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Two-and-a-half years of rancor and controversy have left Southwestern College somewhere it has never been before - on probation.
In a highly-critical 38-page report, a team of investigators from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) outlined 10 areas of deficiency that SWC will have to correct if it is to maintain its accreditation. Should the college lose its accreditation it would no longer be eligible for state funding and unable to transfer classes, or award certificates and degrees. WASC put the college on a helping plan that stretches through October 2011.
Of the 10 areas of concern, one overshadowed the rest and reflected the problems SWC has experienced for the last two-and-a-half years since the hiring of Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra in August 2007.
Recommendation 8 states "the team recommends that the college set as a priority fostering an environment of trust and respect for all employees and students…" The report also said "The obvious adversarial climate that exists on campus is destructive and disruptive to student learning."
Andy MacNeill, vice president of Southwestern College Education Association, said the commission's recommendations vindicate faculty who have been calling for shared governance over the last two and a half years.
"But now it's not just the faculty that are saying it," he said. "We had an accreditation team come in and kind of root out that, yeah, these are the problems this college is having. So I kind of feel like we've been validated."
WASC evaluators - a 10-person team of administrators from other colleges - concluded SWC suffered from "a collective inability to work together."
"(Southwestern's) self study indicates that the Superintendent/President is making strides in repairing college morale, but in reality there is a strong undercurrent of discontent at the college," read the report. "Faculty are more vociferous in their opposition to the Superintendent/President's style, but there is clearly some tension among the administration as well. The Superintendent/President is quick to point out that he doesn't need this job and has stated he has received strong support from the Board on personnel actions."
Chopra spoke briefly during a 30-minute open forum meeting to discuss the probation, and said he looks at the probation as "a glass half full." He said he has always been committed to improving campus communication, citing a January meeting where ideas on how to improve shared governance were exchanged. But when chemistry professor Jackie Thomas questioned his claim and asked why she should believe him, Chopra waved off the question and refused to answer.
"That [gesture] says it all right there," said MacNeill. "He's saying things aren't going to change. He knows one leadership style and… it's not the one that says 'everybody lets get together and make decisions.' It's the 'I'm gonna make the decisions' one."
Thomas said many of SWC's accreditation problems would fix themselves if the campus climate were better.
"I think a lot of the other things would be taken care of if people felt like they were taken seriously and that their opinions mattered," she said.
WASC also identified problems with board ethics, conflicts of interest, technology, policy and procedure, professional development and shared governance. Five of the 10 recommendations must be addressed by October of this year, including the college's shared governance problem. Commissioners will pay SWC another visit in March 2011 and all recommendations must be settled up by October 2011 or the college could lose its accreditation and the college district dissolved. Chopra said he is confident the campus can make the deadline.
"I believe that if all of us are able to work together … and look at this as an opportunity rather than any other way, we must and we should be able to meet the timeline which has been prescribed by the commission," he said.
Dr. Angelica Suarez, vice president of student affairs, said students should know that SWC is still an accredited college.
"This [probation] does not at all impact transfer, their financial aid, any of the student services they are receiving," she said.
History Professor Barry Horlor pointed his finger at both faculty and administration for creating a "toxic environment" on campus and said it is high time to take a break from politics and refocus on education.
"We're in a communication crisis… I suggest that everyone… take off the white hat and the black hat and start seeking some balance in this communication," he said.
SWC has never been placed on probation in its 50-year history and has never been at risk of losing its accreditation until now. SWC joins Compton Community College as California schools to be put on probation. Compton lost its accreditation in 2006. Its district and governing board were disbanded by the state, and its top administration all fired. The campus was turned over to the El Camino Community College District and became a satellite center.
Students on campus admitted to being jittery the morning after the probation was announced.
"If we can't transfer our credits we gotta start all over," said Jillisa West, 18. "I don't want to start over."
Miguel Rascon expressed frustration that the situation has not been explained to the students or community.
"If they do shut this school down, will my credits count?" he asked. "This school needs to get it together. Everyone's in their own little world."
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