Read About Two Latest Developments In The University Of Louisville's "Bride" And "Corpse" Robert Felner Freak Show.

Read U of L trustees approve review of 'collegial governance', and U of L could face sanctions over one-semester Ph.D. .

Here are some excerpts:

By awarding a doctoral degree to a student enrolled for only one semester, the University of Louisville violated an accrediting agency's rules and could face sanctions, the agency's president said yesterday.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits schools in 11 Southern states, including Kentucky, requires candidates for graduate degrees to earn the majority of their credits at the university awarding the degree.

In a telephone interview yesterday, commission President Belle S. Wheelan said that if U of L is found out of compliance, her agency could, at its next scheduled meeting in December, put the university "on warning or probation" or revoke its accreditation, although she said the last option would be highly unlikely.

Wheelan said she plans to contact U of L President James Ramsey on Monday "to ask what happened and what the university is doing about it." She said she also will request a written report.

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education also will review the matter, as it begins considering reaccreditation of the university's College of Education and Human Development next spring, said James Cibulka, the group's president.

The Courier-Journal and WHAS-TV reported this week that university records show that in 2004, John Deasy, then a California school superintendent, was awarded a doctorate in philosophy after studying at U of L for only nine credit hours.

Two years earlier, Deasy had given a $375,000 contract to a research center run by then-U of L education dean Robert Felner.

Felner, the focus of a federal investigation of allegations that he misappropriated grant money, was Deasy's adviser and chairman of his dissertation committee.



And more excerpts:

Prompted by allegations of improper hirings and management at its education college, the University of Louisville's board of trustees voted yesterday to review the governance practices of all of U of L's schools and colleges.
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The review was requested by the faculty senate in the wake of the ongoing federal investigation of former education dean Robert Felner, who is accused of misappropriating grant money.

The investigation, which became public in June, also has resulted in allegations involving Felner's management of the college, including hiring and promotion practices and the awarding of at least one doctorate.

U of L President James Ramsey said he thought the governance review was "a good thing to do."

Governance practices, known as "collegial governance" in academic circles, are considered the backbone of a university and are tied to the principle that faculty members are intricately involved in the process, said Beth Boehm, vice chairwoman of the university's English Department and the faculty senate's immediate past chairwoman.

"There is a long tradition of respect for other members' ideas, and that you govern sort of through consensus," said Boehm, one of three university employees who requested the review in a letter to trustees. "You seek input from faculty before you make decisions."

The board's action yesterday brings the number of reviews and audits being conducted as a result of the Felner investigation to five. The others are:

A faculty senate review of the university's grievance policies, which is expected to be completed in late November.

An audit of the College of Education and Human Development's financial records.

An independent audit by the accounting firm Cotton and Allen of U of L's business practices as they relate to research administration.

A blue-ribbon committee to review alleged improprieties in the awarding of an education doctorate to John Deasey in 2004.

The governance practices cover a wide spectrum of activities, from hirings to what degrees are conferred, Boehm said. It also involves deans communicating with faculty on those matters.

Update: A member of the committee has quit, citing concerns about a possible conflict of interest.

Editor's comment: Imagine that, some ethics still left in Cardinal country.

I wonder why U of L president did not recognize the conflict of interest BEFORE making the appointment!