Query (re accreditation)

.....As you know, each of our colleges has established a "focus group" (task force? committee? coffee klatch?) to tackle accreditation. .....I know that IVC's group had its second meeting this morning. Don't know about Saddleback College's group. .....Does anyone know how things are going on these committees? Any progress? Inquiring minds wanna know. .....Faculty who serve on IVC's committee have offered brief reports (of the first meeting) at a recent senate meeting. (These meetings are open to the public.) According to those folks, the right note of openness and frankness was struck right from the start. They praised the effort and the participants. .....On the other hand, it was reported that trustee Wagner discouraged the notion that "personnel changes" might occur to deal with our accreditation difficulties (fear, despair, hostility, etc.). .....The group considered models of "collegial consultation" that are used at such colleges as Chabot and College of the Canyons. .....Evidently, our district operates sans model. P.S.: .....Someone commented, writing that "Inquiring minds should contact their shared gov representatives on the committee." The writer in effect cautioned us to be "careful." .....Excellent advice. If information won't be brought to us, then we need to seek out the information ourselves. Luckily, we have knowledgeable people to contact. (Note that the Accred focus groups have lots of representation, including classified.) .....We at Dissent always try to be careful, which isn't always easy. We make mistakes, but we always try to acknowledge them asap. .....IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, in general, as far as district administration is concerned, the college and district communities should be left in the dark, even about events and processes of crucial importance to the colleges' futures, such as our accreditation project (or the development of ATEP, or the sudden removal of the students' flags in the Student Services Bldg. as a response to de facto threats of protests). Given these near "blackout" conditions, Dissent, which is after all a kind of newsletter, cannot simply remain mute about known factoids, especially when they are provided at venues that are open to the public. .....I should add that our Academic Senate leadership has consistently informed senators of events and processes, to the degree possible or permitted. Clearly, our senate values openness and "transparency." Senate leaders deserve praise. ..... And openness seems to characterize their dealings with college administration as well. That's great. .....Again, the information void to which I am referring largely concerns district—and to some extent, college—leadership. When decisions are made, we should be informed. When important processes are under way, we should be kept apprised of progress. .....I should mention that a meeting for the purpose of informing the IVC community of the Accred focus group's progress is scheduled for a week and a half from now. ..... But, by then, the process will be over a month old. Shouldn't we be apprised about so important a matter sooner and more regularly? .....And what on earth is happening with ATEP? And will we make it over the 50% line (for instructional expenditures) given the current "pause" in new faculty hiring? .....And what's with this exodus of college presidents, provosts, and Vice Chancellors? .....Inquiring minds wanna know! —CW, 4/19