.org
the
ranger
Hunger
Serving San Antonio College and the Alamo Colleges
An independent forum of free voices
Two professors take on poverty
Volume 91 Issue 2 • Sept. 19, 2016
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Page 4
NVC faculty revive no-confidence in Leslie With accreditation visits looming, district administrators and five presidents respond to concerns about autonomy of colleges. By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@alamo.edu
A statement addressing a Northwest Vista College no-confidence resolution from Northwest Vista College faculty was emailed Tuesday night to media.
In the statement, the chancellor, vice chancellors and the five college presidents say they are not risking the colleges’ accreditation. The NVC chapter of the American Association of University Professors sent a statement Monday on a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Bruce Leslie because of the delayed accreditation of Northwest Vista and St. Philip’s colleges and this college. The vote was approved by 107, or 65 percent, of full-time faculty.
See NO CONFIDENCE, Page 8
Dual credit pay discussed By Wally Perez
See DUAL CREDIT, Page 8
By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@alamo.edu
After selecting three finalists for the position of vice president of college services, left vacant by the late David Mirzek, President Robert Vela chose to go back out and search for new candidates. Vela said this was because they lack background in the performance excellence side of the position, which he said is the primary focus of the position. Usha Venkat, director of information technology and chair of the vice president of college services search committee, said the performance excellence aspect of the position wasn’t emphasized when the committee went out to search. Venkat believes this was because the integrated planning and performance excellence department in charge has been created recently. In an interview Tuesday, Vela said it was
Constitution Day panel to mark anniversary of signing
In-district tuition hike on hold; needs student input By Wally Perez
gperez239@student.alamo.edu
lege services search and dean of performance excellence search were going on at the same time. “Maybe there was confusion there and they thought, ‘well, the dean of performance excellence will do all that,’ but that’s more operational and we need to be visionary and I’m not sure we got the right committee,” Vela said. “I don’t know. I’ve got to talk to her and we have not debriefed on this, but obviously the folks who came through did not have that background.” Vela said that since they have John Strybos, associate vice chancellor of facilities’ operations, and this college’s project manager Louis Kreusel, the facilities immediate need is not being ignored. “We meet every other week to discuss projects … we need somebody to kind of keep and manage that, but they aren’t experts in that; that’s what John’s people do for us. They’re engineers, construction engineers, on staff, assigned to colleges helping with those construction projects.
A tuition increase for in-district students was put on hold because of a lack of student input during the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee meeting Tuesday in Killen. According to the proposed minute order, the purpose of the increase is to unbundle the flat rate for the first six hours and move to a single tuition rate per semester credit hour for the whole schedule. The flat rate per semester credit hour and an accompanying incentive plan ensure tuition revenues at the same level as the prior schedule. Currently, students pay $504 for up to six credit hours, $691 for nine hours, $873 for 12 hours and $1,054 for 15 hours. Under the proposed schedule, students would pay $258 for three hours, $516 for six hours, $774 for nine hours, $1,032 for 12 hours and $1,290 for 15 hours. Students would see a reduction in cost of one three-hour course but would pay an additional $236 for 15 hours. District 8 trustee Clint Kingsbery and District 5 trustee Roberto Zárate led the discussion regarding the increase as well as a proposed fast completion incentive plan. “This program will hopefully incentivize students to complete in two-three years, and we’re looking at this to save students money,” Zárate said. “Being as transparent as possible, there will be increases in tuition in certain areas.” Zárate said this will be equitable and easier for students to understand while providing an incentive that currently isn’t in the structure. Under the new fast completion incentive plan, students who follow a two-year plan obtain up to six credit hours in the summer if they earn a combined 24 credit hours in the fall and spring. Students can earn three free credit hours in the summer under a three-year incentive plan, which requires 18 combined credit hours in the fall and spring. “The summer courses are not ‘free,’” Zárate said. “They’re going to earn it; it’s almost like a scholarship.” Kingsbery followed Zárate’s lead by supporting the student success aspect of the proposal. “I came on board with this idea because I wanted to do something that would positively impact our students,” Kingsbery said. Kingsbery said the current tuition schedule is not fair to students and doesn’t promote student success. Students are projected to save $188 annually for the two-year plan and $141 annually for the three-year plan. District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante worried for students who cannot take 18-24 hours.
See VICE PRESIDENT, Page 7
See TUITION, Page 7
Canstruction Architecture sophomore Celine Hallier attempts to stabilize the arm of Atlas with cans of white kidney beans as architecture sophomore Shane Anderson prepares more cans for assembly Sept. 11 in North Star Mall. See story online. Brandon A. Edwards
3 VP finalists rejected President says committee confused on priorities.
Pathways intended to minimalize transfer risk
Committee sends proposal to full board Tuesday.
gperez239@student.alamo.edu
The board of trustees held a dinner for K-12 partners of the Alamo Colleges to discuss the future expansion of dual credit under House Bill 505 Sept. 8 at St. Philip’s College. The bill prohibits limitations on the number of dual credit courses or hours in which public high school students may enroll. Dr. Jo Carol Fabianke, vice chancellor for academic success, led the discussion regarding dual credit expansion in the 2017-18 academic year while ensuring a quality experience for students. Fabianke said areas of focus include the quality of the program, an expansion of course offerings and a costsharing plan. The expansion plan for a core or workforce certificate completion, which includes an addition of four courses for the 2017-18 academic year to the 10 courses high school students are allowed to take currently, bringing the total to 14. Currently, ninth grade students are not allowed to enroll in any dual credit courses, but with the expansion plan they would be allowed to take one in spring 2018. In 10th grade, students would be allowed to take two courses in the spring and two in the fall; up from just one each semester.
online now
a breakdown in communication. “What I understand is there were committees who thought the dean would do that job. Now I haven’t talked to her (Venkat) about that so I need to debrief with her, but clearly the charge was that this was a leader in performance excellence, Baldrige and institutional effectiveness,” Vela said. “If she understood something else, I want to see where the disconnect happened because that was not the charge.” Dr. Francisco Solis, dean of performance excellence, is in charge of the integrated planning and performance excellence office. He is responsible for day-today management performance excellence operation like Faculty 180, Curriculog and any new performance excellence projects beginning since he was hired. Currently, the responsibilities of the vice president of college services are split among remaining administration. Vela said a possible reason for the confusion was that the vice president of col-