School asked dean to resign

CELINA - Dr. Jay Albayyari was asked to resign as Dean of Wright State University-Lake Campus by university president Cheryl Schrader, according to documents provided to the newspaper.

Schrader sent Albayyari a letter on June 13, requesting his resignation. In the letter, she wrote, "I have serious concerns regarding the nature of your interactions with Lake Campus personnel and the climate that your management style has created."

"Consequently, I no longer have confidence that you can comport yourself in the manner necessary to successfully and professionally represent the university in the position as dean of the Lake Campus," she continued.

Albayyari told the newspaper on Tuesday that Schrader's reasoning for asking him to resign was "100 percent incorrect."

Albayyari resigned on June 30 after serving as the chief academic officer of Lake Campus for four years. He replaced Dean Bonnie Mathies. He had been the associate vice chancellor for research, engagement and sponsored programs at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne before coming to the Lake Campus.

As per his contract, his appointment as dean was at the pleasure of the president. He will return as a full-time, bargaining unit faculty member starting Jan. 1 and likely will make roughly $143,000 per year, according to Schrader's letter. His annual base salary as dean was $170,000, according to documents provided to the newspaper.

The university has permitted Albayyari paid time from July 1-Dec. 31 to prepare to return to the classroom, the letter stated.

Albayyari has exchanged emails with Provost Sue Edwards for several months about his stepping down as dean.

"Like I said several times, I understand High Ed administration very well. I have been doing it successfully for the past 13 years," Albayyari wrote to Edwards. "If the president and you do not approve of my management style, I will not resist if you wish for me to step down as we all make decisions to better WSU."     A search for his successor will commence in the fall and university officials are working on plans to maintain Lake Campus leadership on an interim basis, Edwards has said.

"I understand this is a difficult time for the Lake Campus, but rest assured we are treating this leadership transition as a top priority," Edwards wrote in an email to faculty and students.   

"The Lake Campus has flourished under Albayyari's leadership," she has said.    Enrollment at the lake campus has increased every year since since 2015, with a record 1,423 students in the spring semester, Albayyari has said.

The campus added a $3 million, 8,190-square-foot agriculture and water-quality center in 2017, and work continues on a 7,000-square-foot addition to Andrews Hall, which will feature a library and technology center, a nursing laboratory and a science education laboratory. It should be ready for students next semester.

"Wright State thanks Albayyari for his hard work and service to Wright State and the surrounding communities," Edwards added.