Update on UW-Madison employees convicted of felonies

From UW–Madison Provost Patrick Farrell:

“The University of Wisconsin–Madison has reached closure today on three extremely rare and arduous personnel cases involving faculty members convicted of felonies.

The UW System Board of Regents voted today to dismiss Lewis Cohen, a professor of comparative literature, upon the recommendation of Chancellor John Wiley. In addition, on April 4, the university accepted the resignation of Steven Clark, associate professor of human oncology. He will resign effective Aug. 15, 2006, and will continue to receive no salary or benefits from the institution. This decision eliminates the need for a costly and time-consuming internal hearing and serves to immediately sever ties between Clark and the university. The dismissal of Roberto Coronado, professor of physiology, was accomplished in February.

The university community shares in the anger over the crimes committed by these people and we regret the impact they had on some individuals personally and on campus morale in general. To that end, we are grateful to those who worked diligently on campus to resolve these cases. The process worked as designed to protect individual rights while simultaneously allowing the institution to pursue the course of action it felt appropriate.

There is also recognition that state rules on faculty discipline need to be reexamined with an eye toward creating faster resolutions when possible. UW–Madison will continue to work with a Regents committee on this matter through shared governance to identify reforms that will expedite the process while maintaining due process rights.”