GCC begins process of gaining independence

By Tom Loeffler

GCCD Board Member

  Prologue  

There are a number of very exciting things happening at Gila Community College that I believe the tax payers of the county should know. The local newspaper has not been reporting most of these historic happenings. Since they are important to the educational future of this community, I am making this effort to inform you of these and future happenings.

  Step one and beyond  

There are three major steps in GCC’s effort to become an independent community college. The first step of passing legislation allowing us to become independent has been completed with the help of Senator Allen.

The GCC Governing Board recently voted to begin the second step – accreditation. This is the  process that will allow GCC to accredit its courses independent of Eastern Arizona College (EAC). Board President, Larry Stephenson made the trip to Chicago to meet with the Higher Learning Commission to learn what steps are necessary for GCC to be able to accomplish accreditation.

At the last GCC Board meeting the vice president of EAC worked with the GCC Board in developing a plan of working together to accomplish the task of accreditation. A timeline will be developed to allow the board to modify the existing contract with EAC and begin a step by step process to eventually arrive at full accreditation. EAC committed to work with GCC so together we can accomplish step two.

The agreement with EAC will change how GCC preforms its educational mission in the future. One big change is that the head of GCC, currently an EAC employee, will become an independent president of the college. Eventually the faculty will also become employees of GCC. These are all employee changes from the current contract with EAC.

The entire process and changeover is expected to take two to three years.

Another item on the agenda was to restore and replace the policies and procedures that were rescinded a few years ago. The board voted to begin the process of replacing all the past policies and develop new ones that will be needed during our accreditation process.  Board member Loeffler volunteered to undertake the research needed to develop the policies.

The GCC Board is entering a period where a more business-like approach is required. There will be many more meeting to meet the requirements of step two but in the end it will give the citizens and board members better control of their community college. It may even save the county residents some tax money.