President's Email to Campus - July 16
Dear Students and Colleagues,
Our Board of Trustees members have expressed their deep concern and support for investigating the allegations that have been made against Professor Vance Fulkerson as well as the related concerns about campus climate that are emerging. They are committed to being strong leaders in our work to build a respectful, caring and inclusive environment for our University community which supports our commitment to the growth, health and safety of students.
The investigation into the facts relevant to the future of Mr. Fulkerson’s employment at UNC is under way. Mountain States Employers Council is collecting this information under the supervision of the Attorney General’s office, and we are following the procedures in our Board Policy Manual that ensure due process. As you know, Mr. Fulkerson also has been suspended in accordance with our policies and is not allowed on campus or to be in contact with our students.
If you have concerns or information that could be relevant to our investigation, please contact Human Resources Director Marshall Parks at 351-2718 or the Dean of Students Office at 351-2796. If you prefer to contact Mountain State Employers Council directly, please call Karin Curran at 303-223-5309 or e-mail krcurran@msec.org. I would also like to remind you about www.unco.edu/mysafecampus, the website that is always available for University community members who feel they need to report concerns anonymously.
The allegations that have been made raise serious questions, and we will address these immediate issues promptly. The information Mountain States is collecting for the personnel investigation will then help us with a broader discussion of issues regarding personal behavior, professional responsibility, power and authority, and the values of our University community.
The evaluation of our campus climate will take some time and attention. We have already started the process of defining the scope of this process with the help of our Board of Trustees and campus governance groups. See, for example, the Faculty Senate’s public statement at http://www.unco.edu/news/releases.asp?ID=847. We will engage the entire University in the discussion beginning with a campus-wide meeting early in the fall semester when the majority of faculty and students return.
Sincerely,
Kay Norton