Hames PE Center falls short in election

I'll post the KCAW story shortly, but the gist is that all three Hames funding proposals were pretty soundly rejected by voters on October 5th.

The city has not commented on what may be next for the center.

SSSC Update

The SJ Hatchery and Ahlgren aquarium are alive and well - they are being operated by the Sitka Sound Science Center, which is dedicated to increasing understanding and awareness of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska through education and research.

Some of our upcoming events this week are:

* Monday-Friday 10-12 AM and 2-4 PM: Aquarium and hatchery tours
* Tuesday, September 21 - 7:00 - 8:30 PM: free science seminar at the Sage building, by Cara Stepp, PhD, UW. Every Child is a Scientist: Engaging children in scientific thinking and reasoning through robotics and computer science.
* Thursday, September 23 - 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the Sage building: Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me: Plastics in the Marine Environment. By our guest speaker, Anna Cummins of the 5 Gyres Project.
* Saturday, September 25, 8 AM: Allen Marine tour and beach cleanup, starting at Crescent Harbor (tickets for sale at the dock)
* Saturday, September 25, 1-2 PM: Activities and cleanup at Sitka National Historical Park.
* Sunday, September 26 - time and location TBA: Dockside cleanup.

All those who are interested in subscribing to the e-mail and / or snail mail versions of our newsletter, or in volunteering at the SSSC, can sign up by sending an e-mail to pnorwood@sitkasoundsciencecenter.org, or by simply coming to see us in the Sage building.

College officials look for "dignified end" to SJC

Hear the story here

SJ Child Care Center

The Sheldon Jackson Child Care Center has received a $300,000 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation that will allow the nonprofit organization to purchase the building.

Along with the board that was put together when the school closed Lolly Miller and her staff are heroes for all their hard work and dedication to the Child Care Center.

Raven Radio Link

Click here to hear the story of Dobler being fired

Dobler Out: Holst In

According the Sitka Daily Sentinel, June 17,2010 - Dr. Dobler is no longer SJ(C?) President, and is being replaced in the interim by John Holst, a former school superintendent and assembly member. Once I digest the article, I'll report on details.

Curiosity

Out of curiosity, how many people are still reading this blog? I’d be very curious to have people post why they still read the blog 3 years after the school closed. I’d also be curious to know how the reads was or is affiliated to SJC. If you are still reading the blog, please take a minute or two to leave a comment and let us know you are still reading, why you still read it and your affiliation to SJ. It is your option to sign the comment of leave it anonymously.

I know I still check in regularly because I cared deeply for the school, the students, the faculty, the staff, and most especially the volunteers. I also, still care deeply about what will happen with the campus.

Dubuque bows out

In a letter not becoming of a university president, Jeffrey Bullock announces Dubuque's decision to "step away" from a potential partnership with SJ(C?) and the city of Sitka. I don't blame UD for not wanting to proceed, but was surprised by the spirit of Bullock's letter, which engages in blaming "some SJC Board members" and city officials for the partnership's failure, while holding up Dr. Dobler as an ethical visionary and someone to be admired.

Really? It leads me to conclude that President Bullock was never able to fully appreciate and understand the complexities of what transpired here.

You can read the letter in its entirety below:

June 7, 2010.


To: The University of Dubuque Community

From: Jeffrey F. Bullock, President

Re: UD/Sheldon Jackson Partnership Status

I am writing, separately from my Summer Update letter which you will receive this week, to update you regarding Sheldon Jackson College (SJC) in Sitka, Alaska. I have sincerely appreciated the conversations and trips with members of our Board, cabinet members, and DNAS faculty while exploring the opportunity to take an extensive look at the possibility of a relationship between Sheldon Jackson College and the University of Dubuque.

It is clear to me, however, that our expectations for this project differ quite significantly from the expectations of some members of the Sheldon Jackson Board and, most particularly, the leaders of the City of Sitka. In my discussions with both groups, I have tried to lay out a roadmap for a long-term, vibrant, and renewed educational operation at Sheldon Jackson College. I have tried to demonstrate that UD was committed philanthropically, through a designated donor gift, to finish the restoration of a key building - Allen Hall, to develop an academic program plan, and to work through the Sheldon Jackson College Foundation which would help structure finances and provide opportunities for traditional and non-traditional programs, particularly to serve Native Alaskans. Granted, the nature of our program proposal was to begin small, understand the market, and then to grow as the opportunities were identified, rather than to replace one former model of educational enterprise with a similar model. The program model in our proposal is one that we have tested, tried, and implemented here at UD; and a model that we believed we could have implemented in Sitka.

