Faculty at NYU London recently voted to pass a resolution that expressed concern over NYU’s rapid expansion, increasing student debt, and loans to faculty.
Of the 77 faculty members, a total of 29 faculty voted. Of those who voted, 28 were in favor of the resolution and one abstained.
NYUL faculty stressed the inequality of granting university employees below-market rates and in some cases, forgiving them. The resolution also stated their embarrassment over the high levels of debt students incur and the faculty’s concern over the hostility generated by NYU 2031.
In a poll taken this summer, faculty formally voted on their discontent with NYU governance.
A meeting was held on Oct. 21 to outline the resolution, which was then drafted by three faculty members. An anonymous electronic ballot was sent to faculty.
NYUL professor Michael Hattaway said he hopes positive changes will result from the resolution.
“The motion supported NYU’s moves toward reform,” Hattaway said. “Faculty are, in my opinion, extremely well supported by the NYUL administrators who do their best to keep us unencumbered by too many administrative chores.”
NYUL professor David Margolies voted for the resolution.
“[Many] of the issues about which there has been most noise in New York can affect us only peripherally,” Margolies said.
However, Margolies added the faculty value institutional honesty and are concerned over the lack of democracy in financial and academic policy issues.
There are 417 NYU students at the London site for fall 2013. NYUL is one of 11 study away sites but is not a degree-granting portal like NYU Abu Dhabi or NYU Shanghai.
NYU spokesman John Beckman said the resolution in London was not a no-confidence vote.
“This was an expression of faculty sentiment and concern, so the vote is not expected to have any impact on students or classes,” Beckman said.
Beckman also said, while the university is “gratified by [the faculty’s] expressions of support for our global efforts,” the university does take these concerns seriously, and the Board of Trustees and administration are “committed to continued efforts to improve faculty involvement in decision-making, and to addressing faculty concerns.”
Emily Bell and Michael Domanico are news editors. Email them at [email protected].
*This article has been updated to include further comment from the university.
