Timothy Meyer, chancellor of Oakland Community College's five campuses since 2008, is so unpopular with professors that they overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence in his leadership,
Chancellor Timothy Meyer says he's "surprised by the faculty union’s action." (Oakland University photo)
Chad Halcom of Crain's reports on the action, when about 93 percent of eligible instructors voted with the majority at an Auburn Hills meeting::
Meyer received a vote of no confidence Friday from an association representing more than 290 of its full-time college faculty. . . .
“It’s very much this individual’s management style that we think is autocratic and not inclusive,” association president Mary Ann McGee said of the vote against Meyer. “And our belief is you can’t serve as the leader of just one group of people. You need to be the leader of the entire campus community.” . . .
It is the first vote of no confidence in the history of the college, which began offering courses in 1965, and the first such vote against Meyer in his career.
Meyer released a statement saying he'll continue making changes, as Crain's quotes:
“We are surprised by the faculty union’s action. We have very good relations with our unions. The faculty union is well aware of the challenges OCC faces, which include revenue shortfalls and ensuring we meet the challenges put forth by the community as a whole. We realize some resist change, even when compelling data exists to show that change is necessary."
The two-year college's board chairman also issued a statement saying trustees back the chancellor and "the difficult decisions needed to improve the college.”
OCC, attended by about 76,000 students annually, is Michigan’s largest community college and the 25th-largest of the nation’s 1,200 community colleges. It offers degrees and certificates in over 160 fields Campuses are in Auburn Hills, Waterford, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak and Southfield.
-- Alan Stamm
