Posts

Showing posts from 2019

Timeline of the Mike Shively Investigation

Image
The Shively family has published the following timeline, based on their attorney's reading of the UVU report of the investigation: If the attorney is correct with the timeline, on May 2nd the complaint of  threat to the public interest   was determined to be unsubstantiated. On that date the suspension should have been lifted.  On May 8, Mike's department chair told UVU that he was worried about Mike's health after visiting him. UVU took no action, although the ongoing suspension was a clear threat to Mike's physical and mental health.  Instead, on May 28th they hired an Idaho anatomist to comment on Mike's textbook, prolonging the suspension and the investigation. The investigation had not yet reached a conclusion by the 19th of August, when Mike passed away. We urge the Faculty Senate to investigate this investigation. Responsible parties should be censured in some fashion. The fact that the university's General Counsel has resigned (ef

UVU Statement Regarding Dr. Michael J. Shively Investigation: Annotated

Saturday, November 9, 2019  UVU Statement Regarding Dr. Michael J. Shively Investigation Annotated Dr. Michael J. Shively was a full-time professor of biology in the College of Science at Utah Valley University (UVU). His death was a very sad event, and the University has reached out to his family with its sincere condolences.  A UVU professor released an open letter about UVU’s investigation of Dr. Shively and allegations made against him. Additionally, a statement for the UVU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors has been posted on their Chapter’s  blog . Over the past year, University leaders received numerous serious complaints about Dr. Shively from students, faculty, and others.  The letter Mike Shively received on March 25, 2019, the day he was suspended, said that “We have received several complaints that you have engaged in the following misconduct. . . .” The UVU statement inflates “several complaints” to “numerous serious compl

Statement on the Suspension of Professor Mike Shively at UVU

Image
Mike Shively training on the San Marcos River for the 2019 Texas Water Safari (courtesy of the Shively family) Our colleague, Professor Michael Shively, passed away on the evening of August 19, 2019. Mike joined the UVU faculty in 1992 with advanced degrees in anatomy and veterinary science. He served as President of the Faculty Senate and as Department Chair. He was the Faculty Athletic Representative, a role he relished as he played his trumpet at many athletic events. Over the course of his teaching career he taught thousands of students in his anatomy and physiology classes and was honored with numerous teaching awards. Students found his demanding classes key components for admission into medical, dental, and nursing schools.  Although “Rate My Professors” is an imperfect source, it is informative to see what students posted there about Mike’s anatomy class. Five recent, representative examples:  AWSOME, 5 out of 5 rating Anatomy is the hardest class you will prob

UVU Faculty Senate Resolution on Professor Mike Shively

Yesterday the UVU Faculty Senate overwhelmingly passed the following resolution (in response to which one Shively family member said: "this warms my heart"): Resolution to Acknowledge the Service of Dr. Michael Shively to the  UVU Faculty Senate and to the UVU Community at Large Resolution # The Faculty Senate of Utah Valley University, Whereas:  Professor Michael Shively, former President of the Faculty Senate, having joined the UVU faculty in 1992, having served as Department Chair, having excelled as the Faculty Athletic Representative, having taught thousands of students in his rigorous anatomy and physiology classes, having been honored with numerous teaching awards, did pass away on the evening of August 19, 2019, now, therefore, be it Resolved , that the Faculty Senate of Utah Valley University, on behalf of its members: Gratefully acknowledges Dr. Michael Shively’s service as Faculty Senate President, his service to the students of Utah Valley Un