NIC TRUSTEES: Todd and Greg should step down

As a soon to be graduate of North Idaho College, I am saddened by the current events happening with the NIC Board of Trustees. I have had a wonderful learning experience during my time at NIC, and have met some very gifted students, staff and instructors. I was encouraged by Dr. Swayne’s arrival at the college. His enthusiasm and presence were a breath of fresh air. The morale of the college felt improved, the learning atmosphere felt secure, and it seemed that the future of NIC was getting back on track.

And then the cacophony of the newly elected Board of Trustees happened. In 20 years of public service and attendance at public meetings, I have never witnessed such blatant disregard for process and policy. I have doubts that NIC will be able to retain their status as an accredited college after the recent behaviors and operating decisions by the NIC Board of Trustees. A recent letter sent to the NIC Board of Trustees by the NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities), and published in the Coeur d’Alene Press, seems to indicate that the agencies that oversee NIC’s status of accreditation are also concerned. The NWCCU has given the NIC Board of Trustees until Jan. 4 to “show cause.” As such, I believe there is an urgent need for Todd Banducci and Greg McKenzie to step down, and for Dr. Swayne to be immediately reinstalled as president to continue his work in restoring the NIC program.

JEFF WICKHAM

Coeur d’Alene