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[klutzklitz]

Listen, would you chowderheads stop the pissing contest about the credentials of one of AIU’s board members? Who cares, it’s not relevant to the matter at hand.

What DOES matter is this… a little crow squawked to another little crow, and that little crow squawked the following to me: Not having a PhD had virtually zero to do with why those EAP folks were terminated.  Rumor has it that most of their replacements don’t have PhDs either. Nor was “lack of a PhD” a convenient excuse for getting rid of people who were thorns in the side of their superiors.  The real basis for their dismissal was removing people with experience and decent salaries and bringing in less experienced people with comparatively puny salaries. This general strategy is proven by the case of those non-EAP faculty who were also let go… at least a couple were senior PhDs, talented and devoted. The new hires may turn out to be talented and devoted but relatively speaking they are neophytes and they will be compensated accordingly. For the most part established scholars are expendable unless they are tight with the administration for one reason or another and hence declared untouchable… for now. This is a straight-up cost cutting move, an experiment in market reform in Japanese higher education.

[freshair]

Dear Klutz,

I agree with many of your observations but you get it wrong when you say that "Nor was 'lack of a PhD' a convenient excuse for getting rid of people who were thorns in the side of their superiors."  While there certainly may have been an element of cost cutting in all of this, it was definitely NOT the only or main reason.  Otherwise, how do you explain the very lengthy and expensive procedure of interviewing, flying people to Japan etc.  Also, those people without Ph.D.'s (or master's for that matter) currently on the staff and who will remain are amongst the most highly paid people at AIU.    Nor does your observation square with the university policy, enunciated by Nakajima himself (see my post above), about Ph.D.'s.  Lack thereof was certainly an excuse, otherwise AIU should have a uniform policy and the cronies would have to go.  This may have had a little to do with money, but it was mostly about power and its abuse.

[asa29]

I am simply appalled by this statement.  Hiring an untrained translator who know no better than backtranslating names and titles, failing to proofread the translation, publishing it on an official university web page, and blaming any mistakes on the poor translator?  Whose web page is it?

I consider this nothing but a hallmark of sloppy administration.  Or does AIU not have any experience working with REAL translators?

You would be amazed. Because organisations don't understand how translation works, translation companies get away with the most appalling slackness. They get one translator to do it in as little time as they can get away with, pay them a pittance, don't check the result and certainly don't get it proofread. The commissioning organisation is just happy to get something that they can't read "oh yes, that looks like English/Japanese/Korean... whatever".

Anyway, this is really getting off-topic. I expect that the website was done by an admin person at AIU anyway. It has either been translated by an English native speaker or proof-read by one - in either case, they haven't picked up on the incorrect title. Parts of it are original content anyway, not translation.

It is a bit unfair to castigate AIU for "blaming the poor translator" - I don't think anyone from AIU has made any comment.

[asa29]

Who has gone from outside EAP?

[asa29]

Another thing that concerned people living in Akita could do is to call the Akita International Association Hotline for help: Tel. 018-864-1183. Thursdays 1:00 pm ~ 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm ~ 8:00 pm.  (Calls may be made in English, Chinese, Korean or Japanese.)

For the conspiracy theorists: AIA = run by the prefecture, AIU's stakeholder and I'm sure, aware of their employment policy - for the same reason I think this may be old news to Terata chiji.
In any case, if you think a JET can help you'd be better off taking it to their message board.

[concernedinakita]

...for the same reason I think this may be old news to Terata chiji.[/quote]

Have you looked at the "AIU Organizatonal Chart"? http://www.aiu.ac.jp/cms/index.php?id=28

A quick look will show you that the school revolves around the president.
The arrow from Advisory board "almost" touches the president.
The arrow from the Prefecture is "quite far" from touching the president.

The question remains: "Does Governor Terata really know what's going on at AIU?"

I believe that if the 7 EAP faculty members plus all others whose contracts were not renewed were to go, en mass, to the Governor's office it would make a difference.

[asa29]

Much as I'd like an opportunity to test the autonomy of an independent public university, slush-funded by the prefecture, I would be amazed if this restructuring was not common knowledge. Half (that's maybe an exaggeration but I don't know the figure) of the administration are employed by Akita-ken and the governor is on the board. There has been a high-profile recruitment campaign, and there was an earlier post from someone at AIU boasting of the response to their advertising. It's not under wraps.

this necessarily sounds harsh, because it is an outsider's point of view, but even if there was power to exercise, why would the pref care? If laws were broken, yes; if admissions were in the s*** or employers were treating AIU degrees as mickey mouse, yes; if something happened to bring AIU into disrepute, yes (it would have to be quite serious - think of everything Terata's shrugged off in his long reign). But a change of personnel?

