October 13, 2008
After a 'Shove,' Provost to Take Faculty Post at Washington State U.
Steven L. Hoch, who became provost of Washington State University’s flagship in August and took leave for undisclosed reasons just seven weeks later, is returning to the Pullman campus as a history professor, The Seattle Times reported.
Until Friday, when the university announced his return, Mr. Hoch’s departure had been shrouded in mystery. The university has given no details of the circumstances of his leaving or his return. But sources told The Seattle Times that he had quarreled with other senior administrators over his belief that they should report to him. Tensions erupted into an argument at a staff meeting, followed by a physical altercation in a hallway, the newspaper said.
Mr. Hoch had declined to comment to the Times last week for an article about the escalating tensions, but on Friday he said he wanted to make clear that he “was the guy who was shoved” during the altercation. His pay, determined by a formula based on his $300,000 salary as provost, will be $245,000. —Charles Huckabee
By Charles Huckabee | Posted on Monday October 13, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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Wow. $245,000 to teach History? In Pullman…? Gee, who do I have to provoke into a shoving match to get that kind of deal?
— Carmine Milici Oct 14, 03:06 AM #
If this guy has any integrity, he should completely step down from the University and find a job at another school instead of draining precious resources at WSU. It sounds like both WSU and Hoch need a do-over. His days as an administrator are probably over, but he can likely find a regular faculty position elsewhere.
— Paul Oct 14, 04:45 PM #
How many regular new faculty could WSU hire to teach history with that $300K a year? Did he threaten to sue (blackmail) WSU? Doesn’t the US President only make $400K? What a sweet deal it is to be a senior administrator!
— PJ Oct 16, 12:12 PM #
Easy for you folks to say. In fact, Hoch was unfairly pressured to leave his position and many faculty at WSU are angry that lifetime administrators who spend no time in the classroom attacked him for trying to put more power back in the hands of the faculty. He signed a contract with WSU, and WSU has to honor it. Simple as that.
— EF Nov 2, 07:11 PM #