Re: Front Page article RGJ 5/18/05
To: Ray Hagar (RGJ)
Re: Front Page article RGJ 5/18/05
“Lawmakers could boost high-school trade training….. Senators want to increase funding…”
An excellent proposal, however “students whose motivation in school centers around career and technical education” is not a new idea (
I won’t tell you my grade point Freshman & Sophomore years in high school, but after changing to “Industrial Arts” I did make the honor roll Senior year). But what about those students who have already “dropped out” or are “underemployed”, or plan to continue on to college or just want to increase their job skills?
The Community College system should be serving the community here.
But why are the “CTE.” instructors quitting or being laid off (even while money is flowing into the programs)? Sure, there are plenty of “instructors” coming out of College (with no practical experience), and some very talented people with plenty of experience but no teaching experience (or “proper” credentials). I have been teaching full time for TMCC, part time for WNCC, teaching classes for MAP & B&I, and developing classes for Nevada Works (along with continuing my association with NTT). These are all “CTE” training organizations (in one form or another). Because of TMCC’s “short-sightedness”, these organizations will have to find another electrical, automation, instrumentation & control instructor.
Note: These organizations are disappointed that my contract with TMCC was not renewed and, with a loss of benefits, I can no longer do part-time training for industry,
I have repeatedly tried to bring this subject up (to RGJ) to inform the community of the loss, no one seems the least bit interested. Why?
I am currently attempting to receive permission to publish at least parts of three resignation letters. They are not very “polite” letters, and show the frustration of skilled vocational instructors up against a rigid system.
Thank You
To: Faculty Senate, TMCC
To: Faculty Senate, TMCC 5/10/05
From: Charles L. Dickinson
(Former) Instructor: Industrial Maintenance Technology
TMCC Applied Industrial Technology, Edison Campus
As this is my last semester of teaching at TMCC (due to non-renewal of contract) I believe it is the faculty who must ultimately demand that programs the College is on record of supporting are actually supported. If the following are not addressed, I believe the coming “train wreck” at Edison will doom the center into a “technology center” in name only (one might look at the technology center at Montgomery College for example).
In my opinion, currently there are no faculty left at Edison who are qualified to teach industrial/manufacturing subjects in the mechanical/ electrical/ electronics field. This is due mainly to the current administration whose measures resemble those of the “PHB” of Dilbert fame. Since the “reassignment” of Dean Verbek, and unfortunate self-destruction of Associate Dean Green, there has been a collapse of leadership and support for the programs and personnel at Edison. While blaming the faculty is a time honored tradition, upon examination it is just not the case here (although the administration has done an excellent job of changing the focus of a once tight group into “protect turf at all costs”). Although there will be plenty of problems for the new MSET Dean to solve, the following in “my” area are critical to the continuation of industrial / manufacturing programs as well as the reputation of the College, and must be resolved well before the start of the new semester. This concerns me greatly as I have put a great deal of effort into this program and felt workforce development was the mandate. The economic loss to the community and personal loss to the students will be significant if current programs are not supported and promised programs are not instituted. The problems as I see them:
1)The Manufacturing Technologies Instructor position has not been filled.
Note: The MT instructor I assume will be handling the CNC machining classes as the part-time instructor has had enough and has quit.2)The Electronics instructor appears also to have “resigned”.
3)The IMT instructor position (my former position) is open and has never, to my knowledge, been posted as such.
At the very least, someone with at least the skills I possess will be needed to handle the “electrical” training. Pleas note that even if one is familiar with electrical concepts it does not make one qualified in all aspects of the field! Even though I started out in electronics, the field is extremely specialized and I have found very few “experts” spanning both electrical and electronics). In addition, there are also a world of differences between residential, commercial, and industrial electrical (not to mention control, automation, and instrumentation)…
It appears “The College” feels it can find one “super instructor” to do it all. In my travels I’ve only met one man who could perhaps meet all the “requirements” in the MT Instructor position (granted I don’t travel much in academic circles, possibly I’ve missed these “super instructors”)..