Consider that universities quite happily close whole departments down as they like. And consider that Akita workers have been dealt a rough hand in recent years. The prefecture is job-loss central, and those are jobs that are gone for good.

I would suggest that JALT may have some influence to plead the case for good English teachers, at least to criticise AIU (that would be a story, if a small one) and you could do some research on fixed-term contracts in Japanese law. For example where I am you can't just not renew a contract - there has to be a reason eg. the loss of that position, or a good business case, and the employee on the sharp end has to be given opportunities elsewhere in the organisation if applicable, or offered training. I suspect this is not the case in japan, but make sure you know what your rights are.

[yukidaruma]

Hello all,

I have been unable to read this thread in it's entirety but I will do so as I have time.

I am shocked at what looks to be corruption among the administration at AIU and even more so that I have only come to know of it a day ago. I am a student here at AIU and myself and many of the other students feel deeply unhappy about these mass lay-offs. Some have heard rumors as much as a month ago about the situation from their teachers. I was able to read an anonymous, clearly emotional letter addressed to the faculty, students and administration about the events transpiring and the alleged corruption in the administration. Admittedly it may be too late for the students to do anything, and furthermore many are too frightened by what might happen if they did. This issue was handed to the Student Government last night but it was decided that the Student Government would have nothing to do with it, for reasons of ignorance about actual facts and also fear of damaging one's own school records.

I appreciate people wish to remain anonymous, but I ask, what should the students do? Is there anything left within the last two weeks of term that could be done? Some of us have considered distributing the letter around the school after translating it but are unsure as to what, if any, effect it will have. It did occur to me that a strike during the final examination week might be possible, but I am doubtful most of the students would be so willing to sacrifice their grades and risk damaging their school record.

Has it been concluded that taking this issue to the media is useless? Forgive me if it was mentioned in the posts I've yet to read.

What I feel is needed now are concrete facts about what has gone on. Looking at the administration from the outside, and admitting my very basic understanding of University politics, it is difficult to clearly determine what sort of methods have been used. However, it is clear that all is not well and furthermore that the student's best interests may not be at hand.

I have read in the past about Japanese Universities offering poor tenure (among other things) to foreigners, so I have some idea that the situation is precarious.

As a final note, I spoke to one of the Japanese teachers today who tells me their own contract from Spring has not been renewed, so this looks more and more to be outside the EAP circle alone.

[concernedinakita]

Admittedly it may be too late for the students to do anything, and furthermore many are too frightened by what might happen if they did. This issue was handed to the Student Government last night but it was decided that the Student Government would have nothing to do with it, for reasons of ignorance about actual facts and also fear of damaging one's own school records.

It' never too late!

Some of us have considered distributing the letter around the school after translating it but are unsure as to what, if any, effect it will have. It did occur to me that a strike during the final examination week might be possible, but I am doubtful most of the students would be so willing to sacrifice their grades and risk damaging their school record.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. -- Ambrose Redmoon

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

We will not walk in fear, one of another. We are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. This is no time... to keep silent. -- Edward R. Murrow

Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Never fear shadows... they simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.-- Unknown

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you. -- Eric Hoffer

[concernedinakita]

A boss creates fear, a leader confidence.

A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes.
 
A boss knows all, a leader asks questions.

A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting.

A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.

-- Russel H. Ewing

[freshair]

Hi YukiD and others:

I will attempt to summarize some of the main events that have been happening at AIU recently so that you, other students, and other sympathetic and interested parties know about it and perhaps, can do something if you choose to do so:

1)  prior to August, 2006, the AIU administration had ALREADY IDENTIFIED individuals on the faculty and staff which it wanted to remain (and those it wanted to get rid of).  The former  people were given secret assurances they would be kept on.  Their positions were never at stake, and were never advertised even though some of them had no advanced degrees and bad teaching evaluations. NOTE:  a frequent excuse given to those whose contracts were not extended was:  you don't have a Ph.D.

2.  In early August, the university published advertisements for many different positions at AIU--covering an estimated 90% of the faculty.  These occurred in the Chronicle of Higher Education, and when the initial publications drew few responses, they were again published in the Chronicle, and in many other outlets.  The first post in this thread refers to the first ad. which was written by the brutal head of the business program at AIU.

3.  In response to the ads and other events at AIU, this thread began.  Students might be interested to know that the AIU administration has never solicited advice or information from its faculty in any meaningful way (there is a Faculty Forum but any faculty member foolish enough to make suggestions or comments is treated viciously therafter, and, it turns out, denied contract renewals).  Instead, the president has jealously guarded his power, and information about what is going on at the university and he himself makes virtually every decision with a little input from those surrounding himself.  This follows his tenure as President at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:  he was not kept on there after the faculty voted him out.  Since that event, he has hated faculty and has gotten his revenge. 

