NIC: Swayne should be reinstated

Last month, Interim NIC President Greg South told Idaho legislators that it’s “premature” to consider that NIC might lose accreditation and maintained that the college is committed to addressing the concerns outlined by the NWCCU. So much for “premature.” So much for “committed.”

In the “show cause” NWCCU letter to NIC delivered this week, one of the noted concerns was “…uncertainty as to who is the Chief Executive Officer at North Idaho College, with a regular president placed on administrative leave (Swayne) and an interim president (South) appointed concurrent with the regular president.”

The obvious solution to eliminating this accreditation risk is to reinstate President Nick Swayne who was placed on administrative leave for no cause in December 2022. Interim and duplicative President South’s appointment should be immediately rescinded. This action will also slow the unnecessary drain on college finances because having one president will save the college almost $250,000 in 2023.

It’s important to note that Dr. Swayne is a proven, highly-competent, well-liked and effective college administrator who was selected through an open and inclusive national search process in 2022. Interim President South was identified and appointed in a closed and secretive process with absolutely no college or public involvement.

For the benefit of this community, please join me at the Feb. 22 NIC Board of Trustees meeting to make your voice heard on this matter. Working together we can help get our NIC back on the path to maintaining accreditation!

ROBERT MARSHALL

Coeur d’Alene