HCCC told: Shape up or lose accreditation

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Hudson County Community College has been warned that it could lose its accreditation if it is not able to show that it complies with requirements over integrity.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education published a review on its Web site late last week warning the college's accreditation may be "in jeopardy" because there is a "lack of evidence" that the institution meets standards of integrity.

The report said the college needs to create a conflict-of-interest policy governing the Board of Trustees and senior administrators.

It also demands that the Board of Trustees and school president restore an "atmosphere of mutual respect," establish an "administrative structure" that allows "open consultation free of intimidation," and implement a complaint procedure that protects employees from "retaliation."

The Middle States Commission refused to cite examples of where the college was lax. School representatives also refused to elaborate on any alleged problems.

Losing its accreditation would effectively "shut the college down," said Jane Oates, executive director of the state Commission on Higher Education. Oates called the fallout a "domino effect" with the loss of federal loans and grants and accreditation for individual courses.

The report said HCCC must produce a monitoring report by Sept. 1 next year. If it fails to do so the school would go on probation, said Oates.

HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert could not be reached for comment. Roger Jones, a spokesman for the college, said that the college has set up a committee to work with the Middle States Commission about its concerns.

Jones said the school has instituted equal-opportunity training for administrators, faculty and students, and is working to improve communicating its code of ethics to staff and students.

"We are not going to lose accreditation. The college is in a growth mode," Jones said. "We would not have continued to be accredited without the understanding we are going to improve."

Jim Kennelly, a spokesman for County Executive Tom DeGise, said that the report should not divert attention from the success of the college.

"We strongly encourage the president, administration and Board of Trustees to follow the necessary steps laid out by the Middle States Commission to ensure their continued accreditation," Kennelly said.

County Freeholder William O'Dea, a member of the HCCC Board of School Estimate, said he wants Gabert to appear at the upcoming freeholders caucus to explain how the college is addressing the deficiencies. The county gave HCCC $8.7 million this year.