4.  AIU began to set up interviews and flew many of the candidates from abroad to AIU at great expense.  These interviews seem to have occurred in October/November.

5.  Despite written assurances to its faculty (following policy guidelines set by the University's highest body) that they would know their situation by October, the AIU administration violated its own guidelines and did not announce its decisions until 1 December.  The president also violated 'his word" which he had given to numerous faculty that they would know their fate earlier. 

6.  It appears (no formal announcement has been given) that 11 faculty members who wished to remain have NOT had their contracts renewed.  7 of these appear to be in the EAP Program.  At least 2 of the people not renewed--both outside of EAP--have Ph.D.'s and very good teaching evaluations (BUT they were known to be "independent thinkers" and did not kowtow enough apparently).  Notice to all of these nonrenewed faculty was done through a form letter (so much for the politeness of Bushido!).  Some of the non-renewed faculty did have "interviews" before nonrewal, others did not, but even those who had interviews indicated that it was less an interview, and more of a chance to be further abused and humiliated by the President and his circle.

7.  Students should note the essentially unfair treatment of people with the critical point being this:  some faculty (those in favor with the president) did not even have to go through this process:  they were simply retained, without having any evaluations.  Others, including all those not kept on, had to reapply, and go through the process outlined above.  I think in most countries, such unequal treatment would immediately bring massive law suits.

8.  As a student, you are familiar with the student evaluation of faculty.  But you might wonder why some faculty, who students clearly know are lousy teachers are STILL at AIU AND DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO UNDERGO THIS TERRIBLE ORDEAL.  The reason:  the President of the university does not really even look at the evaluations (despite his words to the contrary) when they involve his friends, supporters and cronies.  These people are untouchables.  In other cases, with faculty he or his cronies dislike, it is possible to "cherrypick" the evaluations to find something unfavorable to say about the candidate.

9. Other examples of corruption and maladministration are listed frequently above in the thread and need not be repeated.

10.  As students, you should be aware that poor, incompetent administration is also going to affect you and the quality of your degree in the long-term.  You should press to first investigate what is happening at AIU, and then call it to the attention of policy makers in Japan.  Of course, it is easier for you and other students to do nothing, but to do so means in a way that you are complicit with what is going on. 

[freshair]

YukiD and others,

Just to follow-up on my previous message, I should thank you and any other students who are concerned with this matter.  As Concerned...indicates, you CAN make a difference.  Although Nakajima has nothing but contempt for most of your teachers, he must listen to you. 

Here are some suggestions about what you and other students can do:

1)  write a letter to the Governor of Akita Prefecture AND to the opposition party in Akita Prefecture, letting them know your concerns and asking for an investigation into what is going on at AIU.  For your information, it is not a typical  or customary practice in international education (despite Asa's nonsensical statement otherwise)  for a university to get rid of so many of its faculty across many different disciplines.  The opposition party may be more important than the Governor, because I suspect the Governor knows already what is happening.

2)  talk to your parents (and have other students do the same).  Administrators and politicians' ears really perk up when they hear from parents because they know parents are voters and taxpayers.  Perhaps it might be possible to get a group of parents or students and parents to demand an investigation of the administration at AIU. The same complaints could be sent on to the Ministry of Education.

3)  after you ascertain what is happening at AIU, contact your local newspapers.  Write letters to them and point out what is happening.  Again, administrators and politicians respect the press because they know what can happen after unfavorable articles are written. 

4)  ask for the politicians in Akita to look at AIU's books:  especially travel funds, and the expenditure of funds for an international conference that was held last year at AIU. 

[zatroof]

yukidaruma, and other student posters/readers on this thread:

It’s not too late for students to get involved and make a difference. You have the power. Seven years ago, a busload of Minnesota State University-Akita (MSUA) students intercepted Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura on a visit to Tokyo and demanded that he keep the school open. Ventura met with them, was extremely impressed with their arguments, and in fact, did intervene to extend Minnesota’s commitment to the school an additional three years to facilitate the transition of the school to Akita International University (AIU). The fact that AIU exists today is due in a large part to the efforts of students from your campus! They were the heroes of the day. Ask your teachers about it - before they are all gone. Continue your tradition of activism.