In my opinion, while the electrical/electronics fields might possibly be blended together (even though they are separate fields), finding one instructor who is able to teach these in addition to mechanical / machining will be extremely difficult, especially at the salary offered.The Bottom Line…
1) I have been perusing the “classifieds” and national search engines looking for a training position (preferably local as this is home and god knows the need for training in this area)! I have been struck by the lack of recruiting being done for these open instructor positions. Last Sunday’s RGJ job postings are representative of what I have been seeing; half a dozen TMCC posts, not one word on IMT or MT. The College may argue that to advertise locally is a waste of money (I agree, it’s been done before, the local talent pool at the salary offered is sparse to non-existent), but why am I not seeing any postings for these positions on any national search’s either?
2) Mr. Laguerre has repeatedly stated “we have plenty of time” and has informed my students of this fact
3) In addition, I have been silent when involved in tours by new industry visiting Edison. While the programs at Edison were being dismantled, I was being introduced as the IMT, electrical control & PLC instructor, and my programs were being promoted (and available)!
Therefore, I would suggest that the positions be aggressively advertised and promoted. To generate response at a national level, a fair and realistic salary range be posted. A contingency plan must also be formulated (waiting until the last minute as the Administration did with the electronics instructor last Fall is not good enough). I will expect the selected candidates to have superior qualifications to those who are being replaced; (In this I must insist). My students deserve no less and, as the College has promised industry and the legislature there will be training available, (numerous RGJ articles attest to this as well) the College must keep live up to it’s commitment’s, or lose all credibility.
And one personal note: As to “reassigning” and “non-reappointment” and “non-renewal of contract” (and other such fine “termination verbiage”)… how dense does one have to be to fire the bus driver while the bus is in motion?
Thank You for you time. Sorry to raise the alarm but the hour grows late.
An open letter to the VPAA
Jowel C. Laguerre May 6. 2005
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Truckee Meadows Community College
Mr. Laguerre,
Last year (at the precise time prescribed by UCCSN code... and as a total surprise to me)…. You decided to hand me my walking papers. When I asked (then) about who would continue the IMT program (especially the new Manufacturing Technologies degree) you did not answer (actually asked me something about could I teach math)? About a month later, at a Manufacturing Advisory Group meeting, I again inquired as to who would be teaching these new proposed classes? This time you answered "We have a year to find somebody".
The letter thanking me for my application (Manufacturing Technologies Instructor) states the College is going to “continue the search”. The letter notes that there were “a number of well-qualified candidates” (however none were hired). While I applaud your decision to find the most qualified instructor possible for the new position, handling of this does bring to mind an old proverb about switching horses in mid-stream. The academic year is about over, and it appears your search to find this “new and improved” instructor has, so far, been fruitless.
At the end of the semester, I have obtained employment back in the private sector. So closes my thirteen year career in training and education. As a result I will no longer be training for MAP, Nevada Works, Business & Industry or WNCC, which almost certainly will mean bringing in out of state “hard-skill” trainers to service local manufacturers and new companies relocating to Northern Nevada. I have informed my students that while I will not be returning next semester, I have been assured by the College the program will continue; there will be new class offerings, and there will be instructors hired (it would appear you actually have three “full-time” positions to fill: IMT, Electronics, and Manufacturing Technology and, I believe you will discover also a couple of “part-time” positions).
As a concerned Nevada citizen and taxpayer, I hold you to the task. I can only hope, for the sake of community and students, you are up to it. Regrettably, while you have had the option to expand the programs, all I have seen you do is “fire” the Dean and “shoot the only available horse”! I hold you personally responsible for the future of these programs at Edison. President Ringle has accepted grant money and I do expect you to find qualified instructors (qualifications at the very least equal to mine and superior to those applicants rejected in the last round of interviews) and to institute the program as detailed in the grant.
I hope you are as proud of your past accomplishments as I am of mine.
