Jack Ohle
Encyclopedia
Jack Ohle is the President (since July 2008) of Gustavus Adolphus College
. He was previously the President of Wartburg College
in Waverly, Iowa
, from 1998. Both institutions are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Colleges and Universities, and Ohle has chaired the executive committee of the Council of Presidents of ELCA Colleges and Universities.
with a bachelor of arts in social work in 1969. After completing some graduate work at Hamma School of Theology, Ohle earned a master of arts degree in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University
. After completing his MA, he went on administrative positions at Ohio Northern University
and Muskingum College
. Afterward, he became vice president for advancement at Nebraska Wesleyan University
where he worked for ten years. He then worked as vice president for institutional advancement and later as senior vice president for external affairs and secretary to the university at Drake University
, spending 11 years there.
from 1998 to 2008,. Accomplishments of his Presidency included fundraising $90 million, spending $104 million on capital improvements, and adding 21 full-time faculty members. Despite these accomplishments, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education Ohle left Wartburg in a state of financial unrest. This academic newspaper has noted that the financing "has raised red flags with its accreditor, alarmed some faculty members, and left Wartburg with a credit rating
just one notch above 'junk.'" It has "created some tensions" with the local community and was likely to soon "find itself in violation of a bond covenant requiring it to have at least half as much in unrestricted assets as it has in debt and other liabilities." The situation has forced Wartburg to raise tuition at 8% annually.
Ohle was also criticized by the Wartburg chapter of the American Association of University Professors
, which argued that he habitually violated academic freedom. The AAUP at Wartburg deemed that Ohle and his administration had threatened basic academic principles in seven specific ways. It deemed that these “actions reveal both disrespect for faculty as participants in shared governance and disregard for college policy.” It warned that Ohle’s “unwarranted interference, if it became habitual, would eventually destroy shared governance and consequently the academic quality of this institution.” The AAUP admonished Ohle for believing that he had the right to “circumvent or subvert policies jointly approved by faculty and administration and adopted by the board of regents. To believe otherwise would be to place the college president above the law and render meaningless all the procedural safeguards contained in the faculty handbook, including those that protect tenure and academic freedom.” Such actions on the part of Ohle were also deemed to be a legal liability for the college, as he was violating contractual agreements with the faculty.
. Since that time feature articles in the two most prominent academic newspapers, The Chronicle of Higher Education
and InsideHigherEd, have been critical of his performance as an administrator. The regional newspaper, The Mankato Free Press, has described the situation as a case of “leadership in crisis,” lamenting that the president flippantly “shrugs off complaints.” The local TV station, KEYC, devoted 5 minutes of coverage to the controversy during the evening news on May 28, 2009, explaining that “Faculty and students say behind the scenes, there is a quiet storm brewing.”
In the first ten months of Ohle's administration, many of the College’s highest-ranking administrators resigned, including the Provost
, two Academic Deans and the Dean of Students. As an explanation, the Academic Deans were quoted as saying that they felt a "lack of presidential support" under Ohle. Reported concerns also included vague job descriptions, and responsibilities being changed without community notice or discussion. In response to these events the Faculty Senate petitioned the College’s Board of Trustees to review Ohle’s performance, as well as to review the circumstances of the Provost's resignation. The faculty formed a committee to review Ohle's performance, but the administration responded that the faculty had no authority to do so, and suggested that as a result any defamation claims against faculty might result in the college suing them. Indeed, when InsideHigherEd, ran an article on Ohle’s first 10 months at Gustavus on May 29, 2009 it asserted that faculty were “jittery about the president’s style and his plans.” To illustrate the level of fear among employees, it explained that “Faculty who speak critically of their presidents can expect some tension, but they seldom take out liability insurance before doing so. At Gustavus Adolphus College, however, that’s exactly what some professors have done.”
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
. He was previously the President of Wartburg College
Wartburg College
Wartburg College is a selective four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg West is in Denver, Colorado....
in Waverly, Iowa
Waverly, Iowa
Waverly is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,874 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bremer County and is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, from 1998. Both institutions are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
Colleges and Universities, and Ohle has chaired the executive committee of the Council of Presidents of ELCA Colleges and Universities.
