Trustee John Williams turns in his resignation

     Went to the post-election Faculty Association shindig tonight. Got there late, just as trustee John Williams explained that he had turned in his resignation as trustee this afternoon—and that Monday's meeting will be his last.
     He said that it was time. Don't know more than that, really.
     We previously reported that Williams would be resigning soon, though we had guessed that that would occur in January.
     In attendance: Chancellor Gary Poertner, IVC's Glenn Roquemore and Craig Justice, Saddleback's Tod Burnett (I think), trustee Marcia Milchiker (and husband), trustee Nancy Padberg (and husband), trustee John Williams, trustee T.J. Prendergast, the usual suspects among unionists, et al.
     There were others, I think, but I arrived too late to hear the introductions, so dunno.
     Monday's board meeting should be interesting.

Iowa Republicans ♥ sabbaticals (NOT)

Iowa Republicans Target Sabbaticals (Inside Higher Ed)
     Iowa Republicans, who are about to control the state House of Representatives, are calling for public universities to stop awarding sabbaticals, saying that the state can no longer afford them, the Associated Press reported. "It seems to be tough budgetary times. Why should the taxpayers of Iowa be paying to basically give these folks a year off from teaching?" said Kraig Paulsen, who is about to become speaker of the House. Edwin Dove, president of the Faculty Senate at the University of Iowa, said that while on sabbaticals in 2009, professors wrote 26 books; published 147 research articles; created and updated nearly 100 classes; and submitted 50 grant applications.

(See also Chronicle of Higher Education)