Letter to the Editor: Southwestern Michigan College needs to expand its presidential search committee

To the Editor:

Southwestern Michigan College has rejected the Social Justice Alliance of Cass County’s (SJACC) request to expand its Presidential Search Committee, which does not reflect the broad demographics of the community that funds, attends, and operates the college. Students and employees are omitted. Tax paying stakeholders (not on the committee) are absent.

Given the opportunity to broaden the demographics of the committee with other Board of Trustees, faculty, or foundation members from which the members were selected, Chair Thomas Jerdon failed to do so. When that gap was pointed out, SMC’s response was that the committee was adequately representative, and no other members could or would be added.

Apprehension about the sluggish and closed process also persists. A website posting from July 2nd listed an applicant closing date of August 17th, indicating an application window of almost six weeks, which conflicts with Chair Jerdon’s statement specifying that applications would be accepted over a three-week period. To date, only one closed session committee meeting has been held.

We now publicly appeal to SMC’s Board of Trustees to reconsider, and to expand the Presidential Search Committee toward representing the unrepresented with a sense of resolve over resistance.

Gerry Bundle
Cassopolis

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Any views or opinions expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.