A faculty committee last week denied the appeal of a tenured engineering professor whom the University has been trying to fire for more than a year.
Debabrata Saha, an electrical and computer engineering professor who arrived at GW in 1986, has been the subject of three suspensions and internal proceedings by the administration to revoke his tenure. Attorneys representing the University say the instructor has engaged in "persistent neglect of professional responsibilities" over the last decade.
Saha, who has been on paid administrative leave since September 2005, appealed the July decision of a faculty panel and a hearing took place last month. The Dispute Resolution Committee unanimously voted to deny the appeal and announced their decision last week, said John Karl Jr., Saha's attorney.
"Naturally, we're disappointed with the decision of the committee," Karl said Sunday. "There was no substantive explanation (in the written decision) that discussed why they decided what they did."
Tracy Schario, GW's Media Relations director, said the faculty committee denied the appeal because "they did not see any compelling reason to change or overturn the original decision."
Though the denial paves the way for Saha's termination, Saha's future is still not completely clear, according to the Faculty Code.
"The decision of the relevant committee shall be deemed final and shall be implemented by the University," the Code states, "unless the Vice President for Academic Affairs (Donald Lehman) determines that there are compelling reasons not to implement the relevant committee's decision."
Schario said the case is still being reviewed and there is no timetable for Lehman to make a decision. She added, however, that she doesn't expect Lehman to overturn the faculty's unanimous decision.
Lehman did not return an e-mail from The Hatchet as of press time.
Saha's attorney said he is asking that Lehman recuse himself from the process because of a pending grievance against the senior administrator. "We don't think he's objective," Karl said.
Debabrata Saha, an electrical and computer engineering professor who arrived at GW in 1986, has been the subject of three suspensions and internal proceedings by the administration to revoke his tenure. Attorneys representing the University say the instructor has engaged in "persistent neglect of professional responsibilities" over the last decade.
Saha, who has been on paid administrative leave since September 2005, appealed the July decision of a faculty panel and a hearing took place last month. The Dispute Resolution Committee unanimously voted to deny the appeal and announced their decision last week, said John Karl Jr., Saha's attorney.
"Naturally, we're disappointed with the decision of the committee," Karl said Sunday. "There was no substantive explanation (in the written decision) that discussed why they decided what they did."
Tracy Schario, GW's Media Relations director, said the faculty committee denied the appeal because "they did not see any compelling reason to change or overturn the original decision."
Though the denial paves the way for Saha's termination, Saha's future is still not completely clear, according to the Faculty Code.
"The decision of the relevant committee shall be deemed final and shall be implemented by the University," the Code states, "unless the Vice President for Academic Affairs (Donald Lehman) determines that there are compelling reasons not to implement the relevant committee's decision."
Schario said the case is still being reviewed and there is no timetable for Lehman to make a decision. She added, however, that she doesn't expect Lehman to overturn the faculty's unanimous decision.
Lehman did not return an e-mail from The Hatchet as of press time.
Saha's attorney said he is asking that Lehman recuse himself from the process because of a pending grievance against the senior administrator. "We don't think he's objective," Karl said.
