College to reorganize administrative titles

MHCC President Michael Hay this week announced a reorganization of the administrative staff, including vice president and dean rearrangements, which will take effect July 1.

Among the rearrangements in the all-staff email included Cassie McVeety, the vice president of the Office of College Advancement, who has now moved on to Pacific University to work as the vice president of University Advancement.
Michelle Gregory, who has served as executive coordinator for the Strategic Initiatives and Board Relations, has been reassigned to a new role of director of Board Relations and Community Development.

Both David Minger, vice president for Student Success and Enrollment Management, and David Sussman, manager of College Center Services and Grant Sponsored Programs, will be taking over some of Gregory’s previous duties.

Nancy Szofran, the vice president of Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, will be leaving the school to assume a new position at the Community Colleges of Spokane.

Deans Donna Larson, dean of nursing, and Clyde Jensen, the dean of science, math and engineering, will no longer be at the college at the end of the term include.

Larson has accepted a new position at Clatsop Community College and Clyde Jensen is retiring.

Several MHCC employees responded to the email and the staff restructuring at the college.

One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “I don’t see any cost savings in this plan.  All this did was move people from one title to another; they probably got a raise with the new job title.”

“This is a smoke screen to make the administration look like they are actually doing something when in reality they are protecting their co-workers’ positions,” said the source.

Katelyn Ellis, an admissions transcript evaluator, said that although she understood the motives behind the changes, she was worried they may have undesired effects.

“While I appreciate the vision and leadership provided by management within the last year, I am concerned that the decisions being made aren’t working in the best interest of the college,” said Ellis.

“Staff, faculty, and students fully intellectualize the current state of MHCC. Tough times call for tougher decisions. I would encourage (president) Hay and the board to really listen to what staff, faculty, and students have to say,” she said.

Another MHCC staff member, who also wished to remain anonymous, was critical of the changes made by the administration and voiced her concern over salary discrepancies.

“None of these changes affect the fact that middle management is too bloated and too well paid,” said the anonymous staff member.

“Students wouldn’t be looking at another fee and tuition increase if some of these people were eliminated from the budget,” they said.

Cat Parish, who spoke on behalf of the Classified Employees Association on the proposed two days of classified furlough at the budget committee public hearing session on May 2, referred to these inequities in salaries.

At the session, she said, “A two-day furlough for a level 16 custodian saves $276.24. With the 47 current managers, deans, vice presidents and directors, the average annual salary is approximately $84,000.

“This is an attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the college’s most affordable employees,” said Parish.

In response to Parish, district board and committee member Rod Monroe said at the meeting, “When we negotiate, the primary concern is fairness to all and to keep education affordable.”

Hay, in the same meeting, said, “It is an effort we’re trying to make to get more government funding and reduce reductions.”

In the all-staff email, Hay, in regards to the restructuring, said, “Re-examining the way we staff the college enables us to continually examine and improve the way we serve students and engage the community.”

“If you attended any of the recent budget (committee) sessions, you are aware of the announcement that we would reduce the number of vice presidents and deans in an effort to reduce spending,” he said.

According to the 2012-13 proposed budget, the college aims to decrease costs by $2.3 million through administrative reductions and efficiencies.

The school would also save another $2.3 million through reduction in employee costs, which includes the proposed two furlough days for Classified Association employees.