PUSH BACK: MT. HOOD COMMUNITY ISSUES STRONG REBUKE TO PROPOSED CUTS

Emotions ran high at the MHCC District Board meeting on Wednesday evening, Nov. 20.

By 6 p.m. – a half-hour before the scheduled start – the corridor outside the Mt. Hood Board Room began to swell with students, staff, and community members arriving early to try to secure a spot inside.

The crowd would grow to 150 or more, many carrying signs and attracting cameras from at least three local television stations.

During a five-hour meeting filled with passion and backed by presented facts and alternative ideas, the consensus message was the MHCC community calling for the board to postpone a decision on proposed program phase-outs and, “let us help you” with reforms, in the words of political science instructor Janet Campbell.

When those in the crowd realized the meeting would begin and they would not be allowed to enter the room, they began a chant calling for a “bigger room.” Many suggested a move to the Town & Gown Room in order to fit everyone, but the meeting continued as planned.

The public input portion of the session – its agenda didn’t address the proposed program cuts – was moved up in order to accommodate the vast number of people attending to speak, a number that would surpass 80 as the hours passed.

The Concerns

 On the surface, the college administration has maintained since the announcing of these program cuts that the “revitalization” effort is student-centered and has little to do with Mt. Hood’s impending budget crisis.  

Faculty members told the board that college leaders have given contradicting statements about how much the budget influenced this decision, announced on Nov. 8. “We have been told that these quotes are ‘not about the budget’, and that’s a direct quote, but we’ve also been told ‘it’s all about the budget,’ and that’s a direct quote. Which is it?” Tambi Boyle, MHCC mathematics instructor, asked the board. 

In an email to The Advocate, Jennifer DeMent, budget director for Mt. Hood, has confirmed that the college estimates a $3 million operating budget deficit for the next fiscal year.  

Also, college President Lisa Skari explained in an all-staff email on Tuesday, Nov. 19, that, “Each [of the programs proposed for cutting] has been a part of this institution’s history and carries with it the legacies of faculty, staff, administrators and alumni. At the same time, we are faced with financial model that is not sustainable, and our students can no longer carry the burden.” 

Campbell, who heads up the political science department, stepped forward to point out to the board the college is a public institution accountable to the Oregon taxpayers. She said, “Transparency, by nature of a democracy, is required.”

She said the college has not made the correct steps to be transparent, as suggested by administrators. Pointing to the data used for the recommendations made by Alfred McQuarters, vice president of instruction, as flawed and faulty, she referred the board to other data that show that whenever academic programs are cut, students leave the institution – only adding to enrollment troubles. Campbell ended by saying, “Let us help you. We have the history here, we have the expertise; we have scientists, and we certainly have the willingness to help you make these decisions.”  

Donald Anderson, English department instructor, showed up with a large sign reading, “GROW OUR PROGRAMS.” He told the board that the college lacks brand recognition. He ended his testimony by voicing his concern over the state of faculty members involved in programs that are not on the phase-out or “modify” list issued by McQuarters.  

Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education

 The wilderness survival and experiential education program (commonly referred to as WLEE) opened the night with a testimonial from an MHCC alum. The 1989 graduate currently runs his own company, which employs 80-90 experienced wilderness professionals to facilitate wilderness tours and programs, he said. His ultimate case to the board, he said, was that there are plenty of jobs to be had in outdoor recreation.  

Numerous alumni and current students of the WLEE program said during the evening that the job prospects data used to assess the program were skewed. The data that seemed to warrant the most concern was failure to consider off-season employment, they said.  

WLEE instructor Petra LeBaron Botts told board members there is an opportunity to grow the program into something even more dynamic. In the last few years, nature therapy has become widely known as a treatment for many emotional and mental disorders, she said.  

Currently in the United States, there are only two schools that offer wilderness therapy programs, LeBaron Botts said. The WLEE program is already unique in that it is one of few in the Pacific Northwest, but she said she believes the program could be altered to include the therapy training, improving its stature.

Environmental Health and Safety 

In one of the more prominent addresses to the board, Javid Mohtasham spoke with passion about the relationship between him and his program over the years.

“My life is this program,” he said. The board let Mohtasham bring in his previous graduates to stand behind him while he gave the rest of his testimony.  

In defense of the program, Joe Crelier, the director of risk management for Portland Public Schools, described the wages of EHS professionals he works with. Some of those wages extend to $50 per hour, and he explained there will always be a need for EHS professionals. Mohtasham then suggested board members ask themselves what kind of ways the college has ever promoted the EHS program. 

Cosmetology 

As expected from their original response as shared with The Advocate, supporters, customers, students, and graduates of the college’s cosmetology program came to defense of everyone involved in the program. Instructor Marty Castellanos gave emotional testimony that ended with him telling the board that “you can’t put a price on family.”  

Broadcasting 

JD Kiggins, instructor and head of the Integrated Media department’s broadcasting program, also spoke, hours into the meeting. He raised concerns that the evaluation process was not completely transparent and that the board has not had enough time to consider the ramifications of cutting these programs.

Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair

Bess Wills, general manager of Gresham Ford, expressed concerns over proposed elimination of the Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair program. She told the board that Gresham Ford has hired three professionals from that MHCC program, and all three have gone on to expand their automotive education. One of the three even went on to a one-week training in Wisconsin and upon returning was able to outfit all Portland police cars with computers.

Finishing her thoughts, Wills listed all of the programs proposed to be cut, and declared that the goals of this college should be to serve all aspects of this community. 

Practical Nursing

At least one practical nursing alum sat before the board to its members that the low-cost practical nursing program at MHCC opened doors for her she needed in order to build her career. This program allowed her to get her foot in the door in the medical field, and still support herself while attending school, she said.  

The Rundown 

Overall, the MHCC community has loudly voice questions and concerns that remain unresolved.

Many of the programs on the cut list showed lower enrollment than usual last year. It is also worth noting that several have already experienced a rebound in enrollment for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The board will now decide whether to postpone the decision. If they do not postpone the decision, a vote to proceed with phase-out of the seven affected programs is scheduled to take place at the board meeting set for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 18.