Johnson responded with an email sent late Tuesday. In that email the Provost said he had been listening to the debate leading up to the vote. He said he had heard “a need for greater campus-wide understanding about the goals for academic affairs outlined in the Academic Plan, and more discussion about what it will take for us to realize them.” He continued that he had heard a need for “more information, greater transparency and more faculty engagement In the decisions about the university’s future.

Johnson clearly has no intention of resigning his position and the faculty vote had no binding effect on the UNT administration. Johnson came under fire earlier this year when he was accused of having plagiarized parts of the University Mission Statement. His decision as Provost in 2004 to deny tenure to a group of 12 faculty members created a firestorm as many accused the Provost of changing the rules of the game after it had already been played.

After the news of the possible plagiarism broke the university’s leadership was criticized for failing to back Johnson who is black. Later Governor Perry and Chancellor Lee Jackson and other UNT regents and leader announced their support.

Like most universities UNT is undergoing significant changes as it tackles reduced overall funding, and the reallocation of budget to different disciplines. The administration is also moving to instill a more businesslike manner exemplified by a recent memo extolling teachers to look on their students as “customers.” The general reaction among the faculty has been less than enthusiastic and some feel the Provost may be bearing the brunt of a general dissatisfaction with the administration and the state’s political leadership.

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