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The Faculty Senate at Kapiolani Community College is conducting a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Leon Richards, after a faculty union survey found that 78 percent of respondents opposed keeping him on the job. Read more

The Faculty Senate at Kapiolani Community College is conducting a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Leon Richards, after a faculty union survey found that 78 percent of respondents opposed keeping him on the job.

The senate voted 9-3 in executive session Monday to have senators initiate a vote of no confidence in their departments and units at the Diamond Head campus. All faculty will soon have a chance to express their opinions via electronic ballot on a no-confidence motion and call for his removal, according to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

“By calling for a vote of no confidence, we are exercising our right to ethical and effective leadership,” the committee said in a letter dated Thursday that was sent to faculty and obtained by the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser. “A successful vote of no confidence against Chancellor Richards will communicate that we no longer have confidence in his leadership and management of our College and believe he should be removed from his position.”

The vote is the latest sign of concern over Richards’ leadership of the college, where he has served as chancellor since July 2007. Richards received the lowest ranking of all 10 University of Hawaii chancellors in a recent survey of faculty on each campus conducted by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. Results were made available to union members March 10.

Altogether, 127 out of 277 UHPA members at Kapiolani responded, the highest participation rate among the campuses, with more than 78 percent calling for nonrenewal of Richards’ contract, according to the letter.

In the survey results the chancellor was criticized for failing to support faculty and let them make academic decisions, failing to communicate, keeping the budget process under wraps, allowing a hostile work environment and failing to provide adequate resources or make decisions in a timely manner, according to the letter.

78% Calling for nonrenewal of Richards’ contract by UHPA members at Kapiolani No. 10 The lowest ranking of all UH chancellors in the survey conducted by the UH Professional Assembly 9-3 Vote by the Kapiolani Faculty Senate to initiate a vote of no confidence and for his removal

Richards said Friday he just recently learned about the survey results and was shocked by the outcome.

“I was of course very surprised and also amazed, I think, No. 1 at the large number of faculty voting and No. 2 at the results,” he said in a phone interview.

Since his initial three-year contract as chancellor, he has not had a contract with the university, he said. “I serve at the pleasure of the vice president and president of the university,” he said.

Richards said he has been invited to meet with the Faculty Senate at an open forum May 11 and would be happy to do so sooner.

“If it’s not in May, then move it up, but give me and my staff an opportunity to at least sit down and dialogue with faculty on issues and concerns about this institution,” he said. “We dearly care for this college, and my preference is at least to sit and deal with the perceptions and so forth.”

Faculty Senate Chairwoman Veronica Ogata and Vice Chairman Grant Itomitsu did not respond to calls and emails Friday from the Star-Advertiser seeking their perspective.

Richards said he meets regularly with constituent groups and that many advisory committees provide input. He added that academic decisions do originate with the faculty. The university follows protocol, and its budget process gives everyone a say, he said.

“There may be times when items, because the budget is limited, may not be approved or recommended,” he said. “People may have the perception then that we’re not listening. But the budget process involves all of the constituent groups of the college.”

“On every opportunity we at least want to be and are, I think, transparent with the facilitation and management of this institution,” he said. “For the most part I operate on a consensus model in terms of getting as much input as possible. I would prefer that approach, to take time to listen to people, at least, before making a decision.”

Faculty senators will be meeting with faculty members to answer any questions between now and April 20, according to the Faculty Senate letter.

Richards has previously faced rough patches in his tenure, including when the director of Human Resources retired and her entire staff resigned in 2013. The administration also came under fire in 2012 after instructors in its Continuing Education program, which offers noncredit courses at night and on weekends, reported that they had not been paid in some cases for several months.

Richards has been at KCC since 1977. He was acting chancellor for two years before getting the permanent job, and has also worked as dean of instruction and acting provost. His academic specialty is political science/international relations and teaching English as a foreign language.

Asked about the outcome of discrimination complaints filed against him a few years ago, Richards said none had been upheld.

Kapiolani Community College had 7,816 students enrolled last fall, making it the largest of the UH community colleges.

“This is a very important and serious matter,” the Faculty Senate Executive Committee wrote in the letter. “The results of this action will impact Kapiolani Community College for years to come.”