SUFFERN, NY – Dr. Lester Edgardo Sandres Rapalo has parted ways with SUNY Rockland Community College (RCC) just one year into his tenure as president, officials confirmed on Friday. The departure comes against a backdrop of significant ongoing fiscal challenges for the institution.
At the time of writing, the college has not confirmed or denied whether Rapalo quit or was fired. A new web page was posted in replacement of the above screenshot on 6/8/2024, with a statement that the college has “parted ways” with Dr. Rapalo, and that negotiations of the specific terms of that arrangement are ongoing.
For several years, the college has been grappling with a recurring deficit, estimated at approximately $4 million. This financial strain has led to staff layoffs, furloughs, and program changes, which have sparked considerable controversy and dissent within the college community.
As reported originally by Rockland News, the prior administration of President Michael Barton left behind the current multimillion dollar deficit, allegedly due to overweighted spending of funds for new IT services, as well as the installment of additional Vice Presidents with questionably high salaries,
Dr. Rapalo’s administration faced some of the same criticism, particularly from faculty members. His decisions to implement faculty cuts and furloughs, coupled with changes to key programs, earned him “no confidence” votes from several key groups, including the Federation of Teachers’ local and the Faculty Senate on campus.
A Brief Tenure
Dr. Rapalo – who has both an accounting and Business Administration background, assumed the role of president in July 2023, succeeding Michael Baston, who left mid-contract in July 2022 to take up another community college presidency in Ohio.
Rockland News interviewed Dr. Rapalo, who, during the interview acknowledged the difficult decisions that needed to be made in the coming months. He also outlined a long-term, multi-year vision for the college, one rooted in creating deeper ties to the local community, as well as increased student engagement. Underperforming programs were to be evaluated, and potentially cut.
Dr. Rapalo, the eighth president of RCC, brought a strong educational and business background to the role, with multiple advanced degrees including an MBA. Born in Honduras, Dr. Rapalo is multilingual, speaking Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, which was considered an asset given RCC’s diverse student body, of which 21% are foreign-born.
The college had conducted a national search which culminated in Dr. Rapalo’s appointment, which was initially seen as a positive development for RCC.
Financial Struggles at RCC
Despite the initial optimism surrounding his appointment, Dr. Rapalo’s tenure was overshadowed by the college’s financial woes. Vice President of Finance & Administration Victor Anaya, who started in January, highlighted the severity of the cash-flow issues, revealing that bills had to be shifted to ensure payroll could be me.
Dr. Rapalo consistently portrayed the deficit as a long-standing issue that had previously been neglected by college leadership, including the Board of Trustees. He brought in a new fiscal team in an effort to address these challenges, but these moves, along with increased salaries for some administrative positions, faced sharp criticism from faculty members enduring furloughs.
Historical Context
The financial challenges at RCC have deep roots. According to reports, the college’s enrollment dropped dramatically from 9,000 to approximately 4,500 students over the years, significantly impacting revenue. Despite declining enrollments, administrative expenses remained high, contributing to the budget shortfall.
The pandemic further exacerbated these financial issues, even though the college received state funds. The previous administration under Michael Baston also faced scrutiny for hiring numerous high-paid vice presidents and signing a controversial IT contract shortly before his departure. These practices were criticized for their lack of transparency and for contributing to the financial instability of the institution.
Future Uncertain
The future direction of RCC remains uncertain as the college navigates its financial difficulties without Dr. Rapalo at the helm. Neither the college nor its board has provided further comment on the departure. RCC Board President Martin Wortendyke has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Dr. Rapalo’s departure marks a turbulent period for RCC, raising questions about the institution’s fiscal management and leadership stability. As the college community awaits further developments, the focus remains on addressing the pressing financial challenges and ensuring stability for both staff and students.
For more updates on this story and other local news, stay tuned to Rockland News.