A majority of tenured faculty at Green River Community College has lost all confidence in the college’s president, according to documents the Auburn Reporter has received.

So severe is the deterioration of support for GRCC President Eileen Ely, in fact, that 92 percent of GRCC’s 112 tenured faculty voted May 22 in support of a no-confidence resolution.

“An overwhelming majority of the tenured faculty is very concerned about what has happened at (the college) over the past three years,” faculty wrote in a letter to the college’s accreditation team.. “… We are deeply troubled by the dismantling of shared governance, low morale and the deteriorating workplace atmosphere at the college.”

In their letter, tenured faculty cited concerns about the administration’s “lack of transparency, poor communications and unwillingness to consult with faculty on decisions affecting instruction. These negative trends have intensified over the past three years, and we are gravely troubled about the future of the college.”

What’s more, faculty wrote, during Ely’s tenure several top-level employees have either left, been demoted or been dismissed.

A dozen division chairs, including Hank Galmish, an English professor and chairperson of the school’s Instructional Council, signed the letter.

Ely acknowledged the concerns. In her email response, Ely said she “welcomes “the opportunity to meet and have a courageous conversation with the members of the Instructional Council Leadership who brought these concerns forward.”

After the tenured faculty issued their resolution, the GRCC Board of Trustees expressed unanimous support for Ely.

“The board of trustees stands behind President Ely,” said board chairman Tom Campbell. “We are happy with the direction she is taking Green River and the leadership team she has assembled”.

The faculty claim that the college is “in crisis” and that there is a lack of shared governance between the faculty and administration. As part of their resolution, they requested the reinstatement of past practices and policies, including broad involvement in decision-making related to instruction and institutional effectiveness.

In his response, Campbell said the board “takes the issues seriously and will review the statements made at the meeting.” He said the faculty leadership needs to “come to the table” and accept the administration’s invitation to have “a courageous conversation” about the issues of concern.

The faculty members presented their concerns in April to the college’s board of trustees.