It's a new age for AV College

The much publicized troubles between college administration and members of the faculty climaxed early in the year and seemed to calm down over summer break.

In February, the college settled a federal civil rights lawsuit out of court for $44,000.

English professor John Hall filed the lawsuit alleging his freespeech rights were violated when he was removed from a June 1997 college board meeting. Security personnel ejected Hall as he delivered a speech calling for college President Linda Spink's resignation. Security personnel acted at the direction of board president Earl Wilson.

Hall's lawsuit, filed in federal court July 17, 1997, alleged the college violated his freedom of speech.

In May, Spink's leadership was again criticized. The faculty senate drew up a resolution asking the board of trustees to order the president to consult with teachers before making decisions and alleged that Spink deliberately bypassed legally required consultation with the college Academic Senate.

The dispute escalated through a series of memos between Spink and the faculty as the time neared for renewal of Spink's contract.

Some faculty members said the senate resolution amounted to a vote of "no-confidence" from faculty. Some even asked that Spink's contract not be renewed.

Others felt the situation could be turned around if Spink would start cooperating instead of running as an autocrat. A third group defended Spink, saying she was a strong, innovative leader who was attacked because she was an agent for change.

In July the board reached a compromise on a 3-2 vote to extend the contract one year and 10 months to June of 2001. The board considered the contract renewal for more than two months in closed session and was up against an August deadline. They even held a special, secret session June 17 to discuss the contract. They did not reach agreement at that meeting.

Those troubles may simply have been growing pains because, under Spink's leadership, or despite it, depending on point-ofview, the college had an extraordinary year.

Higher education in the AV cleared out its closets this year with reviews by a state accreditation team, a civil rights review board and the college's new strategic planning committee.

A federal investigation into violation of the Title IX gender equality requirements was sparked by a complaint filed anonymously on March 4.

A 2 1/2-day investigation by the Office of Civil Rights in mid-May examined all facets of the AVC athletic program and found that two-thirds - 112 out of 168 participants - are men. Fifty-one of those are football players.

The college came up with a Voluntary Resolution Plan to solve the disparities. The plan included adding three new women's sports and balancing out spending for men's and women's sports. The college announced last month that the first new women's sport would be soccer.

The college was also scrutinized by a team from the California Community College Chancellor's office, renewing the school's accreditation.

A team of reviewers led by Dr. Betty Dean visited in November as a culmination of the year-long review. Dean said she was impressed with most aspects of the college and recognized a number of quality programs achieved despite being a low-funded district.

Dean's main complaint was lack of data on students.

Examples of institutional research the college needs are: tracking student success rates, what degrees they are getting, whether or not they are transferring to fouryear programs and where they come from.

"The institution is sorely lacking in all aspects of research," Dean said.

She said AVC needs to develop student outcome and assessment information to better inform all those involved in decision-making, and called for increased technology in student services and financial aid to students.

A new way of doing business at AVC was created this year with formation of a Strategic Planning Committee. The strategic task force, the group designing the process that will create a vision for the college, is made up of teachers, administrators and non-teaching staff, working together to discern the community's needs and help the school meet those needs.

The strategic planning process will link the school's vision and annual budget process.

The good news from the college this year was the promise of a brighter future.

For the first time in a decade, student enrollment at AVC topped 10,000 students. The increased enrollment promised a 3% increase in state funding for growth. The state also came through with needed building funds with the passing of a $9.2 billion state school bond.

The bond will fund construction of a new three-story business building next year and the groundwork for a Palmdale campus. The college, city of Palmdale and land developer appear to have reached agreement and the city planning department is expected to review the final plan for the Palmdale campus in January or February.

A new $1 million-dollar computer system for student tracking and records began its installation this year. The system designed by SCT Banner Corp. will integrate all aspects of student records and speed up registration, financial aid, grade distribution and graduation. The system will take two years to install.

Finally, for graduates of AVC, California State University, Bakersfield conducted a survey - paid for by local governments and the Lancaster Economic Development Corporation - to determine need for a four-year college in the Valley.

The results show Antelope Valley wants and needs a local state university. Of those polled, 64% said local residents must travel out of town to pursue a higher education; 96% of those with a twoyear degree said they would be more likely to continue in school if they could take courses locally; and 77% of those with a two-year degree said they would probably not pursue education further if they had to leave the Valley.

California State University, Bakersfield plans to have a satellite campus in the Antelope Valley as early as next spring and no later than fall of 1999, according to CSUB Provost Fred Dorer.