Some Diné College faculty want college prez disciplined

Posted by Cindy Yurth | May 14, 2015 | News |

CHINLE

Some faculty members at Diné College are circulating a petition asking the Board of Regents and the Navajo Nation Health, Education and Human Services Committee to discipline college president Maggie George for allegedly ignoring faculty grievances, allowing her husband to control the college and placing an unqualified person in the position of dean of academics.

The petition contains 38 signatures, which, according to one faculty member, represent about a third of the college’s faculty and staff.

About six faculty members are behind the petition. They refused to give their names, saying they feared retaliation.

It’s a legitimate fear, said Ky Travis, former president of the faculty association, chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department and college vice president whose contract was not renewed last year after she butted heads with George.
“Maggie likes to surround herself with yes-people,” Travis said. “She has no problem finding an excuse to fire you if you voice an opinion.”

In response to the petition, Cameron Daines, vice president of institutional advancement for the college, wrote an email to Navajo Times Editor Candace Begody stating, “The college has clearly defined personnel policies in place to address such internal complaints, which include review and, if necessary, independent investigations. Further, in accordance with college personnel policies, such statements may be found to be unlawful.”

Travis said her relationship with George started to sour in the spring of 2014 after she presented a list of faculty complaints at a Board of Regents meeting. Although the official reason for her non-renewal was that she turned in her contract two days late, Travis is sure the real reason is that she was an active president of the faculty association and was trying to relay the feelings of the faculty.