The SJ website is down. The message says "down for maintenance", though I'm betting it means "down for the count."
12 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Almost twenty-five years ago I was completing coursework and planning a doctoral dissertaion on the history and evolution of Sheldon Jackson College. I wanted to trace it's early steps as driven from its founders' vision, the ties to church and territory, and the ways that it acted in Alaska by virtue of the core mission to educate and convert Native people. I changed my topic and went in a completely different direction, but my curiosity about the institution and its history has remained.
What a fascinating dissertation - to examine the modern history of the college and its demise. Professor McDonald is exactly right, a chronicle of these events would be extremely valuable - for posterity and as a lesson to the next generation of leaders.
I agree with the first two posts above. Whoever does the study should also talk to those of us that watched the bonehead decisions being made by the board and management while we worked there. I can tell you that there were many great ideas on how to generate money and save the school being presented by intelligent, dedicated staff and faculty that fell on deaf ears all too often.
marcel said, "I can tell you that there were many great ideas on how to generate money and save the school being presented by intelligent, dedicated staff and faculty that fell on deaf ears all too often."
What strikes me as ultimately tragic about this whole sorry affair is that those who had the POWER to restore/rebuild/resurrect SJ did not have the WILL to do so. No amount of brilliant ideas can overcome a lack of will. And those who had the will (staff, students, volunteers) lacked the power.
I can hardly believe this is all happening like it is. When is the awfulness going to finally stop? I read the article in the paper last night, and it looks as if the hatchery program is also going to fail. Can't someone with some guts, and a few dollars, make a move toward saving some small part of this historic, educational place? How about it, alumni? Those of you that graduated from SJ and went through the hatchery program? If everyone gives just a few dollars, it could make a big difference. I'm going to give as much as I feel I can, and that should make a difference.
It is sad--the big picture is littered with guilty parties, myself included. I took scholarships when the school could have used the money. However, I could also look at the same picture and see an institution that took a risk on a unlikely student, with dismal high school grades, and an undocumented track record. I graduated with a 3.85, but that doesn't matter as much as the things I learn and the experiences that still shape me today. My fellow teachers, at Pioneer in Shelton talk about how poorly they were equipped at their colleges. How little theoretically and practically training they received. I laugh when they say that, because a little school in SE equipped me better than graduates of UW, WSU and the rest. Dr. Cote, Dr. Allison, Dr. Packard, Dr. Demmert, Dr. Steifian, Marcel, Dr. Pat, Mike, Steph, Keith, Jan, and Dr. Madden empowered me to be something that I never dreamed possible. I came to SJ feeling dumb and beat down. But I left feeling/being a powerful learner. The point--the big picture is grim--but it does not take away from my awe and appreciation for the people who worked for little pay, little administrative support, and institutional mire. It is hard for me to separate the SJ people and the SJ institution...Dr. Madden answered a question of mine in an interesting way--"What actually happened during this event in history?" I asked. He responded, "It depends on who you ask." I didn't like the answer but it has proved true, and will be true of the SJ saga.
I could not agree more! When I think of SJ, I am torn. I see the bitter failings of what, I believe, should have been a great institution. And yet, I see the dedicated professors. The educators, both formal and informal, who spent countless days and nights helping students who would have been tossed away anywhere else. I see the staff and faculty that truly cared and truly wanted to help us.
I see Dr. Cote, and her sometimes odd ways of teaching, that truly prepared me to write at a college level.
Or Dr. Madden who forced me to look beyond the statue and see what the other side had to say.
Or Dr. Goff who made me realize that math isn't all evil and does actually serve some purpose.
Bob and Chuck who helped shape my career, and who I have to thank for the path I am on now.
Pat, who, lets be honest, saved us all at some point.
Louise who came back after the Brian fiasco and helped restore some sort of normalcy in the business office.
Lori, who never got enough thanks.
Each and every VIM that gave up their life back home, in order to come and work at SJ in exchange for nothing more than an occasional thank you.
Dr. Harrington who believed students truly wanted to learn.
I see our staff who never got thanks (residents life, administrative support MAINTENANCE!) and yet never stopped helping.
I see the community who joined with SJ every spring to celebrate Earth Day.
And above all else: I see the students. A group so diverse, so unique, and at times so crazy, that only SJ could hold us.
I have a very hard time connecting what I wanted SJ to be with what she has become. SJ will always have a special place in my heart, and I agree what happened is criminal.
I cannot help but think that someone who comes along and reads this all, someone who doesn't know SJ like we do, will not see the good side. And that upsets me.
Seems there is a lot of blame being laid here, with little understanding of modern pressures on and limitations to higher educational administration, from litigation worries and -- in some cases -- bargaining unit limitations, to privacy rights concernng what can and can't be done and obligations to private supporters. This is a huge tradegy and undoubtedly many errors in judgment will be chronicled. I hope the other factors will be as well.
For example, let's also not also forget the impact of the university system's decision to put campuses in the same location as Alaska's two major private schools, first as community colleges and then as 4-yr institutions. The state, apparently, in the 1970's and flush with oil revenues, made an early decision to erradicate or limit the growth of private education where possible.
It is true that the state also tried several ways to preserve that education through tuition funding (unconstitutional), contract services, etc. But that was a little like installing refridgeration units after development had destroyed the permafrost.
I like how others have said what they like about SJ. Not bashing, but truth. All small colleges across the US have troubles these days, SJ is not unlike them. What SJ did not do is us its strengths and learn from other colleges that have gone through these same problems. Seems to be a lack of vision.
With the suspension of academic programs and the termination of nearly all staff, Sheldon Jackson College is undergoing a period of serious tumult. What will happen to the 130 year old institution? This site will attempt to keep folks informed.
