Monday, August 13, 2007

ACPE audio conference held today

Unfortunately, I was traveling today during the audio conference and was unable to call in. From what I've gathered from folks who listened in and gave comment, the outcome of ACPE's report is not favorable to the College.

Among the items addressed, it appears that the teach out agreements are incomplete and/or unacceptable in their current form. ACPE will begin to lead the process on their own. The commission will post their report here, and I'll have more to add then...

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what does this mean for us students.

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering if the SJC website is a tell tell sign of what's to come?

Anonymous said...

Did you all receive Dr. Dobler's appeal letter in the mail? My husband is a former SJ employee and we received this letter with the most incredible, unbelievable spin asking us to donate money by August 31 to "sustain the College this fall while restructuring and visioning occur." Uh, I think we'll pass.

Unknown said...

Wow...can we say desperate? I mean when you are requesting donations from those you fired with one days' notice...come on now!

Anonymous said...

Asking for money from fired employees takes some guts. This camp is bold!

I'd say you give me my severance package and then we can talk! No I wouldn't, I just say give me my severance package.

Strange Learning Circumstances

Anonymous said...

About that appeal letter, I'd love to see that letter. Can someone transcribe it to the blog, I need a good laugh before I cry about how twisted this thing is.

Maybe the postscript should say, "Statements made by and expectation of SJC leadership [David Dobler and company] increasingly unsupported by fact."

WOW, if a student did that in a class or during a judicial proceeding, they'd be in trouble, but the "College" seems to do it all the time, and where I'm from we call it LYING! or selling woof tickets (don't ask me where that term comes from).

By the way, that was a line from the memo to the ACPE commissioners of ACPE from staff about why they are having to come in and facilitate (code word for take over) the teach out plan. This would be a good time to mention that ACPE noted how hard folks like Dr. Harrington and Kathy Newman were working. Thank God someone on "campus" gives a darn!

Sadly, the memo also mentions that "SJC leadership [David Dobler and company] has not been forthcoming in responding to ACPE request for documentation, resulting in growing erosion of confidence in SJC's ability or willingness to voluntarily cooperate with the Commission."

Everyday this thing gets worse. This group is perverse!


Strange Learning Circumstances

Anonymous said...

Here's some of the letter:

"Dear Friends,
The Board of Trustees of historic Sheldon Jackson College voted unanimously to defer academic operations for one year while school officials consult with government, community, and educational leader in Alaska to determine a financially viable future for the 130-year-old school.
I made this announcement at a campus meeting on June 29 where I also notified the College's 100 faculty and staff members that June 30 would be their last day of work . . . "(Well, at least he admitted it, but what I don't get is this injustice against faculty and staff supposed to elicit sympathy in us so we'd want to contribute???)
. . .
"Sheldon Jackson College is not closing its doors or abandoning the mission." (This was underlined. Oh, what is the college's mission anyway?)
". . .We simply cannot restructure ourselves and continue operation."
"The decision to suspend academic operations for a year was very difficult. This represents not a failure, but an opportunity. Our mission is clear; the manner in which we fulfill it must change. . ."

OK, I love this next part.
"You may say to yourself that you have heard before of re-visioning and the transformation of the College. What is going to be different this time? I can assure you that this difficult decision to defer academic services is part of a responsible solution. Since the fall of 2005, the College has worked to put its administrative and financial house in order, addressed long outstanding debts, and focused on student recruitment and success.
"Today you can make an immediate difference in the continuation of Sheldon Jackson College. The budget to support our minimal operations during this year of restructuring is $1 million. . . We need your support to sustain the College this fall while restructuring and visioning occur.
"Thank you for your continued support. Please keep us in prayer during this difficult time. . . ."

Signed by The Rev. Dr. David Dobler with this P.S. "So that students can be helped this season, please send your gift by August 31 so that it can have maximum impact. Thank you in advance for your kind support."

Unbelievable!

Anonymous said...

I should add my husband was not fired in the June 29 holocaust. He came to SJ in an earlier "re-visioning" but left after the "powers" told him his contract did not say what it said (my husband was vindicated when he applied for unemployment and the court found SJ at fault) and attempted to strip him of a good portion of his responsibilities.

Anonymous said...

"So students can be helped this season . . . "

I'll wait by the mailbox for my check. Or maybe I should just give them my bank account # so it can get in quickly for "maximum impact"

The only "maximum impact" I got from SJ probably violated their own pre-marital rules.