WCC president emails faculty and staff defending VP firing, promising more communication
- Previous coverage: Personnel review sheds light on firing of Washtenaw Community College VP
In an email sent to faculty and staff on Tuesday, Washtenaw Community College president Rose Bellanca defended the recent termination of her vice present of instruction.
Washtenaw Community College President Rose Bellanca
File Photo
"Although many of you may be under the impression that VP Blacklaw’s termination was sudden, former VP Blacklaw was fully aware of the terms and conditions of his contract," Bellanca wrote. "As this is a personnel matter, I am sorry that I cannot comment further."
Bellanca wrote in a June 28 review of Blacklaw that she didn't feel supported by him and that communication between the two was considered poor.
Also in the Tuesday email, Bellanca assured faculty — who have questioned the flow of communication between WCC's administration and faculty — that "communication is extremely important to me."
"I have met with each division and individuals who have requested meetings to encourage collaboration. I have found these meetings valuable," she said. "As a result, either I or the Vice President responsible for the area will be sending you regular communications on college activities to keep you informed of the goings on at the college."
Read the e-mail in full below:
Dear Faculty and Staff,My first and foremost concern is the wellbeing of Washtenaw Community College, its faculty and staff. There are many important issues and initiatives regarding some concerns that have been brought before me. I want to communicate and clarify some key issues for you.
Board Of Trustees Reports
There was a misunderstanding in the process which allows reports to be brought to the Board of Trustees. The official process is to submit the report in writing the Thursday prior to the board meeting so it can be included in the board packet. I encourage the curriculum and assessment committee to submit their reports to Mary Faulkner so that the Board of Trustees can keep abreast of their work.
Personnel Actions
Although many of you may be under the impression that VP Blacklaw’s termination was sudden, former VP Blacklaw was fully aware of the terms and conditions of his contract. As this is a personnel matter, I am sorry that I cannot comment further.
Communication
Communication is extremely important to me. I have met with each division and individuals who have requested meetings to encourage collaboration. I have found these meetings valuable. As a result, either I or the Vice President responsible for the area will be sending you regular communications on college activities to keep you informed of the goings on at the college. These are areas that you have expressed interest in:
- The 2013-2015 WCC Strategic Plan
- Department of Labor and other grant initiatives
- Partnerships with K-12
- Enrollment Updates and Strategies
- WCC website audit
Other communication actions include:
- The Marketing Department has reinstated broadcast emails
- Human Resources Department will post the college’s hiring guidelines
Moving Forward
Interim Vice President for Instruction, Dr. Bill Abernethy, will address the following:
- Academic Calendar
- Accelerated Courses
- Late Registration/Late Start Courses
- Prerequisites for High School Courses
- Credit and Non-credit issues
I am reminded each day of the many great things that are happening here on campus, in the classroom and in the community. I sincerely hope that this continued collaborative and open communication will help us to move the college forward.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
OneTermNerd
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 2:49 a.m.
Has the faculty voted no confidence in Bellanca? I haven't seen any mention of it.
PineyWoodsGuy
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 3:59 a.m.
Rosie is so transparently Fraudulent that it Seriously causes me to Wonder how she can survive in a community (Washtenaw County) that has a large cadre of highly educated citizens. I urge the BOT to get the lawyers together and do a "buy out" of Rosie before she does any more damage to our once proud and vital WCCC!
Steve Davis
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
As a member of WCC's Foundation Board during the selection process for the new president, I was aware of and completely unimpressed with any candidate that applied or was proffered by the trustees. Unfortunately, the Michigan Open Meetings Act makes attracting a qualified candidate for positions like a community college president, doubtful at best. Highly qualified candidates are already employed in good positions and are reluctant to apply when their name immediately becomes public making their current employer suspect of them. The possibility of not getting hired and then being in bad standing with the existing employer makes a great candidate unlikely to throw their into the ring. The candidates for WCC President were weak at best. The first round of candidates put forward by the trustees were found completely lacking and a second round of candidates was sought. The second round was no better but time pressure was building. It appears that the candidate with least known concerns was selected; a least bad of the bad type selection. Shortly after the new presidents hiring, concerns previously unknown about negative job performance at her former position came to light, quality personnel like Steven Hardy left, and cronyism reared its ugly head. There are reasons to allow public trustees to run a search behind closed doors. A public vetting should only occur once the board has picked a final candidate.
sellers
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 1:17 p.m.
Steve - you give a good point about public visibility. The sad part about that is institutions who see people leave for better/bigger opportunities should be happy and proud that they helped grow that person and it makes them look good as people who have gone though that institution are good. It then opens the door for others looking to take the same path even if just using that institution as a stepping stone. A good leader for three years is better than a poor one who is a bad fit that stays for decades.
Cash
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 9:55 a.m.
