SACS asks Our Lady of Holy Cross for clarity

A recent notification received in late August by the administration at Our Lady of Holy Cross College from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges putting the college on six-months’ probation does not signal that it is in trouble.

   “In terms of what it means for the college, we still are accredited, and it doesn’t affect the daily operations of the college,” interim president and long-time OLHCC faculty member Dr. Myles Seghers said. “That will remain unaffected and unchanged.”

  Seghers said Our Lady of Holy Cross College has a two-tier governing structure – the Members of the Corporation (the Marianite Sisters who own the school) that appoints a board to oversee overall operations, and a Board of Regents that oversees day-to-day operations.

   In August 2011, the Members of the Corporation, led by board chairperson Marianite Sister Suellen Tennyson, made a change in the bylaws that gave it authority to dismiss the college president, Holy Cross Father Anthony DeConciliis, and the 19-member Board of Regents. It may be this decision that triggered SACS’ action since concerns cited in the letter include the Order of the Marianites of Holy Cross’ decision to release all 19 Board dismiss the president of the college and replace him with an interim president.

More specifics coming

   But Seghers said specifics about the probation aren’t expected until January.

   Seghers explained that over the years, it was not unusual for the powers and duties held by each of the school’s governing boards to change, based on changes in the articles and bylaws of the college.

   “The main powers we’re talking about are reserve powers,” he said. “Some years back, members of the corporation had more powers. Before the change in August, the Board of Regents had most of the reserved powers. But one of the reserve powers that the Members of the Corporation had was to change the articles and bylaws. It gave them the authority to remove the president and reconstitute the board.”

   The issue may be that the two-tier governing structure is legally sound, but from SACS’ perspective, maybe it doesn’t create enough independence from the Marianites themselves, Seghers said.

    “I don’t know what the problem is,” Seghers said. “I don’t know if they didn’t understand the structure or agree with it or if it met the SACS requirement. It certainly met Louisiana’s requirements as a board structure.”

   Seghers said the letter from SACS wanted a detailed explanation on how Our Lady of Holy Cross College was in compliance with these four standards of SACS’ Principles of Accreditation:

   ‰ The legal authority and operating control of the institution are clearly defined for the following areas within the institution’s governance structure. (Governing board control)

   ‰ The governing board is free from undue influence from political, religious or other external bodies and protects the institution from such influence. (External influence)

   ‰  The governing board has a policy whereby members can be dismissed only for appropriate reasons and by a fair process. (Board dismissal)

   ‰ There is a clear and appropriate distinction, in writing and practice, between the policy-making functions of the governing board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement policy. (Board/administration distinction)

Wants quick resolution

   Seghers said the college responded immediately to SACS’ request for a written explanation regarding governance.

   “We’re hoping to resolve this as quickly as we can,” Seghers said. “But first we need to know how to resolve it. We need more direction than we have now. We don’t have any idea as to why they thought we were not in compliance.”

   Seghers said the probation in no way has been a criticism of the college in other areas.

    “It has no affect on teaching, finances or stability at the college or other major issues,” he said. “It is strictly a governance issue.”

   Dr. Claudia Champagne, an associate professor of English who has taught at Our Lady of Holy Cross College for more than 21 years, said she and the majority of the faculty supported the Marianites’ August decisions.

   “What happened in August was not part of a sudden decision, but part of a long process that had been urged by many on the faculty, staff and administration and outside the college,” she said.

   Champagne believes that once SACS understands the governance of the Catholic college, that the probation will be resolved quickly.

   “This has nothing to do with quality of instruction that the students are receiving,” she said. “From the faculty’s perspective, this was a positive decision, and we’ve been rebuilding and restoring this semester.”

   Seghers said OLHCC is committed to taking action to bring the governing structure back into compliance with SACS.  A new Board of Regents in place, retaining three members of the previous board.

    It is currently seeking a new president and has hired the R.H. Perry firm to lead the search. It is working with a search committee composed of executive committee members of the Board of Regents, faculty, staff and a student in the selection.

   “The hope is to have a new president by July 1,” he said.

   Our Lady of Holy Cross College also is expanding programs. One is a physician’s assistant program with both an undergraduate and master’s-level program to be offered. OLHCC is in ongoing discussions with Ochsner. Also, Seghers said the college is establishing a general liberal arts degree.

   Our Lady of Holy Cross College has had great success with its online LN to BSN nursing program and its collaboration with Delgado and Nunez colleges in allowing students with associate’s degrees in business and education to transfer to the college.

   The college also completed its new student chapel in September and is expanding faculty offices.

            “It’s been a great semester, and things have been going very, very smoothly,” Seghers said. “I’ve gotten great cooperation from the faculty and staff.”