The leader of the Alabama Community College System expects to see a lot of change in the state’s post secondary system in the coming years.
Since becoming chancellor last May, Bradley Byrne has focused on restoring integrity to his office, the two-year system and Alabama, and he expects the same of everyone in the Department of Postsecondary Education. He has pushed for a ban of “double-dipping,” an issue concerning state legislators who also draw a paycheck from the state education system, and has also required ethics training of all system presidents and department staff.
“There has been a lot of damage done here and we are going to fix it,” he said.
Those plans for change include Southern Union State Community College.
And not just in its leadership.
Byrne complimented the faculty and staff of the Opelika campus Thursday for the job they do for academics, but he also expects much more of them in addressing the growing needs in adult education and workforce development.
He said he is confident his request will be met, especially because there is a “take charge, can-do person” at the helm now.
Dr. Amelia Pearson, dean of instruction at Central Alabama Community College, began serving as Southern Union’s interim president Jan. 11, a day after former President Susan Salatto was put on administrative leave with pay. Byrne said Pearson will remain in office until a permanent replacement starts in the fall of 2009.
He told members of the editorial board at the Opelika-Auburn News Thursday that Pearson has the full authority to respond to all of Southern Union’s needs.
“She can’t hire and fire, but we will work closely together,” Byrne said. “I will rely on her advice. I trust her completely. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have named her interim.”
Until a new president comes along, he expects Pearson to correct 20 specific issues the previous administration failed to complete.
Pearson succeeds Salatto, who spent more than 30 years in the system before she was fired by the state Board of Education Jan. 24. Byrne said he recommended Salatto’s termination after, in his opinion, she neither denied nor adequately addressed 20 issues found in a Department of Postsecondary Education investigation of Southern Union, including allegations of nepotism, racism and violations of state bid laws.
The problems have gotten the attention of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges, but Byrne doesn’t anticipate any formal action from the accreditation body.
Salatto and the Alabama Education Association are challenging her termination. The union claims she can’t be fired until she gets a dismissal hearing with the board before its vote. Byrne believes Salatto isn’t protected under the Fair Dismissal Law, and, therefore, is not entitled to such a hearing.
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