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SALT LAKE CITY — Claims of "wrongful termination" at Salt Lake Community College's school of nursing surfaced Monday, after a professor of 10 years was fired and others were put on administrative leave.
“I dont have any rhyme or reason, why she’s doing this. It doesnt make any sense at all. This is one of the most hostile work environments I’ve ever seen at AFT, and we deal with the entire state,” said Brad Asay, state president for the American Federation of Teachers Union.
Asay said the school's administration, particularly the new interim associate dean, had no grounds for terminating this professor. In response, the AFT has hired an attorney and said it is prepared to fight.
“They have been there a very long time. These are not inexperienced professors. These are veterans,” Asay said.
After Monday’s incident, AFT said the staff and faculty at SLCC college of nursing fear for their jobs and are afraid that if they speak up they will get fired.
They have been there a very long time. These are not inexperienced professors. These are veterans.
–Brad Asay
With two faculty members on paid administrative leave, one termination and three letters of concern recently written to various staff members, the AFT is asking the school to provide reasons for its actions.
“Some of the things that I saw in those letters were gossiping and unprofessional treatment towards administrators. We’re not seeing the evidence,” Asay said.
The changes at the school began after the the new interim associate dean was hired. Now, the students in the nursing program are having to suffer mid-semester while the replacements fill-in, Asay said.
In response to the matter, SLCC issued the following statement:
“Any job action letters are delivered for sufficient cause. Anyone receiving a job action letter is afforded due process based on college policy.”
Contributing: Sara Jarman
