NTHU responds after watchdog’s four proposals over president’s U.S. job search allegedly withheld

National Tsing Hua University says a delay in publishing four proposals over controversy surrounding President Kao Wei-yuan does not amount to suppressing the committee’s work.

Kao came under scrutiny after reports said he traveled to the United States to seek employment three days after being reappointed on May 1. The university’s supervisory committee met on Aug. 21 and adopted four proposals related to the matter. It later published the proposals on Facebook through Kao’s former aide, Li Min, after the university secretariat had not released them.

Vice President Lu Ping-chiang said the public may have misunderstood the delay. The committee is entering a new academic-year transition, he said, and the previous committee’s decisions and proposals must first be presented to and confirmed by the newly elected members. The new committee is expected to hold its first meeting next week and elect a convener, after which the secretariat will publish the proposals.

Lu also said Kao had voluntarily offered to explain recent events publicly to students, staff and alumni on Sept. 10. More than 200 people had registered online to attend.

Some of the previous committee’s proposals, however, may fall outside its legal authority. A universitywide survey would require a decision by the university affairs council, Lu said. Requests to inspect Kao’s leave records could also involve personal privacy if they concerned personal rather than official leave or expenses, requiring his consent and supporting documents from the personnel office. Alumni had accused the university of restricting the committee’s authority and damaging NTHU’s reputation by withholding the proposals.