Technical Education in NV?

Ringle steps down from TMCC helm

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070505/NEWS/705050343/1002
Lenita Powers (LPOWERS@RGJ.COM) RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL May 5, 2007

Philip Ringle is stepping down as president of Truckee Meadows Community College immediately because of health problems, the Nevada System of Higher Education announced Friday.
Ringle is on disability leave for a chronic and severe respiratory condition, higher education officials said. He will continue to work with the college until he retires in June 2008, providing advice to an acting president yet to be named.
"Dr. Ringle has served with distinction for five years," a news release from Board of Regents chairman Bret Whipple and other system officials stated. "When Dr. Ringle arrived in 2001, Truckee Meadows Community College was in a difficult period of transition. Under his stewardship and leadership, TMCC now models the highest ideals of academic excellence, student access and fiscal accountability."
Chancellor Jim Rogers said Ringle's departure has nothing to do with a sexual harassment complaint filed last year against him, the second such charge in two years made against him.
Karen Magstadt, Ringle's former executive assistant, filed a complaint that is pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, charging him with sexual harassment.
The complaint alleges that Ringle stalked her, following her to the ladies' restroom and waiting outside, following her to her car after work, asking her "inappropriate questions" and creating a hostile work environment.
Magstadt, 50, left her job as Ringle's assistant in January 2006 and transferred to the Redfield Campus south of Reno. She filed her complaint in June.
Ringle could not be reached for comment.
Rogers said he was aware of Magstadt's complaint but not about the details of it.
"That never has been a major concern to me and had nothing to do with what is happening now. He really has very serious health problems, and nothing else is influencing this," Rogers said.
"I can't comment on the complaint; but I can just tell you that I found he was a man of great character, and someone would have to prove otherwise to me," Rogers said.
In 2006, a former employee was paid $10,000 to end a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ringle. TMCC, Ringle and Nevada's System of Higher Education offered to accept a judgment against them if Anne-Louise Bennett would waive any additional claims or costs.
Bennett, 55, had sued Ringle in federal court in Reno, charging he had created a hostile work environment after she refused to accept his offers to have dinner with him and then join him in his hot tub while his wife was out of town.
At that time, Rogers had said the decision to settle the case was preferable to the higher cost of fighting it in court and was no admission of wrongdoing on the part of Ringle, the system or the college.
Bennett, now director of development at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Reno, disagreed. "I thought this meant they recognized what the problem was and would do something about it and get Dr. Ringle help," she had said.

posted by cl @ 6:25 PM