Public Statement from Trustee Jefferson at Board Meeting 10/28/22

Renee Knake Jefferson Statement 10/28/22

You may wonder why I haven't spoken out publicly about the recent controversy. Two reasons:  First, I believe that trustees speaking individually is not in the university’s best interest. Second,  our Board of Trustee Code of Ethics and Conduct (adopted during my time on the Board – see here) prohibits a Board member from taking stances about Board business outside of official channels.

So I have tried a different approach.  I asked the Board to present a unified response to various votes of no confidence.  Unfortunately, the Board has rejected this suggestion.  Our silence has allowed false facts to dominate the debate, so I find it imperative to speak,  not on behalf of the Board, but as an individual.

I am a professor and  I am a law school administrator, in addition to my volunteer service as a trustee.  And so I certainly respect the process for academic bodies to take a step like a no confidence vote.  Yet while the Board has been criticized from acting outside of its role, the no-confidence votes have stated grounds that are inaccurate, and that I believe require correction.  

I want to be clear about this:  from the moment I was appointed to the Board in December 2019, I have diligently fulfilled my governance obligations while simultaneously advocating for Title IX to be the floor (i.e. our minimum legal obligation) but not the ceiling for all that we do to keep students, faculty, staff, and the entire Spartan community safe.

Here are some examples.

Before I took office, the Board refused to release to the public the Nassar documents.  I reviewed them myself.  One could envision a vote of no confidence for this decision because it is true that Board members should not be involved in the day-to-day management of the university. But, I viewed this as a governance obligation given the circumstances of my appointment (another trustee had resigned over disagreement about the documents and the Board was in crisis -- if you want to know more about this, please see my public statement from the Board meeting in December 2020, here). This took many hours over the course of a year, and I was the only trustee to complete this task. I did it because it was the only way to know whether those responsible had been held accountable.

As another example, when I learned that the university had no formal policy for evaluating presidential performance, I surveyed other universities and the Association for Governing Boards, and urged the Board to adopt and implement a formal policy.  I am proud to say this is now official policy on this campus. This brought an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability to the review of the president.  I expect this will be the standard from this point forward.

Soon after we hired the provost, I discussed with her how the university could improve the faculty discipline process when an instance of faculty misbehavior does not rise to the level of an official finding under Title IX.  In other words, what happens when there is a red flag that cannot be officially prosecuted but bears not only examination but remedial intervention?  This kind of conduct, that no one here would want our students or faculty to endure, should be curbed no less than blatant instances of egregious harassment. This led to the policy the Board adopted earlier this year on faculty discipline (see here), among other changes. I have been a constant champion of structural reforms to improve policies and procedures at MSU for greater accountability, transparency, safety, and healing, and I will continue to do so.

This is also true related to the issues surrounding the certification process for reviewing employee-related Title IX reports and the provost's decision regarding the leadership of the Broad College of Business.  In each case, despite contrary reports, editorial board opinions, and no-confidence votes, I have scrupulously complied with my obligations in sometimes tense internal conversations with the Board and the administration. I have supported the provost’s right to make a decision about College leadership, both in my direct communications with her and also in my public vote approving her recommendation for an interim dean of the Broad College of Business.

I have not interfered with administrative decisions. Indeed, I have not attempted to override the ultimate determination of the administration even when I have agreed with you, Faculty Senate, and you ASMSU, and others on those issues.  For example, the Faculty Senate raised concerns with the Board about greater transparency in the president’s hiring of executive level posts, especially internal hires. I have advocated for greater transparency and uniformity in these processes but I also have deferred to the administration. As another example, ASMSU has advocated for restoration of the swim and dive team. I also have long believed this is the right course. 

The Detroit Free Press reported September 11 that the Board threatened the president with termination.  But that is not true.  While the press cannot be accurate every time, it is nevertheless shocking that it was so wrong on a verifiable fact.  I would also like to correct another unfortunate perception:  the president’s decision to resign was his alone.  It was not precipitated by a Board vote.  In fact, the Board was engaged in discussions that would have continued his tenure and assure an orderly transition should he or the Board determine that the university should go in a new direction. 

I would like to end on a positive note.  Michigan State is an extraordinary institution.  I will continue promoting the university as long as I am privileged to serve as its trustee.

I ask those that have expressed a lack of confidence to join me in uplifting the university for the sake of its alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community.  And as you consider the intensity of your commitment to this cause, I ask you to reflect on the facts related to my service on the Board and to the Spartan community.

I am:

  • A trustee who is committed to academic freedom in her governance role and as a scholar herself.

  • A trustee who champions concerns of students, faculty, and staff.

  • A trustee who brings greater accountability and transparency.

  • A trustee who has worked to enhance campus safety and healing.

  • A trustee who acts in the best interest of the university, regardless of politics or other pressures.

  • A trustee who understands a wide range of perspectives within the Spartan community, having been a fully tenured faculty member, a spouse and stepmother of proud MSU graduates who, as African American men, both faced racial tensions during their time on campus but leveraged their excellent educations at MSU to chart extraordinary career paths, a mother of toddlers who learned to walk at Spartan marching band practices, a mother whose son just received his acceptance to the Honors College at MSU.

I understand the difficult role of a trustee.  I have spent more than two decades in higher education. I have taught thousands of students, hundreds on this campus. I have published dozens of academic articles and four books, gaining nation and international recognition and winning awards as a research scholar. I have served in a range of university administrative roles at different institutions.

A trustee must engage in the oversight of the university, but not try to manage the university’s day-to-day affairs.  It is a delicate balance because our fiduciary duties require that we advocate for students, faculty and staff, and ask hard questions.  When governance concerns threaten the university’s mission, trustees cannot put our head in the sand and ignore them. I have faithfully honored and fulfilled my duties as a trustee since Governor Whitmer appointed me in 2019, and I will continue to do so.

And so I ask you, if you don’t have confidence in these values I embody as a trustee, where in the end will you place your confidence?

There is one thing I think we all can agree upon. And I want everyone who has spoken out on this to know – I hear you. The communication from the Board of Trustees must improve. We cannot rely upon the administration to be our voice, and we cannot continue to operate as the Board has done in the past. I hope, along with all of you who have been frustrated by the lack of communication in recent weeks, that we will see meaningful change. I can promise that you will see it from me for however long I am here, which is why I’ve spoken far longer today than I have in the past during trustee comments, and I will be making this statement publicly available. I thank you for listening.