Leadership

U. of Michigan Ousts Provost Accused of Sexual Misconduct

March 11, 2020

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.

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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.

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.

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.