UM curators respond to AAUP on Click investigation
The University of Missouri Board of Curators has released a response to the American Association of University Professors regarding the latter’s investigation into the firing of Dr. Melissa Click.
Earlier this month the AAUP said Click did not get a proper hearing before being dismissed, violating “basic standards of academic due process.” Click was fired several months after her controversial actions at two protests related to race relations at Mizzou.
In its response to the AAUP, the board said its actions are consistent with the AAUP’s statements, which do not establish an absolute right to a faculty hearing, but instead deal with protecting academic freedom and tenure. The board claims its actions did not violate the principle of tenure, noting Click did not have tenure when she was dismissed.
The board also said it was necessary to act on its own, instead of holding a faculty hearing, because “existing university procedures failed to address the seriousness of Dr. Click’s conduct.” Board members say their decision was based on facts not in dispute, and applied standards that are consistent with the AAUP’s expectations for a faculty member.
You can read the entire response by the Board of Curators to the AAUP by opening the link below.
Earlier this month, the board rejected Click’s appeal of her termination. Click claims the board overstepped its authority in firing her.
