UM School of Music Professor Loses Job in Response to Title IX Complaint Investigation

by Jon King

A University of Michigan professor has been dismissed from his position in the university’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance following a complaint of inappropriate conduct with a graduate student.

In a unanimous vote of the university’s Board of Regents during a special meeting Thursday morning, tenured associate professor Scott Piper, who chaired the college’s Department of Voice and Opera, was fired. 

“I have determined that Professor Piper’s conduct substantially impairs the fulfillment of his responsibilities as a tenured faculty member at the University of Michigan and therefore constitutes cause for dismissal…” University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso wrote in a communication to the board.

While the July 17 communication did not detail the specific reasons for the dismissal, the Michigan Daily reported it involved a complaint by a 2024 graduate of the school against Piper and filed with the university’s Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office.

The student newspaper, which obtained a copy of the complaint, reported that the office determined Piper violated the university’s policy on sexual and gender-based misconduct after expressing romantic feelings for the student. The Daily, which interviewed the student but did not name her, also reported Piper was seen walking into a student recital with his arm around her.

Piper’s attorney defended the actions, telling the Daily they were those of a “good man” who “expressed genuine interest in a student,” and not “unprofessional, sexually harassing behavior that truly threatens the safety of students…”.

None of the regents made any comment on the decision prior to the vote during the July 17 virtual meeting.