NIC responds to complaint
After a complaint from four regional human rights task forces sparked a national investigation into the institution's accreditation, North Idaho College assured it is eager to prove its good standing in higher education.
NIC addressed the complaint and subsequent Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities investigation in a 16-page report intended to prove that "from an operational level" the institution meets or exceeds the standards necessary for accreditation eligibility.
Accreditation, as explained in the "Responses to Community Inquiries" document available on the NIC President's Office homepage, "assures all new and continuing NIC students that they are attending a quality institution and the certificates and degrees they earn are recognized nationwide."
The complaint, filed by the Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, and Spokane County Human Rights task forces on March 12, demanded a full investigation of the NIC board of trustees leadership.
Within the complaint, the organizations cited the actions of board chair Todd Banducci, vice chair Greg McKenzie and Michael Barnes as "counter to the civil and human rights and civil liberties protected by the United States Constitution, Federal laws, Idaho laws, and NIC policies for all NIC employees and students."
Specifically, the organizations mentioned the repeal of the now reinstated trustee board of conduct policy, Trustee Christie Wood's call for board chair Todd Banducci's resignation, NIC faculty and staff's vote of no confidence a series of harassment and assault allegations.
These incidents led to the investigation of NWCCU eligibility requirements of nondiscrimination, governance, and academic freedom.
During the last board of trustees meeting on May 26, the board unanimously voiced their intentions to protect the institution's accreditation and address the "significant misconduct of the board chair." The latter was described as "perhaps most critical to NIC's ability to correct all the concerns conveyed in the complaint." To facilitate a better understanding by the board of their roles and responsibilities within the college, NIC trustees plan to attend a training with the Association of Community College Trustees this summer.
"Without expedient actions in response to this concern, it will be difficult for the college to re-establish trust in the current board of trustees," Friday's response reads. "Effective governance depends upon strong board leadership. An effective board advances mission fulfillment operates with high ethical standards and holds itself, and all NIC employees accountable to the policies and procedures it establishes."
On Thursday, the four task forces emailed the NWCCU to express their worry that the board had ignored the severity of issues within the complaint.
"If that is the case, it gives us grave concern that the board — that has final legal authority and power over the governance of the institution — is unwilling to even address or give any consideration to correcting what we believe violates important NWCCU accreditation criteria," the email reads. "Leaving the issue unresolved."
Within the next 30 days, the NWCCU will review NIC's response to the complaint and decide whether its content proves compliance with national accreditation eligibility requirements. If NIC is validated in its accreditation, the matter is closed. If not, the investigation may warrant further review.
If the college is out of compliance, the NWCCU may take various measures, including:
• Giving the college a warning
• Placing the college on probation
• Issuing a show-cause order
The college would remain accredited under any of those actions.
Info: www.nic.edu