Roger Estlack

Clarendon College has been placed on Warning for 12 months by its accrediting agency, and a special committee will conduct an on-site evaluation of the college following a review of a complaint made against the CC Board of Regents.

The Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) met on June 13 and determined that CC had “failed to demonstrate compliance” with a core requirement and three standards set by the agency relating to governance by the regents, according to a public report on the commission’s website.

The agency said the rules in question expect the college to: “(1) Have a governing board that is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or institutions separate from it; (2) Have a governing board to ensure a clear and appropriate distinction between the policy-making function of the board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement policy; and (3) The institution’s governing board defines and addresses potential conflict of interest for its members.”
While the warning arose from issues of governance, the special committee will look at CC’s compliance with all the standards of SACSCOC.

“SACSCOC accreditation includes all components of the institution – all programs, branch campuses, off-campus sites, and distance learning programs as reported to SACSCOC; thus, the Warning status applies to the entire institution,” the commission’s website reports.

The review is to be completed before the SACSCOC board meets in June 2020. At that time, the agency’s board will pursue one of the following options: “(1) Remove the institution from Warning without an additional report; (2) Remove the institution from Warning and request a Fifth Year Follow-Up Report, (3) Continue the institution on Warning, request a monitoring report, with or without authorizing a Special Committee visit; (4) Place the institution on Probation, request a monitoring report, and authorize a Special Committee visit; and (5) Remove the institution from membership for failure to comply with the standards.”

CC President Robert Riza was in Austin this week, attending meetings at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and was unavailable for comment about the SACSCOC action.

SACSCOC notified the college in February that a complaint had been filed against CC’s Board of Regents stating that the board had repeatedly violated state law and college policy and that members of the board had “harassed college employees who were trying to uphold the law and institutional policy.”

The complaint and SACSCOC’s response came after almost two years of rising tensions between Regents Jerry Woodard and Darlene Spier and members of the college administration. In April, those tensions came to a head when the CC board voted down a motion to extend Riza’s contract, which prompted the resignation of Regent Jack Moreman.

A month later, Dr. Belle Wheelan, the president and CEO of SACSCOC, traveled to Clarendon to address the board in person and to define the role of the accrediting body, the necessity of accreditation, and particularly SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation as they apply to the Board of Regents.

Make your plans now to enjoy the 142nd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration on July 4, 5, and 6 in Clarendon.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will the festivities with a July Fourth Junior Rodeo. Junior team entries are $125 each and can be made by calling 806-679-2738.

The celebration gets under full steam on Friday, July 5, with merchant sales and the annual Depression Luncheon at the Downtown Ministry Center from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The cost for the beans and cornbread meal is 25 cents. That night, the COEA Ranch Rodeo opens at 7:30 at the COEA Arena followed by a dance at 9 p.m. featuring the music of Rhett Uhland opening for Mitchell Ford & The Volunteers.

The big day will be Saturday, July 6, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths are $25 each and should be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Old Settlers Reunion and the Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30 at Keith Floyd’s shop at Third and Sully. Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.

Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. on Sixth Street north of Prospect Park. At 10:00, the parade will then take its usual route – north on Kearney to Third Street, west on Third to Sully, south in front of the Courthouse, and then wind back to the ball parks.

The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry.

From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250. Pre-registration is required for entrants to be judged for the prize money, and entry forms are due in the Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on June 28. Entry forms are available at the Visitor Center and in this week’s Enterprise.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will follow the parade at about 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 each and will be available at the Visitor Center and the Enterprise.

The Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo will follow the barbecue. Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m. The Henson’s Turtle Race will then take place at 1:30 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. with the dance to follow with Luke Koepke providing the music.

Also happening during the celebration weekend, the Whistle-Stop will have its monthly trade days Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Chamberlain Motor Company property. The Whistle-Stop features more than 100 vendors as well as live music, food, and fun for the entire family.

For more information about the celebration, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.

The Mulkey Theatre will present an anniversary screening of “Gone With The Wind” this Sunday, June 30, at 2 p.m.

Feel free to dress the part in your “Sunday best” as we take a step back into the story of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), a headstrong Southern Belle who will stop at nothing to win the man she loves, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), and preserve her beloved family plantation, Tara. Complications ensue in the form of Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), a cad with a secret heart of gold, who knows he and Scarlett are truly meant for each other.

Doors open at 1:30 and admission is $7 for adults, $5 for kids ages three through 12; and kids two and under get in free.