APSCUF’s February 2025 legislative assembly approved the following resolution:
Be it resolved that:
Whereas, he has failed to lead Commonwealth University competently, and
Whereas, under his leadership enrollment has dropped, and
Whereas, the main action he took to increase enrollment through institutional aid increased the university’s debt and he continued the initiative despite warning from the State System, and
Whereas, poorly conceived plans were continued because administrators felt the president’s feelings would be hurt if discontinued, and
Whereas, our Commonwealth University colleagues believe that subsequent to consolidation he was virtually absent as the university struggled with significant technology issues, and
Whereas, the Commonwealth University administration has undergone unprecedented turnover during his tenure, and
Whereas, he has not followed agreed-upon search and screening procedures when making appointments, and
Whereas, under his leadership deficits ballooned suddenly and no plan was clearly articulated to the university community, and
Whereas, because of his administration’s decisions, student schedules were changed as students were returning to campus, and
Whereas, his administration reorganized twice within a year, and both times without faculty input, and
Whereas, faculty, coach, student, and staff morale has been declining steadily under his leadership, and
Whereas, a jury has found the president and the university liable for wrongful termination in the case of mandatory reporter in a Title IX case in which an employee had accused the president of harassment, and
Whereas, unless there is a successful appeal, the university is responsible for paying the multimillion dollar jury award, and
Whereas, according to reports, the State System’s investigation in the incident found that the president’s behavior was “clearly inappropriate,” and
Whereas, Commonwealth University students should have confidence that their university leadership will act ethically and responsibly, and
Whereas, the president continues to be the final university decision-maker with regard to Title IX and other discipline cases despite his inappropriate behavior, and
Whereas, as a result of the president’s “clearly inappropriate” behavior, the university has been subjected to a steady stream of bad publicity,
We, the Statewide APSCUF Legislative Assembly, support our Commonwealth University colleagues in having no confidence in President Bashar Hanna’s leadership and call upon him to resign or to be removed from his position by the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees or the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
A copy of this resolution shall be transmitted by the State APSCUF President to the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees, the Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and the Chair of the Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education.