PCC academic group issues no confidence vote against college president

The Academic Senate at Pasadena City College issued a vote of no confidence Monday for President Mark Rocha, joining a chorus of faculty and student groups critical of his leadership.

The committee of educators that makes recommendations about school policy criticized Rocha’s unwillingness to work with employee advisory groups while implementing changes at the school, and paired that with a call to undo the elimination of abbreviated academic sessions in winter, the Pasadena City College Courier reported.

Student government representatives and a faculty special committee approved similar no-confidence votes earlier this year.

But in a statement, the college board of trustees stuck by Rocha, contending that it should be the target of criticism, not the president.

“The board, not [Rocha], made the decisions that are being called into question. [Rocha] is carrying out this board’s policy, and criticism directed at him is rightly shared by every member of the board. He will continue to administer with our full confidence and, by extension, that of the voting public,” board President John Martin wrote.

He also criticized the Academic Senate vote as “hasty and premature” pending rulings by the Public Employment Relations Board on whether the elimination of winter session violated labor laws.

In a statement, Rocha said he was “disappointed” by the vote but “will rise in the morning and come to work with a renewed commitment to move the college forward into a bright future.”

-- Joe Piasecki, joe.piasecki@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @JoePiasecki.