MISSION VIEJO : Saddleback Chief Meets With Senate

Saddleback Community College District Chancellor Richard Sneed and the Saddleback College Academic Senate have taken a step toward opening communications to try to ease pent-up tensions of the last several months. In late August, the Academic Senate sent a four-page “Vote of No Confidence in the Chancellor” report to Sneed, backing up in writing a unanimous verbal vote of no confidence taken by the college’s 22 senators last April.

In the report, the faculty presented a list of “perceived” problems, including a lack of communication and “invisible leadership” on the part of the chancellor, an unfair budget process that has caused “severe financial problems for the college,” a lack of leadership in abolishing racism and unchecked growth of district spending.

“The perceived unwillingness of the chancellor to address these issues openly and collegially with our faculty has led us to the overwhelming vote of no confidence in the leadership of this district by its chancellor,” the senators wrote.

“Our intent is to resolve these issues, not to be divisive,” Senate President Mike Merrifield said.

But in an hourlong presentation to the Senate on Wednesday, Sneed said he was surprised by what he considered an “unwarranted attack on me personally and upon my administration.”

The heightened tensions come at a time when more than a year’s worth of contract negotiations between district officials and the Saddleback Community College District Faculty Assn. have reached a stalemate.

“We live in the most difficult statewide economic circumstances that this district has ever faced,” Sneed said. “It is, therefore, very importantly a time for unity of purpose and not for divisive tactics or cheap shots.”

Sneed defended his six years as chancellor of the district, which includes the Saddleback campuses and Irvine Valley College.

“Under my administration, we have maintained the top faculty salary schedule in the state, first-rate educational programs, ongoing development of facilities and strong, spectacular growth with excellent results in achievement,” Sneed said. “And we have done these things without layoffs of full-time staff and in spite of no cost-of-living increases from the state for two years.”

As for his attempts to combat past acts of campus racism, Sneed said he has hired the first full-time district affirmative action director, formed a cultural diversity task force and initiated a “rigorous” minority recruitment program.

Recently, the 21-member Irvine Valley College Academic Senate issued a nine-page letter in support of Sneed, saying the Saddleback Senate’s characterization of the chancellor was “inaccurate, hyperbolic and mean-spirited.”

“We also find the letter divisive and inflammatory, most especially in its implication that Irvine Valley College is a favored entity within a district,” the senate wrote.

In closing, the Irvine senate proposed creating two separate districts, with each campus getting its own board of trustees and district administration.

“When all is said and done, what I want is more dialogue,” Sneed said. “We ought to be having both senates together talking. The meeting was a first step. We have to get together face to face and attempt a dialogue, recognizing that nobody is perfect, including the chancellor.”