There is still a little time for you to act. Here are a few ideas---

One thing you can do is organize a petition drive. A petition is a brief statement of the problem and the remedy for the problem that you are proposing or demanding. Under this statement, you have a numbered list of blank spaces for people who agree with you to sign their names. Often there is space for people to fill in their addresses and this adds legitimacy to the petition.

AIU seems to have many administrative problems, so just focus on the most immediate one, i.e., –Your teachers are being fired (not renewed) based on an arbitrary and capricious assessment of their performance by the administration. The (undersigned) students (and parents) disagree with this administrative decision. The remedy you propose is that all of the teachers be offered new three-year renewable contracts at their current ranks (or better.)

Or something like that.

Write the problem and remedy in your own words, and be very direct, clear and concise. Write it in both Japanese and English and then fill up the rest of the space on the page with blanks for signatures.  Make as many copies as you need and try to get every student  possible to sign. Work fast. As soon as you think you have as many signatures as you’re going to get, make copies of the signed sheets. Ask for a meeting between a student delegation and Governor Terata and present him with the petition. Call the local TV, radio and newspapers and announce give them a copy. Invite them to do a story. Demand a meeting with President Nakajima and present him with a copy.

Another thing you can do is write letters to all the the newspapers - local (focus here first), national and international. You can do this individually, in pairs or in small groups. The more letters printed, the better.

Finally (from me, but use your critical thinking skills-there's really much more), you can register your displeasure by direct action. Organize an assembly of everybody unhappy with this administrative debacle. Then march to the EAP Director’s office and demand answers. Next, on to the next director’s office, next on to the Vice Presidents’ offices and finally to the President’s. It worked with the Governor of Minnesota. Good luck!

[floating]

After reading all posted so far, I inevitably have to wonder what is the qualification for a teacher in no matter what level of education.

I guess that agitating and provoking students to do something is what teachers shouldn't do.

And, I do not believe that AIU students would be enough convinced to take action by such one-sided stories (at least, from the third party's point of view like mine, one would not find enough convincing reasons to believe all the stories in this thread are truth or facts).

[asa29]

Yukidaruma,

I don't have any involvement in this, just a passing interest, which makes it none of my business - but on the other hand it means that I have a clear view of the situation.

Students getting involved (across the board, not just students from one particular group, country or course) is the way to send a powerful message to the administration. There are three groups they do not want to tangle with - students and prospective students, employers and partners. If you speak out, suddenly all three become high risk.

It may be true that the president likes flying. However it's not the case, as suggested, that it is unnecessary. On the contrary, AIU's crisis is that they do not have enough incoming students from overseas. The majority of universities they partner with can only offer them very small numbers of students per year, which is why they have to increase the number of opportunities. Every AIU student has to spend a year overseas. If they don't have enough exchange students, it starts costing money. Maintaining the relationships they have, and expanding these relationships, is vital. Hence, the importance of these partnerships is actually key to pressuring the administration.

Two pieces of advice only.

1) Demand information, work it out for yourselves and decide what you need to do yourselves. It will not help anyone's cause if you can be accused of being the puppets of bitter ex-faculty. Anyone who looks at this forum will see that you have already been told "if you do nothing you are complicit" - this is emotional manipulation, plain and simple. I am not saying to ignore those who post here by any means. Find out who they are and talk to them in person. Ask your own questions and don't be led by anyone: not the administration, not those who are being let go. From the sound of it it's nasty, personal and political - you have to get past that and concentrate on the facts. Find more leads. I posted a link a bit back to another place where this is being discussed - in japanese, which is helpful. Only use what you have from messageboards to help start you off though - it's entirely believable, yes, but not reliable on its own. Zatroof makes a good point about focus - don't get sidetracked.

2) I suspect you are an exchange student yourself. You have access to some powerful ears - use them, but be fair. I agree that the way things are going this may not always be the case, but, at present, AIU is producing some excellent students who would be an asset to companies or HE institutions worldwide. It will not take much for these businesses or HEIs to be scared off. This will not affect exchange students so much, but home students could find their degrees devalued and their institution not recognised, unfairly. Focus on being constructive and helping AIU to succeed, not bringing it down. I think that most here would agree with that, even those whose bridges are burned, but be wary of anyone who is out for revenge. Also, be aware that AIU has been a political football in Akita for some 6 years, and there are many on the outside who would like to see it fail. I would be very very careful for example of going to anyone who is in opposition to Governor Terata. Their motives are political, not educational. Stick with professional organisations - I've suggested JALT, but there will be many. And be aware that foreigners on their own do not have a powerful voice in Japan. Without the support of those who do have influence, any protest could be seen as the work of noisy troublemakers.

While i';ve written this, floating has posted below. He is right about the third party's point of view. Keep your argument strong, don't let it down.