PENDING CUTS LOOMING

The Winter Break was a long and glorious thing. However, unlike most of us, the matter of whether to cut seven academic programs from MHCC did not rest.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the MHCC District Board of directors met for a regular session that included public input. The board met yet again this Wednesday, Jan. 8 to allow Vice President of Instruction Alfred McQuarters and Chief Operations Officer Jennifer DeMent to respond to specific questions raised by board members, several in response to the December input.

Before addressing the details of what happened at these board meetings, here is a timeline to refresh how events have unfolded:

Nov. 8, 2019: Each of Mt. Hood’s 61 academic departments was called into a meeting where they would be formally informed on which programs were placed in the phase-out (elimination) category.  

Nov. 20: The board held its first session after the announcements were made, and allowed for public input. The meeting lasted 5 hours, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. 

Dec. 4: The board held a work session in which public input was not allowed. Dr. Lisa Skari and Alfred McQuarters attended this meeting to present the full plan behind the proposed cuts to the board.

Dec. 18: Another regular board meeting took place that allowed for public input; more faculty and community members spoke out against the cuts. 

Jan. 8, 2020: Another board work session took place. DeMent and McQuarters responded to public input and board member questions raised previously.

After more public input at the Dec. 18 meeting, the District board publicly moved to delay a final decision regarding the modification and/or phasing out of the programs.

The decision is expected at the next board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22.