Dear Faculty Senate and Senate Steering,
Most of you are likely aware of the allegations that former provost Mitzi Montoya was the victim of gender bias. These allegations are outlined in the recent news article in the Whitman County Watch (https://whitmancountywatch.com/2020/02/10/former-wsu-provost-emails-describe-sexist-feedback-administrative-power-struggles/). Faculty senate leadership spoke with President Schulz, who has authorized an external investigation into these allegations. Faculty Senate is also working to understand the context of emails obtained by FOIA requests. One such email details a conversation between Mitzi Montoya and Vice Provost Parks referencing other multi-campus university structure (email linked here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6771636-Montoya-Parks-Reorg-Emails.html). The white paper to which the email refers is linked here. We will share more information as it comes our way. Just to be clear, President Schulz is committed to uncovering all facts surrounding these allegations as well as to making the investigator’s report publicly available.
Greg