BY CINDY YURTH
TSÉYI’ BUREAU
CHINLE — The Diné College Faculty Association on Friday presented President Monty Roessel and Provost Geraldine Garrity a 25-page letter of no confidence in Garrity’s leadership as provost, questioning Garrity’s competence, financial savvy and ethics.
“Without question, Garrity’s unprofessional conduct continues to place the College and this Faculty Association in an untenable position,” the letter states.
The association also alleges Garrity does not meet the minimum requirements for the job, having only two years in a leadership position (chair of the Center for Diné Teacher Education) rather than the five called for in the provost job description — which the faculty claims was adjusted so that Garrity could be hired.
“We ask that the College President deal with this matter by either terminating Garrity, removing her and return her to a faculty position, or provide an improvement plan for her,” the letter states.
Garrity did not return two phone calls and Diné College spokeswoman Valerie Tom would not comment on the record.
Among the complaints in the letter:
• Garrity is not following the college’s plan for transitioning to a new organizational chart;
• Garrity on multiple occasions has sent out communications listing two different times or dates for the same meeting;
• Garrity ignored the recommendations of a task force on transitioning the college to university status;
• Garrity circumvented the hiring process for one of the deans;
• Garrity cut department budgets, “disregarding work done by faculty to justify budgets,” and eliminated morale-boosters like the annual faculty appreciation dinner, bonuses and awards;
• Garrity routinely hires or appoints people to do work she herself should be doing.
Some faculty were also offended by a presentation by comedians James and Ernie, whom Garrity reportedly hired to help “repair relationships” with the faculty, saying the comedy routine demeaned women.
The letter was written following a Dec. 1 Faculty Association meeting during which faculty voted unanimously to have the association research claims against Garrity and Human Resources Director Merle Dayzie. Dayzie is not mentioned in the letter other than to state that the Human Resources Department did not follow protocol when hiring Garrity.
“Morale among the faculty is really low right now,” said Faculty Association President Juanita Francis, “especially among the women, and more especially among the Navajo women.
“We feel bullied, intimidated and that our concerns are not heard,” she said. “As provost, Dr. Garrity should be going to bat for us, and instead she’s just acting as a yes-person for Monty (Roessel) and (Board of Regents President) Greg (Bigman).”