I totally disagree. There is a public need AND a public right to know. We are paying the bill.....the board isn't. You have many constituents who have a vested interest in candidates and have a NEED and a RIGHT to know. Taxpayers, faculty and staff and students....all have a vested interest. This doesn't seem to be a problem at other public institutions. Perhaps the REAL problem is not the public vetting. Maybe there is some other problem preventing WCC from finding the best candidates.
st.julian
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 10:50 p.m.
She may have moved, but she is just continuing the actions that caused her to let her former. School say farewell without any hint of remorse.
Cash
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
Now...the B-I-G issue for taxpayers of Washtenaw County isn't addressed. Why are the finalists for the WCC CFO a secret? PUBLIC institutions often hold PUBLIC interview processes for positions like this. What's the secret??? I cannot recall other public institutions in the area hiding this kind of information at the point of final interviews. Something is seriously wrong at WCC. When is their next millage election? If they don't want the public to know who is being interviewed to handle all of the WCC funds, perhaps they don't need our money any more.
Cash
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
If the board at WCC doesn't remove this president, we will no doubt be removing the board at the next election. Their choice. This letter to faculty is the sign of a desperate person. She knows that she has failed to work with the faculty and now the public is onto her as well. (BTW thanks Kellie Woodhouse for the article) This is NOT the way you work with people. Communication involves LISTENING, not just talking.
b52
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 6:37 p.m.
Here's something interesting everyone - she has silenced the Washtenaw Voice. If you look at the last article regarding why VP Blacklaw was fired you will notice there are only 3 comments - the last one made 17 hours ago. All of a sudden, if you attempt to post, once you submit rathering than posting immediately as usually happens, a message lets you know that a moderator will review your comment. Oddly, though submissions have been sent it nothing has been posted!!!! So...apparently no more free speech on Washtenaws campus. First hijack faculty emails and vet them through HR or worse Marketing and now no comment (and for all we know) no more Voice. Seriously??
PrepSportsExpert
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 7:57 p.m.
I posted a comment a little while ago about a potential gag order. It appears as a guest comment. I logged in with my Facebook account, posted it and it appeared instantly. It could be an issue of how you choose to log in. But I know for a fact that The Voice's website was built and is maintained separate from the college. WCC has no control over that website.
Princess Kitten
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 7:42 p.m.
@PrepSportsExpert As you no longer work at the Voice it is very possible that things have changed under the new President. How can the comment submission protocol change in just a few short days. Please, if you do not think this is the case comment on the following link and report back with if your comment posts immediately and/or if you had to link an account to even comment. http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2013/03/why-vp-blacklaw-was-fired/ Is it possible that only certain comments or commenters are being blocked from commenting based on our email addresses we use?
PrepSportsExpert
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 7:23 p.m.
Doubt this IS correct...
PrepSportsExpert
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 7:18 p.m.
I highly doubt this correct. As a proud former employee of The Voice, I know the website is not run by the school. In the past they've had problems with people posting spam on the comments section on bigger news stories.
Princess Kitten
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 6:43 p.m.
You are right b52, I just checked and my comments above where also submitted into the article at the Voice and I had they have yet to show up, and I was given a message that my comment would be approved by moderators. This has to have happened in the last 24-48 hours. Also, previously I could just type in my email address to post a comment and now I HAVE to link my comment to an account such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc. Could it be that the President is hoping to maintain a list of all commenters to retaliate against later?
Olive
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 5:52 p.m.
Time to get rid of her and move on. WCC's students, faculty, and staff deserve so much better.
WellWellWell
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 5:33 p.m.
Evidently everyone doesn't understand how out of step they are with Rose and only a fool can't see her vision. Or is it her wonderful clothes. Until a little boy cries out she's the fool.
TheDiagSquirrel
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 5:16 p.m.
As a (proud) WCC graduate, communications 101 was a required course for all students. The Board should require this president to take a refresher course...
djacks24
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 6:58 p.m.
As another proud 4 time WCC grad, I remember Com 101. Good class. WCC had it's problems even back when I was going there, as in being out of touch with the local labor markets needs. Still has that problem, along with a major internal dis-functions. What a disaster. It's hard to read and think about my tax dollars going towards this mess.
TheDiagSquirrel
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
They even accept undocumented squirrels, not that I was undocumented
John of Saline
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.
Wow. They accept rodents now?
walker101
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Funny in an institution for higher learning they have no classes for faculty to improve on communication skills, I guess it's not required?
Cash
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 10:16 p.m.
I'd be glad to be your parole officer, ERMG. Wow, the good old days might be back! Now, WCC is a mess. This needs to be fixed.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 10:01 p.m.
Still on double secret probation, Cash. GN&GL
Cash
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.
Oh Ghost, how I have missed you. Like a breath of fresh air...... Cash
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 5:17 p.m.
The issue is not the faculty's communications skills. It is that of the president. GN&GL
Princess Kitten
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 4:58 p.m.