It is clear to me, however, that the expectations of some members of the SJC Board are not in alignment with our plan which is, of course, their prerogative. It appears that they aspire to have an entity take over the SJC campus and, in effect, run it as it was previously run. Obviously, we do not believe this is the right way to pursue education in Sitka, but it is their campus and, as trustees, that is clearly and rightly their decision to make.

It is also abundantly clear to me that the officials representing the City of Sitka have absolutely no intention of trying to 1) understand our proposal, or 2) understand the very competitive nature of Higher Education. Truthfully, this is the most discouraging aspect of my disappointment. To go from a verbal commitment of significant dollars to what in effect amounts to a “maybe in the future” type of arrangement clearly illustrates, for me anyway, that the City officials do not understand either the importance or necessity of a private/public partnership in this regard. It also gives me great pause when I consider working with the City in the future. I have learned that if there is one constant in the very competitive business of Higher Education, it is this: Independent schools cannot compete with Regent or State-supported schools without the tangible support of their local and regional civic and political leadership. Alaska is full of state-sponsored education. There is a reason, then, why private schools such as UD are not in abundance in the State of Alaska. We absolutely could not find a way to mount a successful program in Sitka without both the financial and political support of the City officials.

I am proud to say - and I know that we all share in this sentiment - that, over the last ten years, the University of Dubuque has grown from an enrollment of under 600 to nearly triple that figure. Our annual operating budget has increased several-fold. We have added significant numbers of faculty and staff at a time when most colleges and universities are experiencing reductions in force, and the financial impact we have made to our local community has grown exponentially as well. Though not on the same scale, we had hoped to make a similarly positive impact in Sitka and, by extension, throughout Alaska. Unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the conditions for programmatic growth and expansion on the SJC campus, or in the City of Sitka, do not exist in a way that would allow us to be both credible and successful.

Regretfully, we must at this time step away from the table.

Finally, I would like to also say that it has been a privilege to work on this project with SJC President David Dobler. David has comported himself in both an ethical and visionary way during a very difficult time in the history of SJC. He has endured ridicule in the community, derision in blogs posted by former disgruntled members of the faculty and staff, personal financial sacrifice and an uncertain professional future all for the purpose of trying to identify a new future for SJC. I, for one, both admire and respect him.

Know that we do wish the members of the SJC Board the very best as they chart out the best plan for Sheldon Jackson.

Dubuque Delays Decision on SJ(C?)

Radio Iowa reported last week that UD President Jeffrey Bullock has said the his college is not ready to decide on a future SJ(C?) partnership. The story goes on to say that he will report to his board in May, and a decision could be ready by the end of 2010.

Here's the link.

The Historic "Quad" to become a triad.

Efforts are underway to subdivide the Armstrong Building and Stevenson Hall from the rest of the campus. Stevenson is currently part of the quadrangle that includes North Pacific Hall, Whitmore Hall, and Fraser Hall, and is part of the historic landmark designation. Nancy Yaw Davis recently wrote a letter to the editor which noted that the change can take place without public input.

SJ(C?) given another year to pay off debt

A Sitka Sentinel article dated January 14, 2010 reports that Alaska Growth Capital has decided to hold off on foreclosure action for an additional year. Court documents state that SJ(C?) owes AGC at least $4.5 million plus 5% interest. A status hearing has been set for January of 2011.

AGC loaned SJ(C?) $4.7 million in June of 2006. SJ(C?) owes AGC $4.5 million now.

Dubuque doesn't need a Dean of Students

With the Dubuque visit to Sitka having just past, it seems that they have no use for Dean of Students (at least not this one) in their new plan for SJ(C?). Could it be my spotty employment history? =)

Reportedly, Dubuque visited the campus and spoke with interested folks who filled out a survey on the city's webpage. Present company excluded. Ahem.

I'll post info once the Sentinel or Raven Radio publishes anything new.

U of Dubuque to visit again

According to the January 5th addition of the Daily Sitka Sentinel officials from the University of Dubuque will be in Sitka the rest of this week and next to perform due diligence. U of Dubuque Vice President John Stewart will be accompanied by two faculty members, an architect and a building director. The condition of the campus buildings will be assed and faculty will be meeting with various Sitka residents who responded to the survey to determine how many academically qualified people might be interested in teaching. They will also be visiting the Sitka Sound Science Center in the Sage Building and will be meeting with the staff and board of that facility

Chris Bryner interview and extended audio at KCAW - Raven Radio

Following Raven Radio's interview with Dr. Dobler, it was my turn. Extended audio is here. There's is hope that an interview with Jeffrey Bullock, President of the University of Dubuque, will be available in the near future as well.