Gary  Neiman, dean of the College of Health and Human Services

Editor’s note: This is the sixth in an eight-part series describing the evaluations of Ohio University deans. Seven of the 10 deans who head OU’s colleges were formally evaluated this year and an eighth called for his own review.

Ohio University’s College of Health and Human Services dean received favorable reviews from his faculty and the provost, and a 100 percent approval rating from staff.

In his ninth year as dean, Gary Neiman got a 77 percent approval rating from faculty in the college, with 53 percent of faculty responding. Only 20 percent of staff participated in their survey.

Neiman said he was pleased overall, but concerned about the response rate.

“I thought it was a very favorable review,” he said. “(But) I don’t understand why an individual wouldn’t take the time to provide feedback … You truly want to benefit from all this feedback because you know you’re not perfect.”

On the faculty questionnaire, Neiman scored highest in External Relations with a 97 percent approval rating. Kathy Krendl, OU’s executive vice president and provost, praised Neiman for his work.

“(The College) should also be commended for its continuing activities involving collaboration with other campus units as well as its commitment to community and global outreach,” Krendl wrote.

Through a spokeswoman, Krendl declined to elaborate on her comments, preferring to let her evaluation speak for itself.Krendl also noted Neiman’s efforts to improve diversity in the college. Neiman said he and his staff have devoted a lot of time to that.

“We have a very serious recruitment effort at the undergraduate level,” he said, adding that while he is pleased with the college’s progress, “I’d like (the diversity) to skyrocket. There’s never enough diversity.”

The college had 16 undergraduate Hispanic or black students in 2004-05 and increased to 35 last year. About 2,700 students were enrolled in the college this fall.

Despite improvement in attracting diverse students, Neiman (in his self-evaluation) and his faculty (in their survey responses) discussed the need for more resources and faculty in the college.

“While it can be argued that a number of variables justify increased costs for certain colleges,” Neiman wrote, “it would appear that (the college) is considerably under-resourced relative to other colleges at Ohio University.”

Health and Human Services has the fifth largest budget of the seven major colleges. The budget for this fiscal year was $12.4 million.

Neiman said the college is understaffed despite adding seven additional faculty positions in 2006-07.

“For us to catch up to where we need to be in terms of our faculty-student ratio, we probably need 15 plus new faculty lines,” he said. He called this year a “great start,” but said he needs more faculty to address students’ and professors’ needs.

Faculty and staff evaluate the dean through questionnaires every year. The results are sent to faculty committees in each college that write a report for the provost. She then compiles a final report in the spring.

Faculty asked for a more concrete workload policy that would better balance teaching and research activity. The dean said he tries to show his appreciation for strong teaching.

“We have a disproportionate number of our faculty winning those awards relative to our numbers, and I’m very proud of that,” Neiman said.

Faculty were also concerned about communication and Neiman’s leadership style, comments Neiman said “come up every year.” Neiman said he thinks he needs to increase informal interactions with faculty.

“I think faculty would like to see me around more,” he said. “Every year I resolve to do that, and I’m just not as successful as I’d like to be.”

Neiman added that he feels he does listen to faculty input, though sometimes he thinks people don’t perceive that because of his position.

“If someone presents a view and I present an alternative view, they view that as inflexible,” he said. “I view that as presenting an alternative view as part of a debate to arrive at a conclusion that meets all needs.”

One faculty member echoed that feeling.

“He demonstrates caring often, but may be misunderstood when seeming to not agree with others,” the faculty member wrote.