DSU President Richard McCallum won’t resign

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McCallum

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Dickinson State University President Dr. Richard McCallum said in a letter Saturday that he has no intention of resigning as university

president.

North Dakota University System Chancellor William Goetz and McCallum are expected to meet Monday, McCallum’s attorney Benjamin Thomas said.

“Dr. McCallum will respond to the request for his resignation, but as indicated in his letter to faculty and staff, there’s no reason for him to resign and he has no intention of resigning,” Thomas said.

Goetz asked McCallum to resign Wednesday over inflated enrollment numbers.

“Any reporting errors were quickly corrected with no negative consequences to the university,” McCallum said in the letter.

If he does not resign he could be terminated, Goetz said.

“He certainly has not been informed that his employment has been terminated,” Thomas told The Dickinson Press on Saturday.

Goetz has instructed that McCallum not enter any DSU buildings besides the president’s residence.

“To the extent that I am permitted, I will continue to perform my responsibilities as president,” McCallum said in the letter.

He said university funds will not be used to pay for his retained legal counsel.

DSU Vice President of Student Development Hal Haynes said the university will continue to focus on the students.

“I believe this is a matter that needs to be resolved between Dr.

Richard McCallum, Chancellor William Goetz and the State Board of Higher Education,” he said.

Haynes, who said he has not spoken to McCallum since early Wednesday, said he doesn’t have an opinion about the president’s decision and said it would be inappropriate to talk about it.

McCallum said in the letter he looks forward to continuing at DSU.

“As always, my actions will be guided by what is in the best interest of Dickinson State University,” he said.

Enrollment practices were scrutinized when people who had attended DSU conferences began to question why they were being contacted for surveys meant for DSU students.

An audit found about 180 people who attended these conferences in the fall were counted as students and given grades without their knowledge.

By this time next week, Haynes expects about 30 percent of students who live on campus to be checked in.

Fall classes begin Aug. 22 and McCallum is scheduled to deliver the state of the university address Aug. 17.

Goetz and McCallum could not be reached for comment Saturday.

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