On June 30, Annette Wyandotte, dean of the School of Arts and Letters, will be forced to step down from her position because of an IU policy.

According to the IU Academic Handbook, “Individuals holding administrative positions that are bona fide executive or high policy-making positions may be required to retire from their administrative positions at the end of the academic year in which they turn 65.”

“I don’t think this rule is right,” Wyandotte said. “I think it’s illegal because it’s age discrimination.”

Wyandotte has been dean for four years and would like to continue to be. She decided to re-apply as dean regardless of the policy.

“I realized it was wrong of me not to ask for re-appointment,” Wyandotte said. “I felt the rule is wrong, and I still want to be dean.”

The School of Arts and Letters voted 33 to 1 recommending Wyandotte for re-appointment.

Gilbert Atnip, vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, met with Wyandotte to inform her that due to the IU policy, he could not recommend her for another term as dean.

Atnip then contacted the chair of the dean’s review and search committee, Angela Salas, director of the Honors Program and associate professor of English, to begin the search for a new dean.

Wyandotte turned 65 last year and was given an exemption by IU President Michael McRobbie to continue her position until June 30.

According to the IU Academic Handbook, “The University may waive the requirement for administrative retirement. The waiver must be approved by the President of the University.…Waivers shall be for one year or for another specific period and may be extended on a year-to-year basis.”

Wyandotte does have another option.

“I’d also have the option to file a complaint with [the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] and let them get involved,” Wyandotte said. “Their role would be to come in and talk to both sides and investigate the policy. And possibly see if there is a better way to do things.”

Wyandotte not only said she feels the policy is a case of age discrimination, but she said she also thinks she has fulfilled her duties as a dean and should given a chance to continue.

“There is nothing negative in my reviews,” she said. “I haven’t heard of anything that would prevent me from being dean again accept this policy.”

She said she believes this policy should be changed, but that it’s not all about her.

“On a moral basis, is this policy what an enlightened university would want to stand for?” Wyandotte said. “Because there are other ways to decide if someone is doing their job.”

Atnip said he didn’t think the policy would be changed.

“In all honesty, the policy is what it is,” he said.

Atnip didn’t comment on whether or not it was a case of age discrimination.

“It’s a legal question,” Atnip said.  “I’m not a lawyer so I can’t answer that. It’s a legal question in a sense that there is a law that applies to most people but not to all.”

Wyandotte said she feels that this challenges the Core Values of the university.

“Not only is this age discrimination, but it’s not upholding the Core Values, such as integrity,” Wyandotte said. “I feel that my integrity and the institutions integrity deserve to be addressed.”

In the meantime, Wyandotte has also applied to take another position on campus.

She is one of the four candidates to be the new director of the Institute for Learning and Teaching Excellence.