Biology Department Chair Andrew Methven intends to step down as chair.

Biology Professor Gary Fritz said Methven sent out a memo on Feb. 19 to the biology faculty informing them of his intention to step down as chair.

Also in that memo, which The Daily Eastern News obtained a copy of, Methven said he plans to stay on in a faculty status after he steps down.

It is also stated in the memo that Associate Chair Robert “Bud” Fischer has accepted a position at another university, effective May 2008.

The memo does not indicate when Methven plans to step down.

“This whole matter is a deeply personal thing for me,” Methven said.

Methven declined further comment.

“We had no inkling,” Fritz said of Methven’s intention to step down. “We were completely shocked.”

The day before the release of the memo, however, some biology faculty sent an e-mail to President Bill Perry, Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the college of sciences, Methven, Fischer and the rest of the biology department notifying them that a vote of no confidence will be placed on a ballot for faculty to vote on concerning Methven and Fischer, Fritz said.

According to the Board of Trustees’ Regulations, Section II.B.3.d(7) states that the vote of no confidence is the initial step to remove a chairperson from office.

“In appropriate circumstances, removal of a chairperson from office may be initiated by vote of a 2/3 majority of all probationary and tenured faculty members of the department/division.” the regulation states.

The regulation also states the president has the final say on whether to remove a chair or not.

Fritz said the vote of no confidence was never taken, and that the vote was postponed because there was no indication from the memo when Methven was stepping down as chair.

He added there have been no plans thus far to “re-activate” the vote of no confidence.

Fritz said three biology faculty members sent the Feb. 18 e-mail, representing a group of biology faculty members.

He would not say who the three faculty members were.

In April 2006, faculty of the School of Business took a vote of no confidence on then chair Jane Wayland.

Wayland eventually stepped down as chair and took a position at a different university.

In the memo sent to the biological sciences faculty and staff, Methven said he was going to wait until the upcoming faculty meeting to discuss his intention to step down as chair, but the vote of no confidence required him to immediately announce his intention to step down.

“I had originally intended to make this announcement in a faculty meeting after the dispensation of the (Graduate Teaching Assistant Program) proposal; however, the impending vote of no confidence requires an immediate response,” Methven said in the memo.

The Graduate Teaching Assistant Program committee, referenced in the memo, was put together last fall to recommend potential changes to the department’s use of graduate assistants for supervised instruction. Since April 2007, faculty members from the biology department have voiced their displeasure about the implementation of a teaching program to use graduate assistants for supervised instruction.

Biology faculty members are voting on the GTAP recommendations this week.

The voting started Monday and concludes today, Fritz said.

He said Hanner also intends to meet with the biology faculty on Friday.

Fritz added he assumes Hanner plans to discuss Methven stepping down and the future in selecting a new chair.

Telephone and e-mail messages to Fischer on Tuesday were not returned.

Regulations Section II.B.3.d(7) states in full:

“In appropriate circumstances, removal of a chairperson from office may be initiated by vote of a 2/3 majority of all probationary and tenured faculty members of the department/division, or by the Dean of the College after consultation with members of the department/division and the Provost/Academic Vice President. The final decision with respect to removal of a chairperson shall be made by the president. In the event of removal from office, a chairperson shall be entitled to return to his/her department/division to assume faculty responsibilities at his/her then current faculty rank. The president shall establish guidelines concerning the removal of a chairperson from office. The guidelines shall ensure due process for the incumbent chairperson.”

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.