Charles L Dickinson
(Former) Instructor, Industrial Maintenance Technology
Truckee Meadows Community College
CC: Faculty Senate
President P. Ringle
Senator J. Ensign
Dear Senator Ensign
Dear Senator Ensign,
It is with great regret I feel I must write this letter to you today. When Rich Green wrote the grant for Edison (TMCC) and you pushed it through and got it funded, there was no one more optimistic than I. However, the path that TMCC administration has taken has caused me to question, and ultimately lose all hope. I may be wrong, but it appears the administration’s handling of this project is at the least ludicrous, at worst criminal.
It was my understanding that a new position was to be created, “Manufacturing Technology Instructor”, and that the new position would interface and/or the IMT department would merge into it (there are seven IMT classes which I developed which are specifically mentioned in the grant). I was a stunned to find my contract is not being renewed. I still do not know if the IMT instructor position will be filled or is gone. The new MT instructor position also has not been filled (I applied, but it appears the committee felt I nor the other applicants were not qualified,). The College is continuing the search.
Another problem, in my opinion, neither the machining (CNC) instructor nor myself were consulted as to what we felt would be desired for lab equipment (although the grant had outlined a plan, it was clear from the first meeting that the administration was not going to follow it). I do not know whether this had anything to do with the CNC instructor quitting, but I do know that he is pretty well disgusted and will not work for TMCC again. The electronics instructor is also leaving. The administration will tell you he is retiring (true) but he also is fed up, and would not stay under any circumstances. The diesel instructor is retiring. The construction trades program is gone. The truck-driving program is gone. The librarian is gone. The “grants person” is gone. The testing center…. gone…
In hindsight I see now that the “reassignment” of Dean Verbeck was the beginning of the end for technical education at TMCC (automotive, welding and computer repair will most likely be all that survives). It’s been like watching a train wreck. Although I don’t think it can be saved, I would encourage you to look into where the money for the grant is being spent (maybe enlist the folks out at GBC and get their opinion). Even then, I’ve been told that when the equipment comes in, it will be boxed and stored. I’m sure the equipment in my labs (about $60,000 worth of equipment I have collected in the past five years) will also be “stored”. I’d wager that equipment, once boxed & stored, will never again see the light of day (except maybe at state surplus).
I’ve heard rumors that several local manufacturers would like to start their own training center (free from “academic ham-handedness” no doubt). If this is true, then maybe this equipment could be donated. Or maybe we need a state technical college system here in Nevada (I’d look up Dean Verbeck to run it). Right now, the only industrial education that will be delivered in northern Nevada will be delivered by Great Basin College (great program by the way). As I was the “part-time” electrical instructor for WNCC, and developing courses for Nevada Works, and worked for MAP, and Business & Industry (both Reno and Carson City), … my employment back in the private sector may leave a bit of a “hole” in industrial training in this area.
Before coming to TMCC, I was employed for eight years by a national training company (Sr. Instructor & Program Coordinator, electrical controls division). I quit a $64K job ($85K w/bonus’, close to $100K “total compensation package”) to go to work for TMCC ($41K) because I really thought I could make a difference (plus got tired of flying out Monday, flying back Friday). I guess the good news is that I will again be contributing quite a bit more to the tax rolls. The “bad” news is now that I’m a concerned taxpayer again… I’m going to watching TMCC & their handling of the vocational / occ.ed. programs like a hawk!
I don’t want to embarrass the administration at TMCC, nor harm the instructors (great instructors by the way… never seen such a dedicated bunch). But if it comes down to the “good of the students” vs. “the good of the College”, I’ll side with the students.
Thank You for your attention to this matter.
Resignation letter sent to TMCC administration by part-time instructor
"I regret that this will be my last semester of teaching.
Too many things have happened and many concerns have not
been met by the college. I have waited too long for equipment.
We should have had the equipment for at least 2 plus semesters.
Manufacturing and Industry is upset. They have asked me if
I would be willing to teach if they got equipment themselves
and didn't use the college system. They don't care about credits.
They want training.We need less meetings and planning. Instead,
we need more action. It's been a great ride, but it's over.
Thank you." Resignation letter sent to TMCC administration by part-time instructor
