The Residential College has begun its search for a replacement for Rex Stem, who resigned as the faculty coordinator for the Laville Honors House in August.
Stem, who took the faculty coordinator job that was left vacant when the Honors College dismissed Perry Prestholdt last spring, resigned his position in the Honors College, sparking controversy about his motives.
James Babin, director for the residential colleges, said Stem resigned because of new family commitments.
“Dr. Stem had many factors in his resignation. The position was more work than he originally anticipated,” Babin said. “He is also a new father and decided to resign before he got too far in to it.”
Emily Butinski, chair of the foreign language department, said she spoke to Stem before his resignation in August.
“He said he was concerned he was taking too much away from his research,” Butinski said. “He still teaches over in the Honors College, though.”
Babin said he spoke with Honors College Dean Nancy Clark and Associate Dean Ann Holmes recently about finding a replacement for Stem.
“It’s all done by Residential Life,” Clark said. “We talked to them about finding a replacement, and hopefully we can get one soon.”
Clark also said Stem’s resignation had not stopped the Honors College from functioning normally, as a Letter to the Editor published in The Reveille Sept. 5 from a group of Honors College Fellows said.
“The students put the letter in the paper to assure students that everything is going well,” Clark said.
Babin said Stem’s faculty coordinator position was a lot of work.
“One of Dr. Stem’s complaints was it was too much to take on,” Babin said. “So Dean Clark has taken on advising the honors fellows, leaving the faculty coordinator to focus on the main duties.”
Babin said now the faculty coordinator’s main job is to increase faculty presence in the residence halls.
“The faculty coordinator also plans various events with students and the honors faculty,” Babin said. “Now that Dean Clark has taken the job of advising the fellows, it should be easy to find a replacement.”
Clark also said she didn’t have much to do with the selection process when Stem was hired.
“We just put fliers in the faculty’s boxes,” Clark said. “The faculty applies to residential life, and then a committee selects them.”
The process will be the same for Stem’s replacement, Babin said.
Babin said an interim faculty coordinator would be appointed as soon as a candidate was nominated.
“There will be interviews with a board of honors faculty, staff and students, as well as Res Life staff. Then a new coordinator will be recommended.” Babin said. “Hopefully we can have a notice out soon to the faculty and we can get things going by the end of the week.”
Babin said the beginning of the semester is a busy time for both himself and the Honors College, but he hopes to have a plan set as soon as possible.
Clark said the position of faculty coordinator is important for the Lavilles because of the dorm’s close relationship to the college.
“The Honors College’s residential college is special,” Clark said. “The other residential colleges don’t have one-on-one with another college. That’s something we have.”