On Thursday, March 26, Dr. Cassy Bailey, former Dean of Students, was dismissed from her role from her position as the Vice President of Enrollment Management. This decision was met with largely negative reactions from students and some staff members, with most of the frustration and anger being directed at President Jody Fournier.
Following the campuswide announcement of Bailey’s departure from Baker, staff members from the Office of Admissions hosted a table in the union on Friday, March 27, allowing students, faculty and staff to show appreciation. Students wrote letters and signed a flag that will be gifted to her.
Over the weekend, students planned a protest on YikYak scheduled for Monday, March 30, in front of Collins House. Though the turnout was small, those in attendance shared their feelings about the situation. Senior Jonny Ruiz said he attended to voice disapproval of Bailey’s dismissal.
“We all love her here at Baker,” Ruiz said. “In recent months there’s just been a theme of powerlessness amongst a lot of people in the world, so whatever I can do to voice disapproval, and maybe create a spark of change, I will.”
Another senior, Garrett Shoemaker, said his goal was to remain neutral during a time of polarization by giving space for others to express their frustration while keeping undue negativity in check.
“I came today just to check in with other students and be a source of conversation, discussion and information regarding this big change,” he said.
Junior Jack Forrest, a university admissions ambassador (UAA), said he experienced mixed emotions following the announcement. Though he did not attend the protest, he anticipated student reactions.
“I have a mix of emotions … disappointment, a lot of questioning the decision, a lot of frustration,” Forrest said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen something as big as this dividing the campus.”
Until a permanent replacement can fill the open position, Tom Delahunt has been appointed interim VP of Enrollment by NES Searches, a firm that specializes in enrollment leadership searches. In the meantime, a search is underway. The university aims to announce a new hire by the end of May, with a start date in June or July.
Korey Jones, a Baker alumnus and admissions counselor, felt that the admissions department was overlooked in this decision-making process.
“There was a complete lack of communication to this department, so it’s kind of ironic that a person [who] preaches so much about transparency isn’t being very transparent.”
President Fournier and other cabinet members met with student workers and staff in the Office of Admissions last week to understand their priorities for the new head of enrollment. Jones said the meetings allowed staff to share concerns and outline what they are seeking in a replacement.
“The first thing that we said was we were fine with who we had. Cassy was our rock for a lot of people in the office,” Jones said. “To ask us what we need in a leader … it was like we already had that.”
In an email announcement sent to the university last week, Fournier acknowledged the legacy Dr. Bailey will have at Baker, saying, “Her impact is forever appreciated.” However, Fournier has continued to defend his decision.
“This most recent change with Dr. Bailey’s position, I think it makes it seem like I’m hypocritical, that I’m not being transparent, that maybe I don’t care about people or the community, or how could I possibly do this if I say I care about students succeeding and care about Baker?” Fournier said. “It was an incredibly difficult decision. I fully know what Cassy means to the community, how she has changed lives, transformed lives, saved lives of students. Please know that it was a long deliberative process where I considered many pieces of information and data and variables.”
President Fournier also confirmed the decision to dismiss Bailey was his alone.
“I inform requisite members of the board before making changes just so that they’re aware, [but] the board doesn’t approve the VP or cabinet-level positions. No other individuals were involved in the lead up to this decision, or the decision, it sits solely with me. There was no committee, there was no board, it was me. The performance of the institution in each of the divisions, no matter what the performance is, rests with me. I’m accountable if the numbers aren’t where they need to be, I’m accountable if the student experience isn’t where it needs to be and then it’s up to me to work with the leadership team, work with the tools that we have to make changes that need to be. And that’s what I did in this case,” Fournier said.
Regarding student reaction, Fournier said he had nothing but admiration.
“I’m proud of the students,” he said. “They should question what’s going on, and they should demand answers and I was just incredibly proud to see the reaction, even though it’s tough as the individual, it was really gratifying.”
Fournier added that he hopes Baker will come out of this situation stronger.
“I’m not trying to gloss over the fact that it’s a really tough time for the institution, I know that I have work to do to try to restore [morale]. I realize that. I’m hoping that the results will show, and over time, people will see,” he said. “But they may not, I understand that, and that’s the cost that I understand is part of the decision.”
