Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About Cougar print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1976-1977 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1977)
K» ugar print Clackamas Community College ccc Thursday, February 10, 1977 ||J |j power structure debated By Harry Bielskis News Editor In a forum held at Clackamas Community lege last week, an Associated Student ernment senator attacked the "tradi- hal" philosophy and structure of CCC's ministration. The gathering was an open cussion attended by members of the stu nt body, faculty and administration. The topic of the discussion was govern- ce ■■ the philosophy and structure of Ministration - and remarks were centered round a panel of representatives consisting | Jerry Bellavita, ASG senator; Jacque- arie Arellano, math instructor; and Dr. •ward Fryett, assistant to the president. A present at the meeting was Bonnie Ones, chairperson of the CCC Board of ■cation. "We are a community of diverse interests baring a need for educational service," said Bellavita. "This service should be as flexible Ind effective as possible. Our present admi- nistrative structure will not allow that quali- L to come through." 1I Bellavita directly related the problems of I function in administration at CCC to its use ijthe "managerial concept" - the idea that jple need to be "directed and held to- :her by a group body or an individual in jer to accomplish a given task. Plant paramedic Photo by Jerry Wheeler Horticulture student Linda Corbett examines an avacado suffering from what seems t<> be 'witches broom" disease. This and other sick plants are treated in the horticulture department greenhouse located near Clairmont Hall. See related story, page 4. "This concept is weak because the flow information and decision-making appa lls is directed to only one group of peo- i where administrative leadership is exer- ed," said Bellavita. Bellavita then suggested a "community of terest" concept which involves a central ¡erest (in this case education) that brings Ople into common relationship. I Bellavita likened this concept to a cir- :ular structure or sphere containing the ¡ommunity's central interest in the center, a handout distributed at the forum on col lege management philosophy. "Communication seems to be our biggest problem," said Arellano. "No structure can work effectively without it." Her remark reflected criticism voiced by other faculty members in recent years, she said. Faculty believe that communication downward is not always as good as it should be, said Arellano. They complain that cur riculum planning and instructional materials are not always done by specialists and feel nd a hierarchy of outer rings consisting that the college philosophy needs to be ;f the Board of Education, staff, commu more democratic. nity and students respectively. To improve communications between I Bellavita felt the concentric circle con cept had an advantage over the presently- deans and themselves, faculty members re commended some changes. They believed used managerial concept which he likened more individuals in all departments needed to a pyramid power structure that emanates to communicate with each other beyond all authority from the top to each lower Revel. I "In order to accomplish a broad and complex mission involving many people and multiple resources in a great variety of activities, it is necessary to structure an organization which is built around the con- cepts of authority, accountability, involve- ment, and communication," said Fryett in centimeters Colors by Muriseli Color Services Lab their respective departments. Another sug gested improvement was that more explicit job descriptions were needed to clarify roles. "This suggestion could come in the form of a job description handbook which should be updated and include responsibilities," said Arellano. Collective bargaining plays a key role in governance for some at the forum. Once the closed door decision-making process was initiated, friction between faculty and ad ministration increased. "Before collective bargaining came in, the staff had more decision-making influ ence. As collective bargaining increases, governance will decrease," said Fryett. "This is an unfortunate situation of course, but this is the way it happens."