Communication is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior ; also : exchange of information. Therefore it takes multiple parties to communicate effectively. Effective communication isn't refusing to respond to questions. I have a hard time believing individuals such as Blackwell that had great reviews of communication from the last President of the college, as well from the faculty just quit using those skills. It seems to me that the lack and break down of communication is coming from the President. Why do I believe this: This is a pattern of behavior that comes from President Bellanca (http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20060608/OPINION03/606080321/Demas-censure-speaks-college-s-flawed-leadership) a) In a 2005 CHE article, John Bonnell made the following comments regarding Bellanca: "The community college where I teach has successfully suspended "academic freedom" and freedom of speech generally. It does this, in part, because it believes it owes this to the "conservative" community of which it isthe flagship institution." This exactly mirrors what the current faculty on WCC's campus are saying: "I want to be clear here, effective communication on this campus, both lateral and vertical, have all but collapsed," Fitzpatrick added. "This is not just a faculty perspective. We hear this frequently from administrators and mid-grade employees. This thing is not a figment of the faculty's imagination. It is a widely held view that stretches across the college." b) Bellanca attempted to issue a GAG ORDER on the Board of Trustees at St. Clair Community College to further break down communication on that campus that was picked up by the MI ACLU and later dismissed. (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/04/21/stclair) 3/3
Princess Kitten
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
a. How much was spent in remodeling renovations to the new President's office? How much did it cost to creating new office space for all the new Deans and VP's, and their salaries and benefits on positions that didn't exist before President Bellenca came to campus? How much in additional support staff salaries and benefits for those Deans and VP's? Yet all this spending was approved while at the same time the Trustees are worried about spending (http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2013/03/trustees-worry-about-overspending/). b. Why are we paying salaries for Hardy and Blackwell if they were fired/resigned and found incompetent until the end of their contracts, while at the same time paying higher salaries to people who are/may replace them concurrently? How is that fiscally responsible? ~ "Hardy's resignation will be effective Aug. 1, 2013, meaning he'll collect about $90,000 of his annual $135,000 salary." ~ "Blacklaw was hired at WCC in 2010. He will continue to receive his annual salary of $128,270 until his contract officially expires in June,totaling to three months' pay at $32,067." (Both of these quotes can be found in previous Voice articles.) ~ Bill Abernethy, dean of humanities, social and behavioral sciences will act as interim VP, being paid $131,400 per year. c. When a President seems to be hiring past colleagues repeatedly how are we really sure we are getting the best person for the job and person to represent the college instead of cronies owed favors? ~ Michelle K. Mueller - Associate Vice President for Economic Development & Community/Corporate Alliances. (http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2012/04/bellanca-turns-to-old-colleague-in-first-major-hire/) ~ Chuck Thomas - consultant hired to Bellanaca, but is not listed on the staff directory, no is there any mention of what his actual title is, salary, etc. (http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2013/03/wcc-down-to-two-cfo-finalists/) 2/3
Princess Kitten
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
VERY LONG BUT I PROMISE IT'S FULL OF FACTS AND WORTH READING... "One who inherits a protected workforce cannot move an organization through intimidation. You must achieve the institutional goals through inspiring the best performance of those assigned to you." Fear can only motivate for so long because it's only power is intimidation and hostility. No one, not children, not adults, not STUDENTS, not faculty, or staff thrive under such hostile conditions. The campus has become a dreary environment where faculty seem beaten down, where the classroom energy has been siphoned away by power, and where what was once a campus of energy and excitement has been replaced by fear. When staff, faculty, administrators, are afraid of talking, of reaching out to include the community who they work for, are afraid of losing their jobs for educating the public (who funds the college and who will possibly vote on a millage this or next year) on the hostile climate WCC has turned into where does that leave the future of the college? It is easy to maintain a powerful status quo when the environment you rein over is fearful. But at what costs? How is this harming us students? How might it be costing us students?: 1. Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition (http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2013/03/trustees-to-raise-tuition-but-freeze-rates-for-early-registrants/) on students who are already struggling but approved the following spending: a. How much was spent in remodeling renovations to the new President's office? How much did it cost to creating new office space for all the new Deans and VP's, and their salaries and benefits on positions that didn't exist before President Bellenca came to campus? How much in additional support staff salaries and benefits for those Deans and VP's? Yet all this spending was approved while at the same time the Trustees are worried about spending (http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2013/03/trustees-worry-about-overspending/). 1/3
a2huron
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 4:35 p.m.
With a drink in her hand, I wonder if she is close with the EMU president?
djacks24
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 4:01 p.m.
"Bellanca wrote in a June 28 review of Blacklaw that she didn't feel supported by him and that communication between the two was considered poor. Also in the Tuesday email, Bellanca assured faculty — who have questioned the flow of communication between WCC's administration and faculty — that "communication is extremely important to me."" Hmm, poor communication with VP and the rest or the faculty? So the is VP gone, now she just has to fire all the faculty members. Or could it possibly be, SHE may be the problem..?
walker101
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 3:54 p.m.
Cheers.