To continue the conversation surrounding the recent announcement at Kentucky Wesleyan College, I appreciate the post from current faculty member Dr. Bolin, although it did start with disparaging remarks directed at my “remote instructor” status. From that point forward in his post, I would submit the reader should proceed with caution. When an author’s third sentence demonstrates bias, prejudice, and a predetermined opinion of another’s qualifications, any information that follows is equally skewed. Perhaps the following will provide additional “amusement” while eliminating any “confusion.” My focus is providing the best service possible to KWC’s students, faculty, and the community…in that order.
For clarity, and in the interest of full disclosure, my extensive background in business of over 60 years has included an unusual amount of “remote” work. Being “outside” of ever-present internal organizational politics, away from emotional outbursts by management, and not being forced to “drink the Kool-Aid” to stay employed, has fostered logical thinking. One could rightfully conclude that my expertise has been obtained and sustained by my ability to think and use fact-based reasoning when analyzing any situation. Oh, I forgot to mention, for the most recent 12 years, in addition to my leadership consulting services, I have been an award-winning professor at one of the oldest and largest universities providing online learning (over 60,000 students worldwide serviced by 176 full-time and almost 3,600 remote professors). Within that framework I have created and delivered excellent results to my students.
However, none of this has anything to do with, or at least it shouldn’t, an institution’s basic requirements to do business. To be successful you must be open, honest, and consistently work with high integrity. Or, as KWC calls it – “The Wesleyan Way.” I will assume total agreement on these elements. Unfortunately, as stated in my original post, that is not what is being delivered by KWC management, aka the administration. Any and all elements presented by Dr. Bolin are simply a regurgitation of excuses and do not address what academics refer to as causation. My original post, and this one, are not intended to tell you “what” to think, that is called propaganda, excuses. I take the approach of teaching folks “how” to think, that is called analysis, facts, reasoning.
So, again, I implore each of you, ask around. Gather information from all sides. Stay tuned to your local news sources, talk to your neighbors, do the research if you have the time. Look at the past to gain insight to the future. As an example, were you aware that the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Dept. of Education representative that provides accreditation, has numerous admonitions imposed on KWC in recent years relative to financial integrity – ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-profile/117715?
As you apply your critical thinking skills, imagine a non-academic business that is facing financial challenges, what should be done? Do you cut products or services that attract new customers? Or do you scale back on the overhead and try to increase revenue? Not hard to decide…right? So, why did KWC exercise minimal cuts to the administration and shut down an athletic program with a student body composed of 50% involved in varsity athletics? Are they hiding or protecting some sacred cows instead of working on behalf of the students? I could go on but, giving away consulting expertise is called volunteering and I do enough of that at home.
Written by
Richard Mays Owen, Ph.D.
