Eastern Michigan University faculty are calling for the resignation of two members of the Board of Regents.
Faculty Senate members say Regents Mike Morris and Mary Treder Lang have violated EMU’s Code of Ethics because of their involvement with the Education Achievement Authority. Morris and Treder Lang serve on both the EAA and EMU’s governing boards. According to faculty, Morris and Treder Lang did not act in the university's best interest while voting during EAA meetings.
Faculty Senate member Rob Carpenter says the group found evidence of a conflict of interest in transcripts of past meetings of the EAA's Board of Directors.
Carpenter says,
“And it’s because of the conflict of interest and not serving the best interests of EMU while being on the EAA Board of Directors, that is why we called for their resignation.”
Faculty Senate President Judy Kullberg said in an email the transcripts show that "Morris and Treder Lang seldom mentioned EMU in the EAA board meetings. In addition, the transcripts demonstrate how the two regents, while on the EAA board, authorized contracts to external educational consultants for expertise and services to the EAA schools that could have been provided by EMU College of Education faculty."
Faculty also urged the Board of Regents to withdraw the university immediately from the EAA instead of waiting until next year.
Regents Morris and Treder Lang have not responded to a request for comment.
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— Amanda LeClaire is an assignment reporter and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact her at 734.487.1389 or email her aleclair@emich.edu