University of Missouri President Mun Y. Choi gave his State of the University Address in March 2022 (photo courtesy of the University of Missouri). The last time faculty of the University of Missouri-Columbia weighed in on their campus leader, they said he “fostered a general culture of helplessness and submission” and that morale had been “irreparably damaged.”
Only 26% of those surveyed in 2022 supported retaining Mun Choi as chancellor of the university, a position he took over in addition to his role as president of the entire University of Missouri System.
This year’s survey shows Choi is getting much higher marks, with 64% of faculty now saying they want to keep him in his position.
Choi chalks up his improved scores to his visits across departments and conversations with university leaders.
“I took to heart the faculty concerns that were shared in (the 2022) survey about listening to faculty voices and ensuring that faculty input helps form my decisions,” Chois said in an interview with The Independent. “I took the message about the perception of a lack of shared governance to heart and also to be more effective in communicating my priorities and also seeking input from the faculty during the many visits that I’ve made to colleges since that survey.”
University of Missouri faculty survey scorches Mun Choi for poor morale on Columbia campus
Choi has been the president of the University of Missouri system since 2017 and became chancellor of the flagship campus in 2020. The faculty survey is focused on his work with Mizzou.
Low morale continued between the 2022 and 2024 surveys, with arts and humanities faculty more likely to feel a lack of support in the latest review, authors wrote.
“The results indicate concrete improvements since 2022 and suggest logical starting points for further enhancing the relationship between the Chancellor’s office and the faculty,” the MU Faculty Council on University Policy wrote in its report.
Faculty’s average scores improved across all survey categories. The survey prompted participants to rank Choi 1 to 5 in the categories, and most answers were a “5,” or outstanding, in all but four of 19 areas.
The lowest scores were for Choi’s ability to “display leadership policies rooted in shared decision-making principles,” “solicit faculty input” and “demonstrate commitment to shared governance.” These three categories were the biggest problems reported in 2022, though they have now improved by one point on the five-point scale.
“There is still more work to do, so it is my responsibility to continue to seek input from the faculty in decision making and to communicate very clearly about the rationale behind my decisions,” Choi said.
His overall performance has improved, according to faculty, from a 2.26 to a 3.45 on a five-point scale.
The 2022 report included harsh critiques like, “He is stunningly opposed to true shared governance and any efforts are lip service at best.” The rating most frequently given to Choi in 14 of 18 categories was a “1,” including in overall performance.
Respondents had more negative comments than positive in 2022. This year, the opposite is true.
Carolyn Orbann, vice-chair of the faculty council and leader of the review process, told The Independent the increase could be impacted by a few factors. The survey response rate increased from nearly 25% of faculty answering to 32.8%.
COVID-19 also had a larger impact on responses in 2022.
Chancellor performance surveys were on pause prior to Choi’s appointment, so Orbann doesn’t know if the jump in positive responses is typical. But she said there is “more unity in comments about what he’s excelling in.” Choi’s top-performing area is as an “advocate for the MU campus,” with faculty praising his positive relationship with legislators and the community.
Choi said efforts to be “more visible” and engaged likely helped. He visited each of the departments last year to “share (his) vision” and solicit feedback, which he plans to continue. His role is significant, he said, because of Mizzou’s potential to impact people nationwide.
“This is such an important institution for not only the state of Missouri, but the country as a whole, because of the important work that we do,” he said.
Choi pointed to work the research reactor does in the development of radiopharmaceuticals used in cancer treatments nationwide, developments in crop research out of the agriculture program and an advancement in civil discourse through the humanities.
Choi said he’d like to retain his current office for “at least another four years.”
“We are on a really good path to achieving the objectives of becoming that stronger research university and continuing with the vision MizzouForward to improve our research,” he said. “As well as ensuring that our students get a high quality education at an affordable rate and for us to continue to make investments to create economic development in this region.”
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The post Mizzou faculty opinion of Mun Choi vastly improves 2 years after scathing report appeared first on Missouri Independent.
