Southwestern College's shrinking grants office was shuttered after 25 years by the reorganization plan approved by the governing board in April. Linda Gilstrap, the director of grants and development, the only remaining employee of an office that used to have three, was laid off. Gilstrap accepted administrative leave until her June 15 exit date.
Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra said the reorganization was necessary to balance the budget in 2009-10. Some faculty, however, are asking how cutting a money-raising department in a financial crisis would be beneficial for the school.
Dr. David Brown, professor of chemistry, said the elimination of the grants office is "purely contrary in this financial crisis."
Gilstrap said she was bewildered by the decision.
"I'm sad that an office that has been so consistent in receiving funding has been eliminated," she said.
Gilstrap has led the grants office for the last 13 years. During that time she and her staff had secured more than $70 million in funding for SWC's academic programs and services, she said.
"I would understand if this was good for the college but I don't understand this," she said.
A new department called Research, Evaluation and Planning will be created to handle grant proposals said Michael Kerns, vice president for Human Resources. He said the dean of the new department would be responsible for all research and planning functions, grant development, instructional technology and computer systems.
Andy MacNeill, SWC's presiding chair of the council of chairs, said the timing was bad. He said the first wave of grants is going by with no one to look at them since the elimination of Gilstrap's position.
"We're not going after any new grants, so that means no innovations from our faculty," said MacNeill. "So we're missing all this money."
Some faculty, including Linda Hensley, chair of the communication department, said they believe the reorganization is not just about the school and the budget, but also about personal conflicts.
"This is a personal vendetta against certain individuals, including our grants director," said Hensley.
Gilstrap said she had been willing to accept a demotion from director to grant writer but Kerns "flat out rejected" the proposal.
Gilstrap said she then asked Kerns for job descriptions in the new department, including grant writer, chief marketing, communication, community and governmental relations officer and dean of career/technical education and learning assistance positions. She said she was told that they were not available.
Kerns said the reorganization was conducted properly and legally. He said he did not know when the new positions would be filled.
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