Page 3 - FreePress201415

News

Zirpoli Relieved of Dean of GPS Position, ,

, of Education comes up with new procedures
you have to follow up on them. You always
DANIEL VALENTIN-MORALES just do your best to accommodate those ...
Co-Editor-in-Chief and we always have."

Professor Thomas Zirpoli Relieved of He added, «There were three things they
Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies [Department of Education] had questions
Position about and we fixed them, and that was it."

In August, a week before the beginning The "compliance issue" line of reasoning
of the 2014 Fall Semester, Provost Jeanine did not convince some of the Graduate and
Stewart sent an email informing the McDaniel Professional studies faculty.
faculty of the removal of Professor Thomas
Zirpoli from his position as Dean of Graduate "I think it's fair to say it was a surprise,"
and Professional Studies. stated a GPS faculty member.

Dated Aug. 11, Stewart explained to the In a meeting with Dr. Henry Reiff and two
faculty the reason for Professor Zirpoli's other members of the GPS faculty who wished
removal: «Tom is stepping aside only because to remain anonymous, Reiff commented, "We
I request that he do so ... to allow a shift in were told, that it was because of compliance
the leadership focus of our graduate division issues. We are not aware of any compliance
to emphasize expertise in compliance-related concerns."

issues." He added, "Over the past few months

That same month, in a letter addressed to there were two or three issues that arose where

President Roger Casey, some of the Memb~rs mentioned difficulties we needed to make some adjustments to get in

of the Graduate and Professional Studies in January of the 2014 Spring semester, but compliance. As far as we know we [had] made

(GPS) faculty, expressed their concern and had failed to provide "the specifics of the those adjustments."

displeasure at the speedy removal of Professor compliance concerns" which had "never been Another professor remarked, "I think we

Zirpoli from his position as Dean. described to the GPS and Education faculty." all recognize that a president and provost, any

Many of the GPS faculty felt Zirpoli's In an interview with President Casey, he 'manager, has the prerogative [to make sure]

sudden dismissal from; his position to be explained what was meant by 'compliance.' that his or her staff is performing on a level

unwarranted: ' "Compliance has to do with state rules that they expect. I respect that. I thi~k what

"This summer, the GPS team conducted and regulations. In the case of the graduate we were concerned about was the manner-and

an evaluation of his leadership; he received program, we were focusing on Federal the timing of that decision."

the full support of the GPS faculty. Professor regulatio~s. The~e have ~een enorm~us ''Another major concern is that we are

Zirpoli has served ably in other administrative ch,ange,s ill Washington ... " ill concern with undergoing national accreditation ... it'll be a

roles as well.. most recently as the College's things colleges need to do. little awkward to [answer] 'why was your dean

Acti,ng Provo.st" . He., added, "Our concerns about dismissed?'". stated another instructor

In her initial email, Stewart reasoned, "[h] compliance came out over, the last year because The issue of re-accreditation was addressed

ad I been able to anticipate the nature and we were concer,ned that ill a number of ~ur in the letter sent to Casey, mentioning that

scope of the work that would be impose~ upon programs we might not have been presenting many of the programs led by Zirpoli are

1 ould not have considered adding the our data as the Federal government wants us currently undergoing "NCATE/CAEP re-

title 'of Dean to a long list of insutu~o~a~ and to do. A number o,~ those issues involve our accreditation .. , the programs. must ficish and

unity obligations held by one individual graduate programs. "submit the College's report in preparation for

co~ li] " When asked, however, Professor Zirpoli the accreditation team visit in 2016."

[ZltAPccOo.r din g to the letter addressed to sai"d, "we don't have compliance issues. It's just

p't;e.sid~Q.t,...Casey, .the . .Provost , .had ..first things that, agam as the Feds and Department Read more at www.McDanielFreePress.com