Letters: Adjunct professors serve at pleasure of the college

Posted: March 08, 2011

I have been following the essentially biased coverage of Chestnut Hill College's alleged firing of Father James St. George with keen interest ("College calls priest's ouster 'sensationalized,'" Saturday).

I have been an adjunct professor of business communications at the college for 11 years - and this fall my granddaughter will enroll in the college as a full-time student.

Is Chestnut Hill College the kind of place I want her to go? Absolutely and without reservation. I am proud of the college and prouder still of the wonderful leadership there.

Adjunct professors serve, essentially, at the will of the college. I sign eight-week contracts, one for each session that I teach in the school of professional and continuing studies. Adjuncts cannot be fired unless they are hired. In this case, the college chose not to renew Father St. George's contract. To say he was fired simply is not true.

I have been involved in higher education for close to four decades and greatly admire the visionary leadership of the college's president, Sister Carol Jean Vale, and Elaine Green, the dean of the college who employed Father St. George, and who is my boss.

I understand the news media's outrage, but sometimes it's helpful to have all the facts before pointing fingers.

Henry R. Taylor

Abington