PCC to undergo inspection due to complaints

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an accrediting organization, has informed PCC (Pima Community College) that it will conduct a fact-finding visit at PCC in early 2013. Karen L. Solinski, HLC vice president for legal and governmental affairs, notified Interim Chancellor Dr. Suzanne L. Miles by letter this week.

Solinski noted “complaints regarding the college from a group that characterizes itself as “faculty and staff at Pima Community College” as the reason for the inspection. Solinski advised Miles that the “Commission policy allows the Commission to investigate through any appropriate mechanism any information that gives rise to a concern that the institution may not be in compliance with the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.”

The Commission has received complaints from another organization, the Coalition for Accountability, Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility (C-FAIRR) about PCC “echoing some of the concerns articulated in the other complaint,” according to Solinski.

Miles had issued a detailed response to the complaints and after it became public, the Commission then received both formal and informal challenges as to the “truthfulness and accuracy of your response,” Solinksi wrote Miles. “The Commission was also contacted by several individuals who asked for an opportunity to provide additional information from their perspective about the situation at the college. This group included individuals who had identified themselves as victims of the sexual harassment alleged to have been conducted by the former president.”

Former PCC president Flores had been accused by several woman of sexual harassment. During the past election for two Governing Board spots, the issue of Flores and the questionable handling of his retirement became a point of contention.

Solinki writes that the allegations regarding the former president as well as other senior administrators and the Board of Trustees are “relevant to the institution’s compliance with Criterion One regarding mission and integrity, and specifically to Core Component 1.d regarding governance and administration as well as Core Component 1.e regarding integrity. The allegations are also relevant to the institution’s compliance with Criterion Two, preparing for the future, and specifically the expectations outlined in Core Component 2.b that the institution uses human resources effectively.”

In her letter, Solinski gives credence to the challenges and says that they raise “additional questions about the institution’s compliance” with their standards “regarding integrity.”

Dr. Kathleen Nelson will conduct a fact-finding visit to the college to investigate further the issues identified in the complaint. Dr. Nelson is a long-time peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission who is assisting the Commission in an adjunct capacity subsequent to her retirement from Lake Superior College where she was president for many years. Dr. Nelson will be accompanied by an additional member of the fact-finding team.

Dr. Nelson will prepare a report of her findings after meeting with staff and students. According to Solinski, “The report will advise the Commission on the situation at the College to assist the Commission in determining whether to call for further monitoring through progress or monitoring reports or a focused evaluation and the timing of such monitoring or take other action provided for in Commission policy. Requiring monitoring over the next few years on these or other issues would require approval by the Commission’s Institutional Actions Council.”

Related article:

PCC Board votes for national search, claims of sexual harassment arise