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Wednesday November 16, 2011
Investigation
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
English Chair Placed on Leave Questions Arise Amid Investigation, Allegations
The investigation into EducoSoft continued into the fall semester, while a debate began over the proper use of student tutoring money.
Photo of LACC Student in the Writing Lab, courtesy of Collegian Archives.
By Emanuel Bergmann
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aculty members of the English department voted in Dr. Genevieve Patthey as the new department chair on Nov. 10, 2011. The former chair, Dr. Tammy Robinson, has been placed on administrative leave in the wake of an ongoing investigation into the use of EducoSoft “Watch Your Language” program. During the spring 2011 semester, as the Collegian reported, LACC administration ended the use of the “Watch Your Language” software. Students enrolled in English 21, 28 and 97 received an unsolicited email advising them to buy the software. However, the software had not been approved by the Curriculum Committee or the Distance Education Committee. The email blast itself violated the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). “The program was initially adopted by some faculty members and used for a very, very short period of time and then withdrawn with some controversy,” Patthey told the Collegian. Los Angeles Community College District Internal Auditor Arnold Blanshard confirmed in September 2011 that an investigation into the EducoSoft situation was ongoing, but was unable to release any details. Robinson initially supported the EducoSoft program, and was aware of the email blast, according to the minutes of a March 24, 2011, faculty meeting. “We have to fix the emails that went out,” Robinson said during the meeting. “This semester is a pilot so we can get rid of glitches.” EducoSoft is not the only concern for Robinson. Some faculty members of the English department claim that Robinson has reallocated money earmarked specifically for student tutoring. The English department maintains a Writing Center, where tutors are available to help students improve their English skills, but during an Aug. 25, 2011, faculty meeting, Robinson claimed that there was “no extra money” and that “there will be no student tutors.” In an email sent a month prior, Robinson officially confirmed that “we will not have tutorial assistance.” And yet, despite the supposed lack of funds, Robinson, in a faculty meeting on Oct. 25, 2011, admitted that at least two tutors had been hired, but that she had directed them to “help in the office” instead of helping students. One of the student tutors had been working in the office of Mattie Moon, a professor in the social sciences department and campus president of the American Federation of Teachers, the union that represents all of LACC’s faculty members. “She was a work-study student assigned to the social services department,” Moon explained to the Collegian.
“She was assigned to me by Dr. Robinson as a student worker to help with the students.” Moon explained that the student worker had Armenian language skills that were beneficial to her students. These revelations prompted English Professor Susan Niemeyer to complain in an email dated Oct. 20, 2011: “Just who is the student working with Mattie? … I find it mindboggling that our department chair would misdirect funding from our student tutoring to provide office assistance for
“But you told us that we had no student tutoring money, remember?” Heredia said. “How many students were not tutored? How many student tutors have been hired over the last two terms? … And is it just this semester? Or has this been going on for a while?” our AFT representative, and even more mind-boggling that our AFT representative, whom we would expect to be wellacquainted with employment contracts, would accept such office assistance.” However, Professor Moon insisted that there had been no improprieties. “As union president I cannot allow students to help with union work,” Moon said.
Asked about why the chair of the English Department would assign student workers to help in other departments, Moon explained that Dr. Robinson had often been willing to share resources. Moon said that she had no knowledge that the student worker was being paid through tutoring money. Before the summer 2011 semester, the student worker had been paid through CalWorks. “I had no knowledge where the money was coming from,” she said. “I’m not involved with what’s going on over there.” On Oct. 22, Niemeyer wrote a similar email to Patthey and Vice President of Academic Affair Mary Callahan, among others: “In light of the confirmation that monies specifically earmarked for student tutors for our Writing Center have been misspent on general office assistance for our department … , I believe we must request that an investigation be carried out by the Los Angeles Community College District. I would suggest that this investigation not only examine the use of the student tutoring budget for this semester, but for past semesters as well.” In the contentious Oct. 25 faculty meeting, Robinson found herself confronting criticism from her department. She stood poised at the lectern as she fielded questions from her colleagues. Instructional Assistant, Language Arts (IALA), Alfredo Heredia, who works in the Writing Center, spoke out. “Why were we told that there was no money for student tutors? And then there are two,” Heredia said during the emotionally charged meeting. “Because I directed them to help in the office,” Robinson replied. Other faculty members in the Jefferson Hall classroom sat in silence during the exchange. “But you told us that we had no student tutoring money, remember?” Heredia said. “How many students were not tutored? How many student tutors have been hired over the last two terms? … And is it just this semester? Or has this been going on for a while?” Robinson did not provide answers to Heredia’s questions. While most faculty members remained quiet, English Professor Peter Sotiriou echoed Heredia’s criticisms. “How do you explain tutoring money being allocated elsewhere?” Sotiriou said. “Because it was our money. And I feel betrayed. How can I trust you if you tell us there’s no money for tutoring, and then we find out there’s 50 hours a week of student tutoring going to your office? We know nothing about this. That’s a betrayal to me.” Robinson remained calm, seemingly unaffected by her colleague’s accusations. “I apologize for that betrayal, that you’re feeling that way,” Robinson said.