My meeting with the Department of Labor

On Wednesday, August 23rd, I met with Ronald Schramm, Wage and Hour Investigator with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. We spoke for about an hour, and he was due to meet with SJ officials that afternoon. Here's what I learned.

Sheldon Jackson College is required by law to provide compensation to terminated workers three days after termination. SJ did pay out wages in a timely manner. Yet, they have failed to make good on the promise of a 30 day severance and vacation time owed. Mr. Schramm plans on offering the College an incremental payment plan that would result in the College settling its debt with staff and faculty over the next 90 days. Failing this option, former employees may need to file formal complaints with the Department, at which point each claim would be investigated and a judgment made regarding SJ's responsibility. With the potential for scores of complaints, Mr. Schramm is hoping his offer will be accepted.

Perhaps the last resort would be to file a civil suit against the College, an option no one looks forward to, but may prove to be the only option should SJ not meet its financial obligations to us.

Mr. Schramm has agreed to notify me of the outcome of his meeting with the College. I'll update the site as soon as I hear something.

Student: ask for your founder's day awards

Students, (specifically those in the teach out) make sure that you ask that SJ honor your Founder's Day awards if you received one this past spring. Because you are part of a teach-out, you are an SJ student. As a result, you are entitled to the award. During the audio conference, President Dobler stated that any award that was made from a restricted fund could be used by the student. Virtually ALL Founder's Day awards are restricted funds. So get what's coming to you.

upcoming audio conference

A telephone conference has been scheduled on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at 10 a.m. for students affected by the suspension of operation of Sheldon Jackson College. Sitka residents wishing to listen/participate are invited to gather at the Legislative Information Office located at 201 Katlian St., Suite 200A. The call in number is 800-315-6338, pass code 6740#.

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...

How much for that doggie in the window...

Inside Higher Ed published a story on today about the possibility of Sheldon Jackson being sold to a for-profit educational institution. In the article, President Dobler was quoted as saying that the college "is not for sale and the mission of the college is not up for grabs", but that there were for profits interested in an arrangement that "would not completely reshape the college".

I now wonder if Doug Dye's (a friend of Dr. Dobler) visit to campus was more than just an interview regarding the Dean of Academic Affairs position. Doug Dye is from Grand Canyon University, a formerly private Christian university with financial problems (sound familiar) that was purchased by a group of investors in 2004. The result, massive layoffs and lax academic standards according to faculty.

Time will tell..

Board of Trustees denies housing relief for staff and faculty

Word has it, and the meeting minutes should confirm it, that the Board of Trustees voted down a motion by Board member Monte Wilson to delay raising rents for on campus staff and faculty. Monte has since resigned from the Board.

By my best estimate, the College receives approximately 12 to 15k per month in rent. An increase of even 25% (which would be extreme) would only yield an additional 3 to 4k per month, or 36 to 40k per year. And of course, many folks will be moving off campus, thus lowering the monthly revenue now being collected.

So for perhaps as little as 30k annually, the Board chose to continue with its plan to raise the rents of the same folks who they also laid off with no notice and no health benefits. But hey, in just 200 short years, that 30k would pay off the 6 million dollar debt SJ owes. So it was the only logical thing to do, after all.

Cerissa Payment, Patricia Campbell & Bryner hired

Cerissa and Patricia have been hired by SEARHC's Raven's Way Program. The Program is well regarded and I'm sure lucky to have them.

And yes, even I have found work. I'm the new Course Coordinator for the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA). I've been on the job for two days, and love it.

Continue to let me know of other good news.