Faculty and staff did not mince words when a team of visiting educators charged with evaluating Southwestern College came to visit.
"I think if we tell you the truth, and please listen to both sides, the administration side also, my great hope is that you'll help clean this up," said Rebecca Wolniewicz. "You're my last hope."
Wolniewicz was far from alone in her plea. Speaker after speaker stepped forward and beseeched the visitors in tones of desperation to "please help us."
Every six years SWC completes a thorough evaluation called accreditation conducted by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC.) Accreditation ensures the college is maintaining state standards. If a college is not accredited it cannot receive state funding, provide financial aid, and four-year colleges and universities will not recognize course credits. Several open forum meetings were held at the beginning of October to assist in declaring the final diagnosis. Of the many suggestions WASC made at the closing forum, one that stood out regarded campus culture.
"The team recommends," said WASC team Chair Dr. Gari Browning, "that the college sets as a priority fostering an environment of trust and respect for all employees and students."
Browning went on to say that all groups on campus should have a "substantial voice" during the decision making process at SWC. This process should be pre-established in writing. WASC also had feedback for the governing board.
"The team further recommends that the Board act as a whole once it reaches a decision," Harding said, "and acts as an advocate for the college."
Academic Senate President Valerie Goodwin-Colbert said the accreditation team validated much of what has been concerning faculty members since Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra started.
"I spent three days in 10 different interviews while the accreditation team was here," said Goodwin-Colbert. "More than half of those 10, the accreditation site team members said to me 'Why are people trying to head toward your heart and cut your spirit?'"
Before WASC members reported their observations, faculty had the opportunity to voice concerns in a series of open forum meetings. Recent class cuts, a lack of communication and a culture of fear on campus were at the center of faculty concerns. Rob Unger, grievance chair for the faculty union, said nobody knew better than he about the problems on campus.
"When the faculty get upset they come to me," said Unger. "In the last year I'm getting more grievances, more problems, more faculty concerns than I've seen in half a decade. So something's broken."
A particular area of concern was the rift in communication between faculty and administration.
"They refuse to talk to us [even though] we're supposed to have shared governance," said Mark Van Stone, art professor. "I would like to say shared governance is a joke, except no one is laughing."
While faculty voice fear over not being heard, some administrators insist that is not the case. Nick Alioto, the newly-appointed vice president of financial and business, said the college has and does take input.
"Consensus is a hard thing to achieve in difficult financial times," said Alioto. "When someone's particular idea is not implemented, it does not mean that they did not have an opportunity to present it, that it was not considered nor that the process has failed."
Another area of contention was the coming 26 percent cut in classes for the 2010 spring and summer semesters that will result in hundreds of class sections lost.
Barry Horlor, professor of history, called the SWC campus climate "toxic" and not just administrators.
"What I would like to see is a true attempt to work as a team, not only with administrators, but with everyone," said Horlor.
Some expressed worry that the extent of the troubles felt on the SWC campus was not accurately expressed to the WASC team due to a lack of participation by adjunct and classified staff. Some employees said this is due to a lack of trust and a fear of retribution.
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