SUNY faculty union ‘welcomes’ President Quentin Wheeler’s resignation

The union representing SUNY-ESF faculty welcomed SUNY-ESF President Quentin Wheeler’s decision to resign at the end of spring semester, the president said on Thursday.

“As the union that represents SUNY ESF faculty and staff, we believe Dr. Wheeler’s departure is an important step toward improving morale and restoring calm at this fine school,” said Frederick Kowal, president of United University Professions, in a press release.

Wheeler announced his resignation in an email to the SUNY-ESF community on Wednesday afternoon. The president’s decision to leave the position came after years of tension between college faculty and administrators. Various campus groups, including Academic Governance, the Graduate Student Association and UUP have all pushed in recent weeks to have Wheeler’s contract terminated.

The day before Wheeler’s announcement, AG approved the first steps to vote no confidence in the president’s leadership for the second time in less than two years. And UUP’s SUNY-ESF chapter overwhelming recommended in early March that Wheeler’s contract not be renewed.

“Faculty, staff and students made their discontent with Dr. Wheeler known, and their strong, collective voice was heard,” Kowal said in the press release.

Kowal said UUP is hopeful that stakeholders deciding Wheeler’s interim replacement ensure the temporary leader will be someone “who has distance from the turmoil of the current administration.”