> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • The Evolution of Race in Admissions
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Leadership
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

U. of Michigan Ousts Provost Accused of Sexual Misconduct

By  Bennett Leckrone
March 11, 2020
Martin Philbert
U. of Michigan
Martin Philbert

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor removed its provost on Wednesday amid an external investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct.

Officials will decide whether to remove Philbert from Michigan’s faculty after the investigation concludes.

Martin A. Philbert, who was also the university’s executive vice president for academic affairs, remains on paid administrative leave, as he has been since the allegations surfaced, in January.

President Mark S. Schlissel said in a letter on Wednesday that he’d lost confidence in Philbert’s ability to lead, given information that the investigation had uncovered. More than 20 women have made allegations against Philbert, according to news reports.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from c950.chronicle.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor removed its provost on Wednesday amid an external investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct.

Officials will decide whether to remove Philbert from Michigan’s faculty after the investigation concludes.

Martin A. Philbert, who was also the university’s executive vice president for academic affairs, remains on paid administrative leave, as he has been since the allegations surfaced, in January.

President Mark S. Schlissel said in a letter on Wednesday that he’d lost confidence in Philbert’s ability to lead, given information that the investigation had uncovered. More than 20 women have made allegations against Philbert, according to news reports.

Schlissel recommended that Susan M. Collins, a former dean of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, serve as interim provost. Collins was appointed acting provost when Philbert was placed on leave.

ADVERTISEMENT

While Michigan took swift action after the recent accusations against Philbert surfaced, the Detroit Free Press reported that the university knew about years of prior allegations before appointing him as provost, in 2017.

The Free Press reported that Philbert had been the subject of at least three complaints during his time at Michigan before becoming its provost. Those include a now-settled lawsuit alleging that Philbert, a professor of toxicology, was having a physical relationship with a researcher in his lab. Philbert has been a faculty member at the university since 1995, and he previously served as dean of Michigan’s School of Public Health.

The university retained an outside law firm to investigate, and that work is continuing, according to a news release. Officials will decide whether to remove Philbert from Michigan’s faculty after the investigation concludes. Meanwhile, he continues to draw a base annual salary of $570,340.

In the meantime, university officials are encouraging anyone with information about Philbert to come forward, and they have made counseling services available. The university did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Bennett Leckrone
Bennett Leckrone is an editorial intern at The Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter @LeckroneBennett, or email him at bennett.leckrone@chronicle.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin