Thompson, accrediting chief speak to CC board

The daughter of Clarendon College’s longest serving regent and the president of CC’s regional accrediting body addressed the Board of Regents during its May 16 meeting following an April decision not to extend President Robert Riza’s contract.

Debbie Thompson, the daughter of the late Delbert Robertson, spoke to the board during public comment about what she called the discord of recent meetings.

“I’m here today in the name of my father,” Thompson said. “He served on this board for more than 50 years and was proud of this college. I stood on this land and watched my Daddy dig dirt with a gold shovel. He was so happy and proud of this college.”

Thompson said her father often spoken to her after board meetings to brag on the good things that were happening and how proud he was of the college. But she said before he died in 2017, “he saw discord starting, and he worried about it.” After a motion in April to extend Riza’s contract failed by a vote of 4-5, Thompson said she had to speak out.

“As I read the paper, my heart was breaking, and I wondered what my Daddy would think about what was said and written and the discord,” Thompson said. “My Daddy thought Dr. Riza was the best thing to happen in a long time. My grandson is graduating [high school] with 47 [college] credit hours. He wouldn’t have that.”

Thompson, who is a nurse at the public school, also praised the president’s wife, who is a third grade teacher. Although Riza still has a year left on his contract, Thompson said the prospect of losing the him as college president “is a big heartache” for her and said Clarendon would be losing “an amazing teacher” if Mrs. Riza leaves.

“Our kids are learning from us,” Thompson said. “It was discord that caused this. I beg you not to destroy what’s been built.”

Later in the meeting, Dr. Belle Wheelan, the president and CEO of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools – Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), addressed the board.

The vote not to extend Riza’s contract apparently prompted the SACSOC president’s visit to the college board as she opened her remarks by saying, “I thought it would be good to review what SACSCOC does since you’ll obviously be going through a change in leadership.”

Wheelan presented a PowerPoint presentation of more than 30 slides, defining the role of the accrediting body and the necessity of accreditation and then focusing on the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation.

Under the Principle of Integrity, Wheelan said that it’s not what colleges do but what they don’t do that calls attention to whether they have integrity.

“If you don’t follow policies and you cover things up, that shows a lack of integrity,” she said.

She also drew attention to two separate principles – “Governing Board” and “Administration and Organization.”

“Please recognize these are two different functions and never the two shall meet,” Wheelan said. “When they do, that’s when we come in.”

SACSCOC has also adopted new principles in the last couple of years addressing board responsibilities.

“We found that many boards didn’t remember their roles,” Wheelan said. “Board members as individuals have no power.”

Wheelan said SACSCOC oversight requires that an institution not be controlled by a minority of its board members.

“When you have a handful running the board, then the board is not running the college,” she said.

SACSCOC rules also require that the board’s presiding officer and a majority of other board members are free from any contractual, employment, personal, or familial financial interest in the institution.

This requirement led to SACSCOC requiring Jerry Woodard to step down as chairman of the board of regents over a year ago due to his position as president of Herring Bank, which is the college’s depository.

“You have to keep the college free from that crap,” Wheelan said. “You all had a problem with this, and thanks for letting me in the room today because I know you were pissed about that.”

Wheelan also said it is important that the board keeps a distinction between policy-making and the responsibility of the administration to implement policy.

“This is the challenge,” Wheelan said. “Remember: ‘Eyes in; Hands off.’ Ask questions but don’t tell him [the president] how to do it.”

The college also needs to have a fair and appropriate process for the dismissal of a board member, Wheelan said.

“The state may have guidelines. Otherwise you need to have a policy to address this,” she said, noting that is important to keep undue political influences out of the college’s business and to prevent outside influence “by persons or bodies” on the president’s office.

Following her presentation, Wheelan offered to answer any questions the board might have. They had none.
SACSCOC is CC’s regional accrediting agency, assuring the quality and integrity of the college and its programs. Accreditation by SACSCOC ensures that credits earned by Clarendon College students transfer to other colleges and universities and it also ensures CC can receive federal financial aid funds.

CC had previously drawn SACSCOC’s attention a few months ago after a complaint filed by former CC Vice President of External Affairs Ashlee Estlack raised questions regarding compliance with four SACSCOC accreditation standards. The complaint followed almost two years of rising tensions between Regents Jerry Woodard and Darlene Spier and members of the college administration.

The SACSCOC Board of Trustees is expected to address that complaint next week.