Performance reviews are about three things: commending good leadership, condemning poor leadership and, most importantly, getting feedback on how leadership can be improved. Evaluations are a critical part of the university’s system of checks and balances. However, sometimes no matter how overwhelming the response or how large the volume of negative feedback, the critique can fall on deaf ears. Such is the case with Renee Middleton, dean of Ohio University’s College of Education.
Not only did Middleton receive the most faculty responses of any dean, 69 percent, but she also received the lowest approval rating — 36 percent. Any other person would be contrite, humbled in the face of the large percentage of disapproval. But that is not the way Middleton decided to handle the criticism.
With comments on the survey like “dismissive” and “verbally abusive,” one would hope that Middleton would have at least acknowledged that some problems exist. Instead, she chose to blame the faculty, saying she had been told the faculty members were difficult when she arrived at OU. Kathy Krendl, executive vice president and provost, saw problems with Middleton as well. In her evaluation, Krendl suggested forming a faculty advisory commission to help smooth things. But Middleton even rejected that idea, saying she was going to continue with business as usual.
Middleton is a highly paid administrator with a salary of $170,000. She was brought to Athens to lead and to work with the faculty, and part of good leadership is a willingness to change when critiqued or when something is not working correctly. Middleton’s stubborn attitude is what is most troubling. The poor evaluation is not good, but a willingness to improve could prevent a poor evaluation in the future.
The point of evaluations like this one is to become better at a job. Deans need to be leaders. Through them, the tone is set and goals are determined. They need to lead by example, and Middleton is not setting a good example of how to take criticism. All excuses aside, not listening to your employees is poor leadership. If Middleton does not want to be better, then perhaps there is no place for her at OU.
Reader Comments
I find it interesting that as a student newspaper, The Post has yet to mention, in the evaluation of Dean Middleton, what STUDENTS think. I looked for that sort of coverage in your initial reporting on deans, and I look for it in this editorial, and I don't see it. I would think that a student newspaper--particularly one that has in the past been so critical of university policy -- would weigh very heavily the opinions of students. You haven't even interviewed an Education student. I mention this, because I suspect that you might find students giving Dean Middleton a much different commentary than faculty have. And I would think that a the student population would find that information to be enlightening at least and probably more along the lines of "crucial to the reporting of this story." No?
Maybe I'm a bad student, but I don't think I've ever met the dean of my college (communication). Perhaps Middleton is directly involved with education students in a way I'm not aware of, but what kind of opinion could students form anyway?
then why did we have the "vote of no confidence" on mcdavis last year. if we are unsure of the kind of opinion that we can give on our dean then what makes us think that we can give an accurate opinion on the president of the university?
CNash,
McDavis is far more visible than deans of colleges. As students, we should be more aware of the heads of our colleges, but as it stands many of us probably ignore the newsletters, emails, events, etc. If they implement an unsavory policy it will fly under the radar. If McDavis, Krendl, Smith, etc., institute a plan or course of action, the effects are widespread- influencing the entire student body; these topics are covered by The Post, and talked about by staff, professors, and students. Because these topics receive more attention- ideally the information is available to make an informed decision about their efficiency.
absolutelynot,
May I ask, if you are an education major, what is your specialty? I too, agree that the opinions of the faculty on Renee Middleton vary from student opinions. I would like to know how drastically they vary between special divisions. I'm sure that ECE majors think of Middleton differently than Secondary Ed. I definitely think it would have been interesting for the Post to employ some input from Education majors.
CNash,
I actually didn't vote in that matter because again, I've never met the guy or worked closely with him in anyway. I read about him in The Post from time to time but how did I know what I was reading wasn't biased?
But I guess that goes for any kind of voting process on varying levels. Eh.
but would one not know, first hand, what their dean is up to? what changes he/she has made since we are taking classes, going to our advisors, taking part in college/school groups? at least i feel more comfortable evaluating my dean more so than i do the president.
Not necessarily. There are probably members of the student population who do not even know their advisers, let alone the deans of their colleges. As students approach graduation they tend to visit their advisers more often, and make themselves aware of issues within the college.
I'm not saying that I disagree with students evaluating their college deans, either. I think it would be beneficial- they play a large part in the caliber of the education one receives while at school. I only wish that more students paid attention to these issues.
i agree, i too wish students would pay more attention to the issues and i am not entirely sold on the idea that students should evaluate the dean of their college or the president of the university. i'm just not sure that most students, myself included (and I think I am pretty informed), have enough knowledge of the issues to make an educated evaluation...ie have an understanding of actual budgetitary constraints, legal agreements, organizational limitations etc
Yet you think students have the good judgement to know when and where to use a firearm on campus... They don't know enough to know whether their dean is doing an effective job of teaching them, but they know enough about when and where to use deadly force... You made the exact argument I made in the concealed carry debate for this topic, yet completely wrote it off before.
apples and oranges. its pretty simple, if someone is threatening your life with deadly force you use deadly force to protect yourself and the others around you. if the president or dean fires two employees and hires a new person in a new position we see that has wasted spending on another fat administrator...but we dont know the reasons behind the story. we only know what is in front of us. and with fire arms it is easy to make a decision when someone is pointing a gun at you.
whatever you say dude, apples and oranges are still fruit, that's one similarity and there are plenty more
what are some of the other similarities? im not seeing them.
they both contain vitamin C and citric acid, are good for you and part of a balanced diet, both contain seeds, both are eaten with breakfast, both are necessary for a good fruit salad, both are food, both grow on trees, both come in various hybrid variations, the list goes on
ahahah, at least you have a sense of humor.
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