By Kayla Walker
Three University professors, all from the department of Business Computer Information Systems (BCIS), were notified in early December they were denied tenure. Drs. Steven Cosares, Esther Klein and Khalid Soliman were told they would no longer hold teaching positions at the University at the end of the academic year.
In order to receive tenure, professors must meet certain criteria in teaching, research and service. However, a fourth criterion, one that mandates professors must serve an essential function to their department or school, was cited for releasing Cosares.
“The Provost used a clause in the faculty contract wherein he labels the three of us ‘unessential’ to the needs of the University and can thereby deny our tenure bids without considering our records of achievement,” Cosares said. “I’d like to know what unessential means in this case.”
Cosares also teaches courses in quantitative methods and mathematics, as well as contributing to scholarly journals. Cosares had previously held tenure at Dowling College before starting at the University and said he was confident going into the tenure process again with his record.
“Because I was tenured previously, I could have asked for a four year probation offer, but I didn’t think getting tenure would be a problem at Hofstra,” Cosares said.
According to Cosares’ letter from Provost Herman Berliner denying him tenure, the University is releasing him due to low enrollment in the BCIS program. Enrollment is down to 617 declared majors this academic year from 1760 in the 2000 to 2001 academic year. However, Cosares said student semester hours are up five percent from last year.
“I believe our dismissal is an overreaction to the situation affecting enrollments in computer science and information systems majors across the country,” Cosares said. Cosares believes that a national increase in spending for information technology could lead to a rebound in enrollment.
Berliner’s decision was automatically sent to the University Appeals Board, which found no faults in Cosares’ record to support denying tenure, but nonetheless supported Berliner’s decision because of the “fiduciary responsibility to the university at large.”
Berliner could not be contacted for comment because he was in Hawaii. But, Senior Vice Provost Liora Schmelkin said the Provost’s office “does not comment on personnel issues.”
BCIS department Chairperson John Affisco, in his letter recommending Cosares for tenure, stated that he needed at least 10 faculty members to staff the department. As it stands, there will be four tenured professors and three probationary professors that will soon be up for tenure as well.
One option for fully staffing the BCIS department per Affisco’s recommendation would be to hire adjuncts. However, the School of Business needs to meet certain standards regarding the number of adjunct professors in its faculty to maintain accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which standards state that the number of adjuncts should be proportionate to the number of full-time faculty.
“I think it’s ridiculous to fire someone because of downsizing enrollment,” said Ken Reifert, a junior secondary education and history dual major, “It’s cheap, but I guess that’s how things work in the business world.” Reifert, who took a class taught by Cosares, said, “Dr. Cosares was always putting himself out there for his students.”
All three professors had been evaluated at least two times during their seven years at the University as part of the probationary process. The professors’ contracts were renewed each time. Cosares said he was never told, before starting the tenure process last year, that department enrollment was a consideration.
“My primary complaint about being denied tenure, besides the obvious insult, is that I must abruptly end my career at Hofstra at the end of this school year,” Cosares said. “Since the final deliberations in our cases lasted until just before the winter holiday break, I’ve had little time to adjust. Luckily, my friends and family are being very supportive.”
Neither Klein nor Soliman replied to requests for comment.
