College Says It Has Moved to Mend Rifts

Officials at Irvine Valley College say they have taken several steps to remedy the fractured relationships and mistrust that a national accrediting panel said had led to a “multiplicity of deep and bitter divisions” among the board of trustees, faculty and staff.

In a report released late Wednesday, college officials outlined the steps the school has taken in the last few weeks.

The report, prepared by President Raghu Mathur, came in response to recommendations by the accrediting commission of the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges. The commission, which inspected the school in the fall, was severely critical of the governance procedures of the South Orange County Community College District.

Although the college was reaccredited in February, the commission required it to submit a follow-up status report.

In particular, the commission called for the district’s trustees to step back immediately from what it called the micro-management of the college.

It noted in its critique that when choosing a new president in 1997, the board interviewed all 19 presidential applicants, rather than a prescreened few--a procedure at variance with its own policies.

As proof of the new hands-off approach, Mathur noted in the progress report that during selection of a new vice president, the trustees accepted a recommendation from administrators and refrained from interviewing all the candidates.

What’s more, in response to the commission’s admonition to “reduce the hostility, mistrust, cynicism and despair that plague the institution,” the board, president and chancellor held several retreats and meetings.

Trustee Steven J. Frogue held a “Reconciliation and Concord” breakfast in March for all faculty and staff members, and trustee Nancy Padberg sponsored an open forum for the faculty and the staff.

The trustees, chancellor and college president attended a retreat on “Boardsmanship,” hosted by the Community College League of California this month, and Mathur conducted a collegewide meeting to answer questions and discuss the commission’s recommendations.

Mathur said the process of self-examination was valid. “This has been an enriching experience,” he said.