The American Association of University Professors has sent a letter of concern to officials at Antioch University over the decision by its Board of Trustees to shut down Antioch College, in Yellow Springs, Ohio, next year.
“We were deeply surprised and disappointed to learn that members of the faculty were not consulted prior to the board’s actions with regard either to the declaration of financial exigency or to the suspension of operations,” wrote Anita Levy, an associate secretary of the AAUP, in the letter, which is dated August 7.
Ms. Levy criticizes Antioch for reducing faculty members’ role in governance, and her letter addresses worries that tenure might be eliminated at the college if it is reopened. The AAUP has apparently not begun an official investigation of Antioch, and Ms. Levy could not be reached for comment on the question of whether an investigation was planned. “We await further developments with interest,” the letter concludes. —Paul Fain
