FSU Provost Throop Interviews for Provost Position at SUNY-Plattsburgh

Cardinal Points, the independent student news organization at The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh (SUNY-Plattsburgh) reported on April 14, 2020 that current Frostburg State University Provost, Dr. Elizabeth Throop, has interviewed for the provost position at their campus.

SUNY-Plattsburgh is looking to fill two open vice president positions; the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs position and the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success position.

Throop was virtually introduced to the SUNY-Plattsburgh Provost Cabinet, SGA, and to various academic department chairs on April 13. On April 14, Throop held an open forum via Zoom for students, faculty, and staff.

Throop joined the FSU leadership team on July 1, 2017. Prior to that, she had earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California, San Diego in 1996. She taught in the Department of Anthropology at various midwest institutions before accepting a Dean position with Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota in 2009, according to her curriculum vitae.

Immediately before taking the provost position at Frostburg, Throop was the Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Plattville. Prior to her departure from UW-Plattville, the Dayton Daily News and other news outlets reported Throop was accused along with other top administrators of retaliating against Professor Sabrina Burton who assisted a student in reporting sexual harassment by another professor.

The federal district court responsible for ruling on the case dismissed Burton’s case; however, Burton filed a subsequent appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The final judgement in the case against The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Dr. Throop, and the other administrators was decided on March 17, 2017, and can be seen here. In their conclusion, the court wrote that “Professor Burton undoubtedly feels that she has been treated unfairly by some of her superiors at the University because she reported alleged harassment and proceeded with the case. Yet the record does not support her claims.”

While at UW-Plattville, Throop was also accused of discrimination on the basis of race and national origin by Florence E. Omachonu. Omachonu, a native of Nigeria and African American by race, accused Throop and Dr. Alison Bunte of inappropriately factoring in student evaluations into their decision to deny Omachonu tenure, though she had been unanimously recommended for a promotion by the tenured faculty in her department. Ultimately, the claims by Omachonu were dismissed with prejudice.

SUNY-Plattsburgh is a campus experiencing many changes. In addition to the two aforementioned open positions, the university interviewed for a new President in March 2019 and again in September 2019. 

Throop is the first of three candidates seeking the permanent Provost position at SUNY-Plattsville. Other contenders will interview today and Friday, April 17. A recruiting and consulting firm, RPA, Inc., is assisting the campus with compiling information and reactions to the candidates.

It is unknown when SUNY-Plattsburgh will make a final decision to fill their open positions. As of press time, FSU’s employment page does not list an opening to replace Throop.