An associate dean at Emporia State University’s recently-created School of Visual and Performing Arts has resigned after less than two months on the job.
Arthur White started Aug. 6 and resigned Sept. 22.
White had only recently come to Emporia State after three-plus years as Cal Poly’s director of jazz studies. Several students accused White of sexual misconduct including comments and stalking, according to The San Luis Obispo Tribune. At least one student filed a complaint this spring, leading to White’s resignation June 22.
Several students at the University of Missouri also accused White of sexual harassment and assault before he quit a position there and went to Cal Poly. In that case, White allegedly opened a Title IX complaint against one of his accusers.
Emporia State Director of Media Relations Gwen Larson says there were no misconduct allegations or complaints against White during his short time at ESU. She says the university can’t share information about the circumstances behind White’s resignation — or other employee resignations, for that matter — but Larson says ESU had no knowledge of any sexual harassment allegations or related investigations when White was hired in August.
Larson says the hiring process includes evaluation of materials, interviews, reference checks and background checks. References are checked for finalists and background checks are conducted once job offers are accepted — and all offers are contingent on background checks being successful.
Larson says “no set of hiring practices or procedures are perfect or exhaustive,” but she says the ESU background check policy complies with federal and state regulations. She also says background checks can include criminal history and sex offender registry checks, but they don’t verify information about prior employment for candidates.