12 comments:
Almost twenty-five years ago I was completing coursework and planning a doctoral dissertaion on the history and evolution of Sheldon Jackson College. I wanted to trace it's early steps as driven from its founders' vision, the ties to church and territory, and the ways that it acted in Alaska by virtue of the core mission to educate and convert Native people. I changed my topic and went in a completely different direction, but my curiosity about the institution and its history has remained.
What a fascinating dissertation - to examine the modern history of the college and its demise. Professor McDonald is exactly right, a chronicle of these events would be extremely valuable - for posterity and as a lesson to the next generation of leaders.
I agree with the first two posts above. Whoever does the study should also talk to those of us that watched the bonehead decisions being made by the board and management while we worked there. I can tell you that there were many great ideas on how to generate money and save the school being presented by intelligent, dedicated staff and faculty that fell on deaf ears all too often.
marcel said, "I can tell you that there were many great ideas on how to generate money and save the school being presented by intelligent, dedicated staff and faculty that fell on deaf ears all too often."
What strikes me as ultimately tragic about this whole sorry affair is that those who had the POWER to restore/rebuild/resurrect SJ did not have the WILL to do so. No amount of brilliant ideas can overcome a lack of will. And those who had the will (staff, students, volunteers) lacked the power.
I can hardly believe this is all happening like it is. When is the awfulness going to finally stop? I read the article in the paper last night, and it looks as if the hatchery program is also going to fail. Can't someone with some guts, and a few dollars, make a move toward saving some small part of this historic, educational place? How about it, alumni? Those of you that graduated from SJ and went through the hatchery program? If everyone gives just a few dollars, it could make a big difference. I'm going to give as much as I feel I can, and that should make a difference.
It is sad--the big picture is littered with guilty parties, myself included. I took scholarships when the school could have used the money. However, I could also look at the same picture and see an institution that took a risk on a unlikely student, with dismal high school grades, and an undocumented track record. I graduated with a 3.85, but that doesn't matter as much as the things I learn and the experiences that still shape me today. My fellow teachers, at Pioneer in Shelton talk about how poorly they were equipped at their colleges. How little theoretically and practically training they received. I laugh when they say that, because a little school in SE equipped me better than graduates of UW, WSU and the rest. Dr. Cote, Dr. Allison, Dr. Packard, Dr. Demmert, Dr. Steifian, Marcel, Dr. Pat, Mike, Steph, Keith, Jan, and Dr. Madden empowered me to be something that I never dreamed possible. I came to SJ feeling dumb and beat down. But I left feeling/being a powerful learner. The point--the big picture is grim--but it does not take away from my awe and appreciation for the people who worked for little pay, little administrative support, and institutional mire. It is hard for me to separate the SJ people and the SJ institution...Dr. Madden answered a question of mine in an interesting way--"What actually happened during this event in history?" I asked. He responded, "It depends on who you ask." I didn't like the answer but it has proved true, and will be true of the SJ saga.
I could not agree more! When I think of SJ, I am torn. I see the bitter failings of what, I believe, should have been a great institution. And yet, I see the dedicated professors. The educators, both formal and informal, who spent countless days and nights helping students who would have been tossed away anywhere else. I see the staff and faculty that truly cared and truly wanted to help us.
I see Dr. Cote, and her sometimes odd ways of teaching, that truly prepared me to write at a college level.
Or Dr. Madden who forced me to look beyond the statue and see what the other side had to say.
Or Dr. Goff who made me realize that math isn't all evil and does actually serve some purpose.
Bob and Chuck who helped shape my career, and who I have to thank for the path I am on now.
Pat, who, lets be honest, saved us all at some point.
Louise who came back after the Brian fiasco and helped restore some sort of normalcy in the business office.
Lori, who never got enough thanks.
Each and every VIM that gave up their life back home, in order to come and work at SJ in exchange for nothing more than an occasional thank you.
Dr. Harrington who believed students truly wanted to learn.
I see our staff who never got thanks (residents life, administrative support MAINTENANCE!) and yet never stopped helping.
I see the community who joined with SJ every spring to celebrate Earth Day.
And above all else: I see the students. A group so diverse, so unique, and at times so crazy, that only SJ could hold us.
I have a very hard time connecting what I wanted SJ to be with what she has become. SJ will always have a special place in my heart, and I agree what happened is criminal.
I cannot help but think that someone who comes along and reads this all, someone who doesn't know SJ like we do, will not see the good side. And that upsets me.
Is Dr. Madden still in town? I need to contact him about a reference letter for grad school. Jon Corcoran
Did you try his email? It wasn't an SJ email so he probably still has it.
I remember it was hotmail something...mine is corkran@hotmail.com...if you have it I would greatly appreciate it.
Seems there is a lot of blame being laid here, with little understanding of modern pressures on and limitations to higher educational administration, from litigation worries and -- in some cases -- bargaining unit limitations, to privacy rights concernng what can and can't be done and obligations to private supporters. This is a huge tradegy and undoubtedly many errors in judgment will be chronicled. I hope the other factors will be as well.
For example, let's also not also forget the impact of the university system's decision to put campuses in the same location as Alaska's two major private schools, first as community colleges and then as 4-yr institutions. The state, apparently, in the 1970's and flush with oil revenues, made an early decision to erradicate or limit the growth of private education where possible.
It is true that the state also tried several ways to preserve that education through tuition funding (unconstitutional), contract services, etc. But that was a little like installing refridgeration units after development had destroyed the permafrost.
I like how others have said what they like about SJ. Not bashing, but truth. All small colleges across the US have troubles these days, SJ is not unlike them. What SJ did not do is us its strengths and learn from other colleges that have gone through these same problems. Seems to be a lack of vision.
'Tis nice you are finally signing your posts, Joe.
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