after that Subway published the award of a professorship for the President of the University of Puerto Rico, Jorge Haddock earlier in the day, this afternoon the Governing Board of the academic institution confirmed the approval of a certification by majority vote they hold is legal and is based on the merits of the academic.
The Chairman of the Board, Emilio Colom explained in a statement that the evaluation process allegedly took two years and required two evaluations that were satisfactory. It was stated that the appointment was based on the merits of Haddock, as an academic, and on his executions as president of the institution. “As made public at the time of his appointment, on September 4, 2018, of satisfactorily completing two years as president, Dr. Haddock would receive an appointment to a teaching position, with the rank of professor, at the University of Puerto Rico. This is considering his more than 40 years of experience in the academy and as authorized by the UPR Governing Board in Certification 1A (2018-2019), ”Colom said. He added that “in assessing his performance, enforcement and responsibilities before and during the pandemic, Dr. Haddock met the requirements to be appointed a professor at the University of Puerto Rico.”
He also recalled that, in 2018, through a participatory and public process established by the Special Committee for Research and Consultation, the Governing Board selected the President-in-Office, who, in addition to having specific credentials and qualifications, it required him to meet certain criteria and goals. Haddock was recruited at an annual salary of $ 240,000. “As part of the process, the granting of the position of professor was included, in accordance with the powers of the Governing Board, as established by the UPR Law, Law No. 1 of January 20, 1966, as amended, “the statement reads.
However, this afternoon also the Puerto Rican Association of University Professors (Appu) reiterated in a press release the qualification of the move of the Governing Board of the UPR as illegal.
“Dr. Haddock’s contract contains parts that are, in the words of lawyers, ultra vires. The process of granting places and ranks at the University of Puerto Rico is regulated. The UPR General Regulations state that the it is up to the premises through their staffing processes to hire teaching staff and grant ranks.The Governing Board violates the regulations that it has the ministerial duty to defend.Neither the General Regulations of the UPR nor the University Law authorize the board to granting places or academic ranks “he noted Angel Rodríguez Rivera, president of the APPU.
The University of Puerto Rico has, as part of its legal and regulatory system, staff committees composed of peers who have the task of evaluating academic records and recommending places and promotions. “Giving Dr. Haddcok a place without going through the processes that all the teachers at the University of Puerto Rico have to go through is an offense to university democracy. More importantly, it is a lack of respect for everyone. the university students who went through vicissitudes in this institution every day “added Rodríguez.
The AAPU denounced that the UPR has been freezing teaching positions for years. In the last ten years, more than $ 500 million has been lost in Puerto Rican government contribution to the UPR. “The situation of the university has led to the precariousness of hundreds of colleagues who are forced to remain as teachers without a place, both part-time and full-time. This staff of teachers without a place comes to the UPR with academic training at the best universities in the world, publications in highly prestigious professional journals and the best wishes to contribute to the development of the UPR and Puerto Rico.However, they remain in conditions of poverty and It is raised that there are no vacancies, that there is a crisis, that there is no need. It is a disrespect and a lack of sensitivity with these people who give academic life to the University.From the Appu we call on the Governing Board to reconsider and terminate the parts of this contract that violates the law.The uni community verse deserves no less, “Rodriguez concluded.
However, Haddock argues that his work plan has had valid results for granting him the position of professor. In the same communiqué of the Governing Board, the President of the UPR thanked the members of this governing body for the trust and support in their work, and expressed satisfaction that its evaluation had been based on the results of the his work plan for the University of Puerto Rico and merits. “I will continue to focus on completing the work plan drawn up for the transformation of the University of Puerto Rico, advancing the digitization of processes to offer more and better services to the university community,” said the academic, who clarified that he will assume the his duties as a professor 1 time he completes his duties as president of the UPR. Similarly, Haddock, who in the past taught in the university system, argued that his greatest interest “has always been to be able to contribute to the UPR, my soul mate, and repay his great contribution to my training as an individual and a professional “.
As highlighted in the statement of the Governing Board of the UPR, during the Haddock administration, the UPR managed to reaffirm its compliance with the accrediting agencies and comply with the delivery of its audited financial statements. He pointed out that Haddock has advanced the agenda of distance education and digitalization of processes, has gathered new external resources for research, philanthropy, among others.
In view of government transition, Haddock stressed that a further cut in the UPR budget will leave him unable to pay his payroll or cover operating expenses. He also anticipated that in August system students will pay another tuition increase, this time twice for which it was not paid last August. The undergraduate credit will be at $ 145 at the state university.