Demanding answers to embarrassing presidential turnover at Modesto JC | Opinion

In my 65-year affiliation with MJC, (student, faculty member, adviser and Foundation board member and president) I have never seen anything like our current situation.

Almost every family in our service area has some relationship with MJC. Most of our experiences have been very positive and many of us attribute our first job and our success to our MJC involvement. Why now all the turmoil at the president level? Is our hiring process flawed? I don’t think so.

This has become an embarrassment for our college and our community.

Those of us who have watched the evolution of MJC, Columbia College and YCCD are proud of their accomplishments and know that with the right leadership, they can be visionary organizations for years to come.

As I voice my concern about the future of the MJC administration and the lack of stability, I pose these questions:

Is an effort being made to truly invest in a president who will serve for a long period of time? The true strength of a leader cannot be determined in one or two years.

Is a concerted effort being made to coach a president who needs to improve or do we just show him or her the door? Has our chancellor been effective in this process? Does he meet frequently enough with them to help them succeed? Is he assertive enough with the board to enlist its support of the president?

How can our president succeed if his or her decisions are overturned or not even solicited when the board of trustees intervenes?

In the last accreditation, it was noted that the board is far too involved in day-to-day decision making. Has the board relinquished control back to the president, where it belongs? Has there been a follow-up to substantiate this grave concern of micromanaging the chancellor and our president?

Why hasn’t a concerted effort been made to hire a president within our ranks? We have seemingly passed over some candidates who have gone on to take leadership positions at other colleges and are very successful. Their gain, our loss.

Why is the board so critical when presidents seek positions at other institutions when little effort is made to make them feel needed or wanted here?

Is our evaluation process of our president adequate? All of the recent presidents have felt effective as noted in their most recent evaluation, only to find they are sent a note of termination with no stated reason. Our community deserves to know if our college president is ineffective. The board is seemingly hiding behind the HR confidentiality screen.

Is the process of self-evaluation of our chancellor and our board of trustees providing adequate accountability to our community?

As I travel the state reviewing community college agriculture programs (similar to the accreditation process), how should I respond when one of my acquaintances asks if they should apply for the presidency vacancy at MJC?

Why hurt needy students?

Is the board as sympathetic as it should be to some of our students in need? A recent president was challenged by the board for having used grant money to support some of our students’ basic needs. I understand that many students are food and housing insecure, some living in their cars.

What assurance can the board give us that they agree it is time to invest in a president who will be involved in meeting our community’s needs, enhancing the stability of our college and providing long-term leadership?

There is an urgency as we address the community’s many concerns. It is pleasing to note the announcement of Chad Redwing as MJC’s interim president, as he brings a wealth of knowledge about the college and is known for his ability to work with staff in the interest of our students.

Finally, while it is time for the board of trustees to take some action to rectify the current situation, many of us concerned residents are willing to provide any assistance we can to support MJC in its effort to provide a quality education for students and make certain that their preparation is relevant to demands of today’s workforce — something it has been doing well for over 100 years.