University of California, Los Angeles: Professor Loses Teaching Position After Criticizing Administrators During Class
Cases
University of California, Los Angeles
Case Overview
In June 2017, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) decided not to renew the contract of lecturer Keith Fink, claiming that he failed to meet the university鈥檚 standard of excellence. The letter notifying Fink of the non-renewal failed to provide specific justifications for the decision. However, in a teaching evaluation of Fink鈥檚 鈥淪ex, Politics, and Race: Free Speech on Campus鈥 class, Associate Professor and Vice Chair Greg Bryant criticized Fink鈥檚 in-class discussion of the perceived failures of UCLA administrators as a teaching tool. On August 4, FIREwrote to UCLA Chancellor Gene Block asking for the university to explain how Fink鈥檚 in-class criticisms of administrators may have played a role in his non-renewal.