SUFFERN, NY – Rockland Community College (RCC) has embarked on a search for its next president, opening the process to public involvement and underscoring the college’s stated commitment to transparency and community engagement.
This is a new approach that is being leveraged with a combination of committee work, along with some well established technology – online forms.
The RCC Board of Trustees has moved forward with this strategy over the course of the summer, after a controversial Phase 3 layoff program was enacted that affected up to $2.7 million in jobs ($1.7 in layoffs/firings, $1 in vacancies). The college now has empowered a large Presidential Search Committee to lead the effort, adding a human element to the technological approach. This approach involves not only RCC’s internal stakeholders but also reaches into a nationwide community in the age of Indeed and online job searches that have become commonplace since the 00’s.
Using RCC’s search submission form, individuals can refer people of necessary qualification and credentials. As is typically standard and required on most committees such as the Workforce Development Board of Rockland County, all submissions are vetted by numerous individuals on the committee.
Traditional industries have often disrupted established practices over the course of time – such as the supplantation of the curiously resillient fax machine – to achieve more sustainable and innovative outcomes. This seems to be a model RCC appears to be emulating, albeit in an academic setting.
Financial and Administrative Hurdles
RCC’s search for new leadership follows a series of financial revelations and administrative controversies. In 2023, RCC disclosed a multimillion-dollar budget deficit, later contested and estimated between $4 million and $12 million. This shortfall emerged from allegations of financial mismanagement during the previous administration, led by a former president Dr. Michael A. Baston. Concerns were raised about Dr. Baston’s hiring practices, with sources alleging excessive spending on administrative salaries and positions, often filled by close associates with limited experience. Before he left, Dr. Baston also reportedly approved a miulti-million contract with the firm Ellucian, which sources state employed a practice of exorbitant fees – adding further strain to the college’s finances.
Additionally, RCC was grappling with a notable decline in enrollment, amplifying the financial stress as tuition revenues fall short. The Board of Trustees, in response to these issues, enacted staff layoffs at the beginning of the summer, as a measure to mitigate the deficit, though representatives have indicated efforts to minimize impacts on affected employees.
Still, a steady stream of announcements have been coming from RCC’s communications department as the summer continued, such as new programs in Histrionics and donations from Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation toward RCC’s CDL licensing program were announced.
The Presidential Search: A Transparent Path Forward
RCC’s Presidential Search Committee, co-chaired by RCC Board Vice Chair Dana Stilley, Community Outreach Liaison Elana Yeger, and Trustee Grant Valentine, comprises representatives from RCC’s student body, faculty, administrative staff, and community leaders. Working with an executive search firm Isaacson, Miller (IM), the committee aims to foster a collaborative and transparent selection process. Updates will be shared with the public via RCC’s website to maintain open communication at each stage.
“We are dedicated to finding an outstanding leader who will uphold RCC’s mission to continue providing transformative educational experiences to our diverse student body,” said L’Tanya M. Watkins, Esq., Chair of the RCC Board of Trustees.
For those interested in following the search process, RCC’s Presidential Search webpage provides ongoing updates. RocklandNews.com will continue to monitor developments closely, offering readers timely insights as this story unfolds.