Murray State presidential candidate and Chadron State College President Ron Patterson said legislative attacks on tenure dilute academic quality, at an open town hall meeting held at Wrather Hall on Feb. 27.
The “attack on tenure” Patterson refers to, for Kentucky, is House Bill 228. The language of the document threatening tenure is “permit removal of faculty for failure to meet performance and productivity requirements, regardless of status.”
“It’s not good,” Patterson said. “It would make it even more challenging to recruit (and) attract high-quality faculty to our institutions, regardless of compensation or salary or benefits.”
Patterson also said regardless of what law is passed on tenure, “we will have to govern ourselves accordingly.”
“But we will support our faculty in the utmost we can, given the circumstances or the situation we may be presented with,” Patterson said.
Tina Bernot, executive director of advancement, said Patterson founded the division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the University of North Alabama, where he worked for seven years prior to assuming the presidency at Chadron State in 2023. When asked in the Q&A about the state of DEI, Patterson said he “lives it every day,” and its situation is not unique to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
“It’s important that we remain active listeners,” Patterson said.”It’s okay to have free speech and academic freedom, but if we can’t have open, honest conversation about the things that we disagree on, then where is the social responsibility and civility?”
Patterson said his philosophy starts with respect and inclusion of all, “regardless of their background, their viewpoints, their values and beliefs.”
“I feel that this campus represents all of those things everyday really well,” Patterson said. “I can reassure you, we will continue supporting our students effectively, regardless of what legislation passes.”
Patterson said he would handle negligent infrastructure by involving his own college’s “campus masterplan” in the initial steps, followed by a prioritized list of infrastructure concerns.
“Right now on campus, my athletic facilities are in better shape than my academic enterprise,” Patterson said. “So, we put together infographics, charts and data on asset preservation on our older academic buildings.”
Patterson said he makes a point to meet all his students and frequents the student center and dining hall at his current school, even handing out Valentines on Valentine’s Day at the former. He also played basketball with his students, and he meets with his student trustee and student senate president monthly.
“I’m missing my meeting with (the student senate president) today, being here on your campus,” Paterson said.
In addition to meeting his students, as he said he never met his college president until he graduated, Patterson said he makes a point for students to know his name and he tries to remember their names.
“I don’t have a job without you, so you matter very deeply to me,” Patterson said.
Patterson was the third of four presidential candidates to visit Murray State.
The fourth and final presidential candidate, Christian E. Hardigree, J.D, will be at 3:30 p.m. March 3rd at Wrather Museum.
