Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2006)
2 The News Staff Poll: What were your impres sions of President Johnson’s speech at in service? “I can give you one word, it was ‘surprising.’” Brian Rose Music Instructor “I think [Joe] did his best to put a positive spin on the challenges the college is fee ing.” Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Clackamas Prl Climate Commission formet ■ Matt Olson I The Clackamas Print The collegeboardrecently asked for a new committee to conduct a climate survey that will assess concerns regarding both leadership and campus communications. The committee was created in light of recent events within upper man agement and the political system of the college. The committee consists of three college board members: Charles Clemans, Judy Irvin and Jean Bidstrup; the four presidents of the associations: Dave Arter, Dean Walch, Rosemary Teetor and Anne Donelson; the student body president Tim Lussier and Dean of Community Education Theresa Tuffli. “Our goal is to direct a cli mate survey of the college,” said Full-Time Faculty President Arter. “We are not going to conduct this survey ourselves.” Vicki Willis, a consultant from Chemeketa Community College, was hired to administer the survey, either through individual inter views, group interviews or a cam will have adequate chances to be that the college suffers no han pus-wide survey. said Arter. “We need to get a better fix aired,” said Clemans. The possible outcomes of The committee is designed to on how people talk to each other on campus,” said Board Member have a variety of perspectives and survey are wide and specul Clemans. “The time is right for address all issues presented by the Whether there are simple procd us to seek the opinion of staff and Executive Counsel, the Presidents al adjustments or personnel eha perhaps students about how this Counsel, the College Board, the es is yet to be seen. “We’re serious action, and there nay college communicates and makes deans and all other faculty. “[It’s] important to show that all serious results.” said Teetor| decisions.” “My personal view is th! “W& are a very unique insti areas are represented,” said Tuffli. “We are trying to resolve the college is not threatened bylft tution in that we have this col laborative, decentralized model issues involved here in such a way issues,” Arter said, emphai that the survejl òf government,” said not affect accl Part-Time Faculty tion. President Teetor. “We have stJ “The college is in a position for large to serve, and thafs number one pri| growth, and we need said Teetor. leadership and com Though the pH munication to handle is going swift« that,” said College committee was« Board Member recently establ Bidstrup. on Sept. 13, an! “There were Sept. 19 to decl opposing views and the goals and p J agendas that were not They met agaiiM resolved,” said Arter. terday to deci! “The reason [the com consultant andl mittee] was created is dures. The neM because we had a sud is to collect thel den shakeup in upper Elizabeth Hitz Clackamas Prtnt and find the ansi management.” Chair Charles Clemans explains the charge of the - to these impd “I think the con questions. Climate Commission. cerns of the faculty DEANS: Johnson says decision is up to boa\ Alice Lewis Speech Instructor “I think [Joe] was obvi ously very cautious. He was trying to divert focus from himself by pointing fingers at other groups; it was pain ful.” Doug Cross Computer Science Instructor “It was rather con fusing.” Continued from DEANS, Page 1 77ie Print: Accreditation is com ing in two weeks, the deans’ letter came. When are you planning on responding to it? Johnson: [Long silence] Well, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to respond to... I guess I’m a little con fused at what you’re asking. The Print: Okay. Maybe I’m not understanding this correctly. It just seems kind of interesting to me that you would get this letter from the deans—and we do know that they’ve asked you to step down-and yet you don’t remember what the letter said, and you don’t know how you’re plan ning on responding to it or even when? Johnson: No, no, no. I told you just how I was . . . how I would respond to any letter, and that is that the issue of whether or not I am president or not president is an issue between myself and the Board of Education, not between myself and the deans. 7%e Print: What do you want [the college community] to be knowing about this? What do you want them to Johnson: They... they didn’t sit down and list off a bunch of things tome. The Print: Okay. How do you- feel your management has been at this college? . Johnson: I think we have had an excellent five years. I think it’s been superb, and I think it’s going to be a great year. The Print: Okay. So in light of these great five years, why would your deans come and say that they— Johnson: I g— The Print: - they are concerned about- Johnson: I guess that’s something you’ll have to ask them. The Print: Okay. Do you have any idea why they would say that... just coming out of the blue? Johnson: You’ll have to ask them. It... [laughs]... two weeks ago, I was great with them. The Print: So my question is then, lots of the faculty right now are a little confused. They don’t quite know what’s been going on the last two weeks. What would you say to them? Johnson: I would... you know. .. if you come in here in the sense of, be thinking about this whole situation right now? What do you want them to know about you in the middle of all this? Johnson: I feel, I feel that the college is in very good shape and we have been financially strong, and that we are planning ahead and that we have an accreditation study coming up that is very meaningfill. . .we’re moving forward. The Print: To go back to this letter, but you said the decision was between you and the board, okay? Have there been any discussions between you and the board about what has occurred? Johnson. That’s between me and the board. The Print: I’ve heard a lot of dis cussion about “The Clackamas Way”. . . I’m not sure, do you know what they mean by that? Johnson: [Laughs] I think it means ... I think it means openness and honesty, and sharing. And I think we’ve done an excellent job of doing that. The Print: It seems like, from this letter that the deans have sent, that they feel like you don’t act that way? Maybe you could clarify that for me? which I think you should be ha you’ve asked toe questions thatll you should ask, but, in truth, tin on-one communication, or ti e g communication is so very impd So I’ve talked to Dave Arter, tn of toe faculty ... I would be I chat and answer any' questions] And I think we have to a fact that [on a college campus! going to have rumors pop up. I part of life, and right now even very sensitive about that, but I that once we can get back ini once we can have open fori™ a dialogue-people [can kno! we’re headed in toe right dnec^w The Print: Would you be a able at all next week? Johnson: Of course. Nil is open I mean, I’m not ni or going anywhere. I’m ngnl I’ll answer any questions. You| there’s an open pipeline to the I) in toe sense of they’re going! complete campus evaluation I Here I am. I’m toe same perse! a month ago. And, one day! are happy and one day they■ ing some concerns. So I’d be I answer questions. 1 Jean Arndt Perkins and Emergency Loans Specialist Kelly Brennan Speech Instructor Compiled by Elizaabeth Hitz & Laura Cameron “...In light of what’s going on, Joe had a very daunt ing task. He had to bring the moral fiber up, and he had to speak plainly. What he did was hit us right between the eyes with real ity.” College President Joe Johnson is investigated following allegations that he used a school computer to view inappropriate web sites and to send inappropri ate e-mails. Sept. 12 Vice President of Instructional and Student Services Dian Connett goes on leave, to return Sept. 25. Her leave is later extended to Oct. 23. August Vice President of Campus Services Ron Stewart (above) resigns after four weeks on the job. Interim Vice President Bill Dierdorff is hired. In a letter signed bn the deans, Johnson« asked to step dowpj
