New Rules for Colleges’ Fund-Raisers : Education: Trustees are expected to more closely scrutinize the foundations’ actions after a series of problems.

After a series of management and financial problems, the foundations at Ventura, Moorpark and Oxnard colleges are expected to lose their autonomy and be subjected to closer scrutiny by officials at the Ventura County Community College District.

Under a proposal that district trustees are expected to approve Tuesday, the nonprofit fund-raising groups will be required to get the permission of trustees before purchasing real estate, signing major contracts or obtaining loans. The groups also will be expected to provide district officials with detailed budget and fund-raising information.

The new requirements, district officials say, will prevent problems like those that have plagued the Oxnard and Moorpark college foundations.

Last year, the Oxnard College Foundation found itself in financial trouble after taking out a $100,000 loan it could not repay. The foundation had to renegotiate for a longer repayment schedule.

In December, 1990, the Moorpark College Foundation was embarrassed by allegations that former college President Stanley L. Bowers improperly funneled nearly $80,000 through the foundation between 1988 and 1990. Some of the money came from bookstore receipts that were used to buy Bowers new furniture for his office and a country club membership.

Bowers was subsequently demoted, although he maintained that he did nothing wrong.

Since the district could be held liable for the actions of the foundations--which raise thousands of dollars each year for capital improvements and scholarships--Chancellor Thomas Lakin decided to make a new agreement with the foundations one of his top priorities for his first year in office.

“They were very, very independent--too independent,” Lakin said. “That’s why it is important for us to have the agreement tied down.”

District administrators have been fine-tuning the foundation guidelines for the past six months. Trustees are scheduled to vote on the contract with the Ventura and Oxnard foundations at the district’s board meeting Tuesday night.

“It’s for the protection of the district,” Trustee Timothy Hirschberg said. “It’s also to help maintain the integrity of the foundations so students can have confidence in them.”

Although foundation officials at Oxnard and Ventura colleges have agreed to the district provisions, Moorpark College fund-raisers say they want to wait until the college’s new president, James Walker, starts next month before accepting the district’s requirements.

“We do need some direction from the incoming president on exactly what he would like,” said Jim Niles, executive director of the Moorpark College Foundation.

But overall, Niles said, foundation officials are pleased with the agreement.

“I really think it’s a necessity,” he said. “It is a legal requirement and I think everyone will know exactly who is supposed to be doing what, once it is in place.

“The problems that went on at Moorpark are well documented and the government board found out, much to their chagrin, that their employees were doing things that they did not approve of. If a written contract like this were in place at that time, those activities would be impossible.”

Under the guidelines, each foundation also will be required to report quarterly on its program and fiscal activities and to provide an annual audit.

Foundations will have to include on their board of directors one member of the district board of trustees, as well as the college, faculty senate and student government presidents.

In addition, foundation and district officials have agreed to waive their rights of recovery against each other for loss or damage.

The foundations will still be allowed to hire their own executive directors.

“I can’t see anyone losing with it,” said George McNeely, the chairman of the Ventura College Foundation.

“We don’t feel threatened by it,” said Armando Lopez, the president of the Oxnard College Foundation. “We feel our role is one of service.”