What’s up at Green River?

Published 1:41 pm Wednesday, July 8, 2015

I find myself wondering what is going on at Green River College. We read in the paper of the possibility of shutting down the auto and carpentry shops because enrollment is down for the moment.

We also read of the instructor concerns and conflict with the union that happens to have leaders from the programs with potential shutdowns.

All that has me thinking about the leadership change at the school and wondering what has changed in the vision of the future since a new president was hired. I am aware that several administrative positions have changed hands unexpectedly, and I wonder why. Community has been dropped from the name because, I believe, of the move to being a four-year school.

I do not object to a move to being a four-year school, but I would object to giving up the vision of the community college, one of supporting vocational education such as those programs mentioned above. I wonder if a vision change is what led to the departure of those administrators.

At this point I think the board owes it to the Auburn, Kent and Enumclaw communities to explain what the vision now is for the school and to see if that is what those communities desire.

I feel like big changes are taking place at the school but they are sneaking up on the community, and that should not be.

– Dan Shields