cc blb2@Lehigh.edu, Laura Sobocienski/US/ABAS/PwC@Americas-US, patthediver@gmail.com, ipg2.04@alumni.lehigh.edu, Joanna Fleming/US/ABAS/PwC@Americas-US
Subject Lehigh Acounting--Steve Liedtka
Accounting Alumni- I just wanted to inform you of a situation that is in the process of occuring within the accounting department here at Lehigh. Some of you probably already know something about it, but hear is a summary...
Two weeks ago during my Accounting 307 class, we were told the unfortunate news that our professor, Steve Liedtka, was not granted tenure by the University. Although the accounting department unanimously voted for him, the Business school completely backing him, and students believing that he is by far one of the best professors on this campus, the Provost decided to deny tenure and is effectively fired after the Spring 07 semester. I have been talking to other professors and students within the department about this, and they are all angered and in disbelief.
From what i have gathered this past week, there is a lot of different things that may influence one's possibility for tenure. The three main things considered are teaching, service, and research. Professor Liedtka by no question has set his teaching level substantially above the standard, and from what other professors have said his service is right around the same level. As for his research, that is the true reason that he is not getting his tenure. Although his allotted amount is in the top 10% of all business faculty, that is still supposidly not good enough for the Provost. With 5 professors in the accounting department getting ready for retirement within the next couple of years, i am in shock that the university would want to get rid of such a valuable asset to the Lehigh community. The message that the Provost is sending by not allowing students to have a voice in the matter is quite disturbing to me since i have always gotten the impression that the most important asset to Lehigh are the students...whether past or current. When this news hits the accounting alumni, i feel like there will be an outcry against the university. This is not only a detrement to the current students, but a disgrace to all of the alumni.
One of the best things about Lehigh, in my opinion, compared to other big name schools is that the faculty, for the most part, will go out of their way for any student if at all possible. As i see it, the accounting department here is one of the top in the nation and i firmly believe it has everything to do with the faculty. As i said before, with the 5 professors retiring shortly and the unexpected "firing" of Steve Liedtka, the accounting department is only going to crumble under the leadership of professors who will devote all of their time to research. I have already encounted two professors like this within the department, and i truly look at their class as a disgrace to the Lehigh name since they dont care about the class, but only on their research. They dont care about the students as individuals and where they could spread the Lehigh name to one day.
We are starting a petition of current students in an effort to save his job. All i know is he is definitely by FAR one of the top professors that i have had here, and i think the university is at a detrement if they let him go. I have gotten all of your emails directly from Steve and Im actually emailing you to see if you would be willing to "sign" the petition. I have attached a few documents (the petition, Steve's research information, and a link to an article from the Brown and White) for your information. If you would want to sign the petition, if you could email me back (blb2@lehigh.edu) so that i can place your name on the petition and have proof of your signature or you could directly email the provost himself. And if you know of any other Lehigh accounting alums who would be willing to do the same, if you could forward this email and also ask them to do the same, we all would greatly appreciate it. The current students are outraged that this is occuring and we are trying to do everything possible to stop if from truly happening.
Hi Meg, Can you please pass this on to Travis and any other accounting grads from Lehigh?
ReplyDeleteBetsy Balaguer blb2@Lehigh.edu
04/17/2006 04:45 PM
To
Anthony R Wuench/US/ABAS/PwC@Americas-US, erica.katz@gmail.com, JFalgiani@sdma.com, kpitter21@yahoo.com, Anne_Glowacki@IRCO.com, bjp7@Lehigh.edu, jcarlini@deloitte.com, danielsrubin@yaboo.com, lmdasilva@kpmg.com, whamm@kpmg.com, jess_reese00@yahoo.com, jmonteforte@gmail.com, jeh8@palm.net, k_shmelz@hotmail.com, kyle.v.maryanski@us.pwcglobal.com, Mark.Jain@ey.com, mattweintraub@gmail.com, jmcgrathjr@deloitte.com, michaeldliddell@hotmail.com, mbrozzetti@hotmail.com, beats1234@hotmail.com, PPugliese@bear.com, raymondjames40@hotmail.com, rebeccasharim@comcast.net, rch3@Lehigh.edu, lsaalfeld@kpmg.com, sweston@kearneyco.com, aweiner@kpmg.com
cc
blb2@Lehigh.edu, Laura Sobocienski/US/ABAS/PwC@Americas-US, patthediver@gmail.com, ipg2.04@alumni.lehigh.edu, Joanna Fleming/US/ABAS/PwC@Americas-US
Subject
Lehigh Acounting--Steve Liedtka
Accounting Alumni-
I just wanted to inform you of a situation that is in the process of
occuring within the accounting department here at Lehigh. Some of you probably
already know something about it, but hear is a summary...
Two weeks ago during my Accounting 307 class, we were told the unfortunate
news that our professor, Steve Liedtka, was not granted tenure by the
University. Although the accounting department unanimously voted for him, the
Business school completely backing him, and students believing that he is by
far one of the best professors on this campus, the Provost decided to deny
tenure and is effectively fired after the Spring 07 semester. I have been
talking to other professors and students within the department about this, and
they are all angered and in disbelief.
From what i have gathered this past week, there is a lot of different
things that may influence one's possibility for tenure. The three main things
considered are teaching, service, and research. Professor Liedtka by no
question has set his teaching level substantially above the standard, and
from what other professors have said his service is right around the same
level. As for his research, that is the true reason that he is not getting his
tenure. Although his allotted amount is in the top 10% of all business faculty,
that is still supposidly not good enough for the Provost. With 5 professors in
the accounting department getting ready for retirement within the next couple
of years, i am in shock that the university would want to get rid of such a
valuable asset to the Lehigh community. The message that the Provost is
sending by not allowing students to have a voice in the matter is quite
disturbing to me since i have always gotten the impression that the most
important asset to Lehigh are the students...whether past or current. When this
news hits the accounting alumni, i feel like there will be an outcry against the
university. This is not only a detrement to the current students, but a disgrace
to all of the alumni.
One of the best things about Lehigh, in my opinion, compared to other big
name schools is that the faculty, for the most part, will go out of their way
for any student if at all possible. As i see it, the accounting department
here is one of the top in the nation and i firmly believe it has everything to
do with the faculty. As i said before, with the 5 professors retiring shortly
and the unexpected "firing" of Steve Liedtka, the accounting department is only
going to crumble under the leadership of professors who will devote all of their
time to research. I have already encounted two professors like this within the
department, and i truly look at their class as a disgrace to the Lehigh name
since they dont care about the class, but only on their research. They dont
care about the students as individuals and where they could spread the Lehigh
name to one day.
We are starting a petition of current students in an effort to save his
job. All i know is he is definitely by FAR one of the top professors that i have
had here, and i think the university is at a detrement if they let him go. I
have gotten all of your emails directly from Steve and Im actually emailing you
to see if you would be willing to "sign" the petition. I have attached a few
documents (the petition, Steve's research information, and a link to an article
from the Brown and White) for your information. If you would want to sign the
petition, if you could email me back (blb2@lehigh.edu) so that i can place your
name on the petition and have proof of your signature or you could directly
email the provost himself. And if you know of any other Lehigh accounting alums
who would be willing to do the same, if you could forward this email and also
ask them to do the same, we all would greatly appreciate it. The current
students are outraged that this is occuring and we are trying to do everything
possible to stop if from truly happening.
Thank you in advance,
Betsy Balaguer