Professional Appointments
Ohle graduated from Ohio Northern UniversityOhio Northern University
Ohio Northern University is a private, United Methodist Church-affiliated university located in the United States in Ada, Ohio, founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871. ONU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. ONU is a sister...
with a bachelor of arts in social work in 1969. After completing some graduate work at Hamma School of Theology, Ohle earned a master of arts degree in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. After completing his MA, he went on administrative positions at Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University is a private, United Methodist Church-affiliated university located in the United States in Ada, Ohio, founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871. ONU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. ONU is a sister...
and Muskingum College
Muskingum College
Muskingum University is a private four-year comprehensive college with a strong liberal arts tradition located in New Concord, Ohio, approximately sixty miles east of the state capital of Columbus. Founded in 1837, Muskingum University is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church , although since the...
. Afterward, he became vice president for advancement at Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
where he worked for ten years. He then worked as vice president for institutional advancement and later as senior vice president for external affairs and secretary to the university at Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, spending 11 years there.
Presidency of Wartburg College
Ohle held the presidency of Wartburg CollegeWartburg College
Wartburg College is a selective four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg West is in Denver, Colorado....
from 1998 to 2008,. Accomplishments of his Presidency included fundraising $90 million, spending $104 million on capital improvements, and adding 21 full-time faculty members. Despite these accomplishments, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education Ohle left Wartburg in a state of financial unrest. This academic newspaper has noted that the financing "has raised red flags with its accreditor, alarmed some faculty members, and left Wartburg with a credit rating
Bond credit rating
In investment, the bond credit rating assesses the credit worthiness of a corporation's or government debt issues. It is analogous to credit ratings for individuals.-Table:...
just one notch above 'junk.'" It has "created some tensions" with the local community and was likely to soon "find itself in violation of a bond covenant requiring it to have at least half as much in unrestricted assets as it has in debt and other liabilities." The situation has forced Wartburg to raise tuition at 8% annually.
Ohle was also criticized by the Wartburg chapter of the American Association of University Professors
American Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
, which argued that he habitually violated academic freedom. The AAUP at Wartburg deemed that Ohle and his administration had threatened basic academic principles in seven specific ways. It deemed that these “actions reveal both disrespect for faculty as participants in shared governance and disregard for college policy.” It warned that Ohle’s “unwarranted interference, if it became habitual, would eventually destroy shared governance and consequently the academic quality of this institution.” The AAUP admonished Ohle for believing that he had the right to “circumvent or subvert policies jointly approved by faculty and administration and adopted by the board of regents. To believe otherwise would be to place the college president above the law and render meaningless all the procedural safeguards contained in the faculty handbook, including those that protect tenure and academic freedom.” Such actions on the part of Ohle were also deemed to be a legal liability for the college, as he was violating contractual agreements with the faculty.
Presidency of Gustavus Adolphus College
On July 1, 2008, Jack Ohle, was officially sworn in as president of Gustavus Adolphus CollegeGustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
. Since that time feature articles in the two most prominent academic newspapers, The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a newspaper and website that presents news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty, staff members and administrators....
and InsideHigherEd, have been critical of his performance as an administrator. The regional newspaper, The Mankato Free Press, has described the situation as a case of “leadership in crisis,” lamenting that the president flippantly “shrugs off complaints.” The local TV station, KEYC, devoted 5 minutes of coverage to the controversy during the evening news on May 28, 2009, explaining that “Faculty and students say behind the scenes, there is a quiet storm brewing.”
In the first ten months of Ohle's administration, many of the College’s highest-ranking administrators resigned, including the Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
, two Academic Deans and the Dean of Students. As an explanation, the Academic Deans were quoted as saying that they felt a "lack of presidential support" under Ohle. Reported concerns also included vague job descriptions, and responsibilities being changed without community notice or discussion. In response to these events the Faculty Senate petitioned the College’s Board of Trustees to review Ohle’s performance, as well as to review the circumstances of the Provost's resignation. The faculty formed a committee to review Ohle's performance, but the administration responded that the faculty had no authority to do so, and suggested that as a result any defamation claims against faculty might result in the college suing them. Indeed, when InsideHigherEd, ran an article on Ohle’s first 10 months at Gustavus on May 29, 2009 it asserted that faculty were “jittery about the president’s style and his plans.” To illustrate the level of fear among employees, it explained that “Faculty who speak critically of their presidents can expect some tension, but they seldom take out liability insurance before doing so. At Gustavus Adolphus College, however, that’s exactly what some professors have done.”