San Jose State University has temporarily suspended a justice studies professor who served as a liaison between administrators and pro-Palestinian demonstrators, the Chronicle has learned. 

Sang Hea Kil, a renowned professor at the university, received notice of her suspension Friday, according to a document reviewed by the Chronicle. The suspension letter says Kil is being suspended for violating Article 17 of the collective bargaining agreement between California State University and California Faculty Association. 

The university didn’t specifically state what Kil did to warrant suspension, but alluded to certain actions in the suspension letter.

“Per Article 17, you are suspended for reasons related to the disruption of programs and/or operations, the safety of persons or property, and investigation for formal notice of disciplinary action,” the letter said. 

The letter further states that Kil violated university policies due to “unprofessional and exploitative” conduct toward students, directing them to violate university policies and “engaging in harassing and offensive conduct and comments directed towards colleagues individually and as a group.”

Kil also posted the letter on her personal social media page, saying “SJSU has suspended me for my Palestine work. The fight for academic freedom continues.” She could not be reached for further comment. 

Asked about Kil’s suspension Saturday, a spokesperson said the university does not comment on personnel matters. 

A statement by the CSU Student Divestment Coalition, a group of students advocating for schools to end financial support for companies doing business with Israel for its attacks on Gaza during its war with Hamas militants, slammed the university’s decision to suspend Kil, which it attributed to her support for pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

The coalition “strongly condemns SJSU for taking such action against Dr. Kil,” the statement said. “We demand the full reinstatement of Dr. Kil, and for (Senior Associate Vice President Joanne) Wright to take all actions necessary to reverse Dr. Kil’s suspension. Further, we demand that SJSU (and other CSU campuses) not take any further actions against students or faculty who are engaged in expressions of their First Amendment rights.”

According to the group, Kil received warnings from a university administrator, which she detailed on her social media page, and witnessed another director turn on sprinklers at a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus in an attempt to get students to disband the protest. 

Until her suspension, Kil was the chair of the Anti-Racism, Social Justice Transformation Committee and co-chair of the Palestine, Arab, and Muslim Caucus of the California Faculty Association. She serves as a faculty member in justice studies at San Jose State. She confirmed on her social media page Friday that she resigned that day as co-chair of the caucus, known as PAM. 

In a statement to her colleagues Friday, Kil said: “i am resigning now as co-chair and from all committees in pam. it was an honor to fight side by side with you all against the tragic and painful silence around the genocide we experienced at our campuses. you all inspired me to do more than i ever thought possible and i am so grateful to you all for this shared experience. i wish you the best in your battle for (boycott, divestment and sanctions)  at the csu and cfa. you will be victorious!”

During her suspension, Kil will not have access to campus facilities and cannot perform any duties associated with her professor role. Kil’s fate after the suspension remains unclear. According to the suspension letter, her suspension will end either after 60 days or when she is notified of disciplinary action, whichever comes first. 

Notably, Kil was witness to an altercation between a student and now-suspended SJSU professor Jonathan Roth during a pro-Palestinian campus demonstration of a guest lecturer who specialized in Jewish history. Roth is known for reviving the Jewish studies program and was the 2019 recipient of the university’s Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes faculty for exemplary leadership. Kil told the Chronicle she had reported “things she said he has said” to various administrative groups, but no action was taken.

“By suspending Dr. Kil, SJSU is prohibiting her from using her office, performing necessary pre-semester work through online University systems, and communicating with next semester’s students,” the coalition’s statement said. “It is possible that SJSU will pursue further measures — which could include termination — against Dr. Kil. She has not been granted any due process or the ability to challenge her suspension, and has instead been compelled to ‘cooperate in any investigation conducted concerning’ her alleged actions.”

A 2006 graduate of Arizona State University’s School of Justice Studies, Kil has received recognition for publications relating to immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border. She was the recipient of the ASU Faculty Women’s Association Distinguished Achievement Award in 2002 and of SJSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences Lifetime Faculty Service Award in 2019. 

Reach Jordan Parker: jordan.parker@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @jparkerwrites