Biology department threatens to lock out other teachers

What's the use of having a smart classroom if professors can't unlock the doors? That's the question some professors are asking the biology department.

The Biology department has informed at least five professors in at least two departments that they will not open smart classrooms for teachers who don't have keys, even if the teachers were scheduled to teach in the rooms.

In the spirit of cooperation, most departments lend smart classroom keys to teachers during the first couple of weeks of the semester.

Lisa Huffstetler, an instructor in the Political Science department, said professors have had problems with the Biology department refusing to open smart classrooms for the past two years. Although she hasn't had to cancel classes yet, Huffstetler said she'd had problems getting into smart classrooms in both Ellington Hall and the Life Sciences Building in the past.

At the beginning of the semester, Physical Plant sometimes takes multiple weeks to deliver keys for the smart classrooms to the departments. Because of the delay, some professors are entirely dependent on other departments to open the smart classrooms for them, while others are forced to scavenge for old keys.

Angela Kuykendoll, an administrative associate in the Political Sciences department, said that this semester, it took Physical Plant three weeks to process her request for keys to the smart classrooms and complete the order.

This semester, Huffstetler said she asked the administrative secretary in the biology department to open the smart classroom where her class was scheduled to meet in Ellington Hall. The administrative secretary agreed to open the door, but told Huffstetler University policy prohibited her from doing so again.

"The alternative is to cancel classes, and that's not fair to the students. And there's absolutely nothing our professors can do," Huffstetler said. "I don't decide where my classes are assigned. I can't make Physical Plant give me a key any faster. The biology department is telling me that I have to get my key from my department. What am I supposed to do? If the biology department won't let me in and my department can't get a key for two or three weeks, then I don't have any option but to cancel classes."

Randall Bayer, chair of the biology department, refused to comment on professors' complaints.

Donna Haskins, administrative secretary in the biology department for the past two years, said the biology department is acting according to a school policy established by Charles Lee, vice president of Business and Finance.

"This policy has been in place since I got here," she said. "We're not a lock shop - it costs the departments money."

However, Lee's office denies ever sending out a policy memo telling departments not to lend out keys to professors.

"No other department does that." Huffstetler said. "I've never had an issue. Every other place is more than accommodating, so I don't understand why the biology department has a policy outside of every other department in my experience."

Huffstetler was able to track down an old key, she said, but other professors may not be so lucky.

Abby Hagan, president of the Student Government Association and one of the students in Huffstetler's class, said she thinks the biology department's reaction to the professors' situation "unfortunate."

"That's what's on the student's schedules," she said. "I don't think the biology department should have put up such a fuss about it, considering it was the first week of class."

This is a recurring problem for professors, Huffstetler said. A problem that never receives attention because after the first couple weeks of class, the keys arrive and the issue is postponed until next semester.

"The issue just fades away," she said. "There's no resolution, and now I'm here two years later, dealing with this.