I appreciate that the trustees followed through on their commitment to release the report, although the investigation and the manner in which it was conducted remain concerning. The report confirms what was already clear: a dean violated the policy, he was asked to resign, and he resigned. Spending millions of dollars investigating an at-will employee's resignation and damaging the university's reputation is inconsistent with the trustees' fiduciary duty. As always, the goal of our shared work moving forward is to serve the best interests of MSU, and the report’s policy recommendations will be given due consideration. As a university, we must ensure that our policies are sound and reflective of our values and that those entrusted with leadership positions follow those policies, particularly when it comes to mandatory reporting.

Karen Kelly-Blake, Ph.D.

Chairperson, MSU Faculty Senate and Steering Committee