Reflections Magazine Issue #48 - Spring 1998 | Page 4
From the Campuses
Artman Receives Renewal
of Three-Year Contract
After three years as chief executive of
Siena Heights, President Rick Artman
was given a three-year contract renewal
by the Colleges Board of Trustees,
beginning July 1, 1997. Rick and his
wife, Joan, came to Siena Heights in
August 1994. We are extremely
pleased with the leadership Rick has
brought to Siena Heights, Board
chairperson John Tierney said. During
his tenure, Siena Heights has
strengthened its educational processes,
invigorated its Catholic identity and
relationships with the communities it
serves, and is addressing its future
operations through a broad-based
strategic planning process. During the
first three years of Artmans presidency,
the College opened new off-campus
degree completion centers in Lansing
and Kalamazoo (and now Jackson--see
below). With strong support from local
banking institutions, Siena Heights also
issued $4 million in tax-exempt bonds to
fund a vast array of physical plant
improvements including roofs, floors,
heating and ventilation systems,
driveways, parking lots, and assorted
internal and structural repairs. Siena
Heights is a student-focused, missiondriven institution, Artman commented.
We work at all times to serve the needs
and dreams of our diverse student body,
while empowering the Adrian Dominican
values that are at the core of our mission.
Artmans new contract extends from
July 1997 through June 2000.
News Wrap-Up:
Litigation Supports Siena
Siena Heights was in Federal District
Court in Detroit this fall, defending
against a claim brought by a former
professor. After a nine-day trial, the
jury ruled in favor of Siena Heights on
all charges brought before it, and the
judge also ruled in Sienas favor on a
directed verdict motion. As is often,
perhaps always, true, the case was more
complex than some may have assumed,
President Rick Artman said afterward.
Former philosophy professor Anne
Russell Mayeaux charged that the
Colleges decision not to renew her
contract was an act of retaliation in
response to her having previously filed a
sexual harassment complaint against a
faculty colleague at Siena. The College
denied there was retaliation, arguing that
the employment decision was based on
other issues. I regret the distraction of
this lawsuit to our students, faculty, staff
and friends of the College, Artman said.
However, I have confidence in our
faculty and faith in our policies and
procedures. I firmly believe that,
throughout all of the events with which
this case dealt, the College did what was
right, lawful, and necessary for the wellbeing of the institution. We remain
absolutely committed to maintaining a
safe, healthy, fair and ethical teaching
and learning environment at Siena
Heights. A related suit filed by former
English professor David Calonne was
settled out of court following the
conclusion of the first case.
Student Activities Program
Expands Volunteer Focus
The student activity center at Siena
Heights (Adrian campus) has become
the Student Activities and Volunteer
Center, bringing volunteer programs into
the centralized student activities area in
Sage Union. Now, such programs as the
Crop Walk, Make A Difference Day and
the Rake Run are coordinated by student
activities head Terry Carlson, instead of
the counseling center staff as in the past.
It is part of the Catholic tradition to
serve others, said Michele Buku, dean
of students.
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