Senior Instructor Professor Ted Roberts is once again employed by Tarleton State University, this time with the College of Leadership and Military Science.
Roberts, through a phone interview Wednesday, July 3, said he had received an email and phone call over the weekend from Col. Doug Simon who is the Dean for the College of Leadership and Military Science with a job offer to be a senior instructor with the same rank and pay as his previous job with the Liberal and Fine Arts College that he was non-renewed from on April 30.
Roberts, who had taught a variety of U.S. History courses for the university over the past 12 years, was informed April 30 that his contract to instruct would not be renewed for next year.
This move was completed, according to a letter from the Faculty Senate and comments from Roberts, for retaliatory reasons after the professor expressed opinions about faculty parking fees at a listening tour event on campus April 12.
The university previously stated that they do not comment on personnel matters.
“Col. Simon asked if I would consider it and I did,” Roberts said of the new teaching position after his last wasn’t renewed.
Roberts will be teaching leadership studies and specific history classes aimed at the Corp of Cadets and ROTC members.
“It’s different because I’ll be much closer to the cadets,” he said.
The position is still a nontenure track and comes with a yearly contract.
A question still on the minds of many: Will Roberts still be required to pay a $400 year parking fee?
“I will pay the parking fee just like everyone else,” he said. “Maybe I need to go get another motorcycle.”
Roberts’ contract begins Sept. 1 and he will begin teaching with the fall semester that starts at the end of August. “I’m excited about the coming year and working with this college. It’s gonna be an adventure,” he said. As part of his newly hired college, Roberts will get to teach with other retired military officers, which he said he is looking forward to. Roberts previously filed four complaints with the Department of Labor in regard to Tarleton President Dr. James Hurley and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Diane Stearns. These complaints are already under investigation.