NIC: Swayne should work out a settlement

Starting with what has happened since last May:

• May the Board of Education appointed three new trustees. Note, all three of them tied to the NIC Foundation.

• June, Nick Swayne voted president by only the three appointed trustees.

• August, Nick Swayne becomes president.

• November, 3 appointed trustees are replaced with elected trustees.

• December, Nick Swayne placed on administration leave.

• January 2023, Greg South becomes interim president

• February 2023, NWCCU sent Show Cause Letter to NIC.

Where does that put us today?

• NWCCU has made it clear relationships between the Board of Trustees and between the Trustees and the president and his staff needs to improve.

• The majority of the trustees have made it very clear they do not want Nick Swayne as the president.

• There is a new president, new president’s cabinet, new lawyer, new strategic plans that include returning to NJCAA Conference.

• What’s in it for Nick Swayne to want his job back? He has a perfect exit ramp to wash his hands of everything. Returning, he now takes on responsibility for everything.

• What kind of relationship is he going to have with the majority of the Board of Trustees, new president’s cabinet, new lawyer and the athletic coaches?

What needs to happen next?

• Move forward with elected Board of Trustees and President South plans working with NWCCU on accreditation.

• Nick Swayne needs to work out a settlement.

RONALD W. HARTMAN

Coeur d’Alene