ALVIN WILLIAMS, FORMER PROFESSOR OF
MANAGEMENT AND INTERIM DEAN
For more articles and editorials concerning Dr. Williams, please click here.
(June 27, 2007) Can a Dean Take a Sabbatical? The 2007-08 Academic Year in the CoB may Provide an Answer A
little known fact in the CoB these days is that two (2) CoB professors – Alvin Williams and Catherine Price – were
granted sabbaticals for the 2007-08 academic year. These leaves were approved by the IHL Board at its 18-Apr-07
meeting, as shown by the insert below:
(June 27, 2007) Are 13 (or more) CoB Faculty MIA? In his “Message from the Dean” on the USM website (see
below), the CoB’s Interim Dean Alvin J. Williams claims that USM’s College of Business has “. . . more than 80
faculty members.” That number seemed to be on the high side to reporters at USMNEWS.NET, so an investigation
was launched to determine the actual number.
(July 10, 2007) Something from the “George, you have to be kidding file.” Dr. Carter announced a faculty search on
Tuesday that is to close “at the end of the week”. Why even bother to tell the faculty? Obviously neither he nor
Dean Williams are interested in faculty input.
(July 12, 2007) The CoB’s Swan Song? Symbol and Substance of “Continuing Review” While everyone awaits the
return visit of the CoB’s AACSB Peer Review Team (in Feb-08), the photo below shows that the CoB has put
together something new to greet them upon their arrival. For former Dean Harold Doty, the choice was new
bathroom porcelain, including new urinals. For Interim Dean Alvin Williams, it is a proud, painted ADP “Festival of
Swans” swan. The proud creature is pictured in the insert below, guarding the entrance to the accounting piece of
the CoB’s Joseph Greene Hall.
(July 16, 2007) 31st & Pearl Fait Accompli Governance The term "fait accompli" may contain most of the letters
needed to spell "faculty," but the terms "faculty governance" and "fait accompli governance" couldn't be further
apart. This distinction is an important one because USM's College of Business is rapidly moving to the fait accompli
governance end of the spectrum. Whether it's the consolidation of faculty, or worse yet -- the termination of faculty
-- the CoB's move to a governance-by- irreversible deeds model is picking up speed with each passing day.
(July 29, 2007) Split the Baby? Not so Fast! The past two years, and two CoB administrations, offer an interesting
comparison of administrative salaries. Take a look at the following data: Academic Year Administration Salaries
2007-08 Williams-Peyrefitte $291,850 2006-07 Doty-Niroomand $296,862 The combined salaries of Interim CoB
Dean Alvin Williams and Interim CoB Associate Dean Joseph Peyrefitte fall within 1.7 percent of the combined
compensation of their predecessors, former CoB Dean Harold Doty and former CoB Associate Dean Farhang
Niroomand. However, when it comes to pay that is where the similarity ends for these two administrations.