GWU Faculty Worried Its Doctors Are Starving Teaching

WASHINGTON - Feb. 19, 2024 - PRLog -- GWU Faculty Worried Its Doctors Are Starving Teaching
Senate Votes to Hide Details Even From Other Faculty Members

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 19, 2024) -  Faculty at the George Washington University [GWU] are so frightened that its doctors are draining massive resources from its basic teaching mission that its Faculty Senate voted unanimously to demand a detailed financial report about the continuing multi-million dollar losses, and decided to keep details of the losses from all other members of the faculty because of their "sensitive nature."

The resolution, which also asked the Board of Trustees to become involved, stated the view of the faculty that both its programs were "underfunded" in part because of the losses GWU's doctors are causing.

The GWU's Medical Faculty Associates [MFA] (its physicians) lost $27 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, and $80 million in the last two fiscal years.

It is also expected to lose another $30 million to $50 million by the end of FY 2024, and not break even by the end of FY 2024; a reversal from GWU's previous overly  predictions that the MFA would pay back its huge debt during the fiscal year.

The resolution asking GWU's Board evaluate the MFA's debt and its effect on its schools was adopted because of the potential effect of these huge losses on GWU's "underfunded areas," says law professor John Banzhaf.

Another member of the Faculty Senate stated "Personally, I've heard nothing but rumors about how the MFA is sinking this enterprise and sinking that enterprise."

GWU's student newspaper reported that "The mounting debt has been a point of continual contention between senators and administration, and the resolution marks the second time senators have asked for more transparency on the MFA's finances after senators requested quarterly updates . . ."

Remarkably, GWU's senators voted to discuss the details only in a secret executive session because of the "sensitive nature" of the growing controversy.  However, one senator objected, complaining that:

"I'm just a little bit concerned about the movement of the sensitive material into the executive session.  A couple of faculty members have reached out to me as a member of the Senate expressing concern about this impending move and wondering when the broader faculty and the Faculty Senate get to have better information about what's happening with the MFA."

The MFA already owes GW some $200 million, and is now expected to lose an additional $30 million to $50 million by the end of FY 2024.

This is money which could fund many courses and other important educational programs, as well as much needed scholarship assistance to poor and minority students, notes GWU's Banzhaf.

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf