Few in favor of higher ed reform bill

CHARLESTON ­ Only about three of 60 people who spoke Thursday at a public hearing at the Capitol had anything positive to say about Senate Bill 653, which proposes a restructuring of community colleges in West Virginia.

Students, graduates, faculty and staff from Fairmont State College, West Virginia State College and Marshall University were given one minute each to argue for or against the bill.

The bill is based on a study by the National Center for Higher Education Manage-ment Systems (NCHEMS). It proposes community and technical colleges become independently accredited institutions.

Donna B. Donathan, Marshall Community and Technical College faculty member said, "Any bill that they pass ... should not be passed without funding attached to it. How do you make progress? Make education funding a priority. Commit to give money and commit to letting the institution keep it."

Laura Browning, a nontraditional student at Fairmont State College, said, "To separate Fairmont State College would be a step back for West Virginia."

Lisa Kern, West Virginia State College graduate, said, "This would be like a divorce. I urge you to keep this family together."

Many people said the bill is not fair to the students, faculty, and staff.

Dana Waldo, of the West Virginia Roundtable, said if the bill was passed, there would be many unemployed, as well as unemployable, people.

Another person said it was an insult to West Virginia State College and African Americans. "This is not a bill of reform; it has a lot of race mixed in with it," he said.

One lady said, "If it's not broken, don't fix it. This would undo what we at Fairmont State have done for 25 years. Makes no sense."

A man from West Virginia State College suggested enrollment would decline, and urged the delegates to move forward not backward.

Although the majority of the crowd was opposed to the bill, a few voiced their opinions in support.

Sheryl Johnson said the community college has been under the control of the four-year college too long.

Chiquita A. Weaver said, "This bill is not about West Virginia State College. Because we are administered by a four-year college we are not getting students out fast enough or students that are prepared.

"The four-year college does not effectively manage the community and technical college. It is broken and it should not take three years to provide programs to our community."

West Virginia State College graduate Lorie R. Roberts has completed a two-year degree and was assured by WVSC that she would be able to complete two more years to earn a four-year degree, "but the education is not being provided by the four-year college in my discipline," Roberts said.