On Monday, September 9, the Virginia Conference of the American Association of
University Professors (VA-AAUP) sent a letter to the President of the University of
Lynchburg (UL) condemning recent faculty layoffs and curriculum cuts at the
historic private university.
The University of Lynchburg has offered students a deep and rich undergraduate education for generations, but now they are cutting foundational majors and minors in the sciences, arts, and humanities. How can you say you are offering a comprehensive education without strong programs in Music, Theater, Religious Studies, Spanish, and Physics?
The letter also called for the immediate reinstatement of cut programs and faculty
in order to restore the university’s reputation as a leading comprehensive university
in Virginia.
“The University of Lynchburg has offered students a deep and rich undergraduate
education for generations, but now they are cutting foundational majors and
minors in the sciences, arts, and humanities” said VA-AAUP President Dr. Timothy
Gibson. “How can you say you are offering a comprehensive education without
strong programs in Music, Theater, Religious Studies, Spanish, and Physics?”
In May 2024, University of Lynchburg President Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar
announced the closure of five graduate programs and 12 undergraduate
programs, along with the immediate layoffs of 40 faculty members.
VA-AAUP President Gibson expressed dismay at the administration’s decision to lay
off scores of faculty in the sciences, arts, and humanities, even though the
university is, by all accounts, in good financial health.
“The principles of the American Association of University Professors are clear.
Decisions about the composition of the faculty, decisions about the future of
existing programs, and even decisions about university budgets — all of these
decisions must be made in concert with the faculty,” said Gibson. “The principle of
shared governance between faculty and administrators ensures that curriculum
and educational decisions are made by those with the most expertise and those
who work most closely with students–the faculty.”
The VA-AAUP letter also expressed disbelief at President Morrison-Shetlar’s
decision to force faculty members to sign non-disclosure agreements in order to
receive severance packages.
“These NDAs are clearly an effort to silence former faculty and prevent criticism of
the administration’s decisions,” Gibson said. “Laid off professors were faced with
the impossible choice of speaking their minds or receiving a severance to
support their families. Shame on the University for using severance packages as
weapons against free speech and debate.”
The VA-AAUP letter ended with a call on university leaders to reverse course and
affirm basic principles of shared governance.
“If President Morrison-Shetlar refuses to change course, the Virginia Conference
of the AAUP will be forced to escalate our concerns to the national AAUP,
potentially leading to further investigation and possible institutional sanctions,”
Gibson said.
“The University of Lynchburg has had a storied past.” Gibson said. “And it can
have a great future, but only if the institution listens to its faculty and recommits
to offering a truly comprehensive education across the arts, humanities, and
sciences.”
