well now its to late the college has expired and Kennedy Hall has been put out to pasture. Where is Greer Garson to save the day !!
Justin MacDevitt - 15 years ago
I went to CSF in the seventies I had the good sense to transfer to UNM after 2 semesters. Even then there were to many required courses of theology and philosophy. I now have a good job in a hospital up in Denver. I joined a CSF alumni group that folded a number of years ago.
Santa Fean - 15 years ago
I live in Santa Fe and as a college student at UNM, I am hoping for a state take over. Las Vegas NM, a city with only 15,000 people has a 4 year school, Santa Fe, the CAPITAL, will not if CSF closes.
NunYoBusiness - 15 years ago
As a parent who sent their only child halfway across the country, I will add my two cents to the fray. We sent our child to CSF because it was rated in the top ten of Arts Schools in the country. She has been at the School for almost 3 years now, and has loved being in the programs at CSF. We have traveled to the area at least 10 times, each stay lasting at least a week. Losing the School would be a huge economic impact on the area, we can't be the only parents who have traveled to the area (which we Love). To lose CSF would be devastating to the surrounding area, I'm not saying that they should be given a get out of trouble free card. I am saying that the state in it's own best interest should take over the School and appoint people who are able to actually run a for profit business. The entire board and any other individuals who are not qualified to be there should be shown the door. The School has been run into the ground by people who have only their own best interests at heart. The students interests should be taken into account, this was supposed to be their education. To not inform the students and or their parents as to what was happening in a timely matter is irresponsible. This is the time of year most parents send out their FAFSA reports to all Schools of interest, waiting to tell students and parents has made it very hard to get financial aid reports to other Schools, and in our case will cause extra expenses to get them routed to the right Schools. We as parents should have been in the loop from the start. Please save the School, as once the School folds the economic impact will force many area businesses to close their doors as well.
Vivi - 15 years ago
"Hilarious" you've got the wrong person, and the wrong department. Every faculty at CSF who isn't in the admin's inner circle recognizes the insanity that has been occuring. The vice-pres's meltdown a month back at a faculty meeting took a struggle with MOV very public.
Btw, the Harvard candidate was voted the job, but the vote was overturned by the protesting creative writing faculty, in concert with the brothers, and given to Mark Lombardi He didn't withdraw his application.
moto - 15 years ago
4 yrs ago i was in serious consideration of attending the college of santa fe. i love the school, its arts programs and its location. but at 20K + yr, many credits not transferable, hard to get into classes, much discontent among professors/students/staff made the decision for me. it still pains me that i had to consider another plan. i wish them the best but i am not sure what the answers are. the debt really is the least of their problems.
xsfer - 15 years ago
I'm not terribly concerned at Vivi's identity; to out someone like this on a public dialogue is generally unproductive. As to the comments Vivi makes, certainly people did indeed hear them during this unfortunate time for CSF. To assume that the other candidates that were interviewed for president as incompetent is simply untrue. The best that can be said is that they saw the writing on the wall and pulled their application. Whatever the truth may be, the behavior of administration and the board has been less than transparent which leaves only room for speculation. In this regard, the board and previous presidents acted in a manner where I am sure the board will be more than happy to plead ignorance in lieu of secrecy.
The creative writing department was (and is) a good and solid department. The comments bringing this up fall out of scope to the accusation that they bullrushed Lombardi to the post. The question to ask is it 30 million dollars good. Is the college 30 million dollars good?
With due respect to the ascertations of CSF's reputation as an institution of higher learning, it needs to take a profound and perhaps painful look at itself. There are some professors that are very knowledgeable and engaged in their areas of expertise. There are some students who are creative, motivated, and dynamic. That being said, the college itself is at the kindest I can be a second or third tier college. There are also other dynamic institutions in santa fe that foster an arts education some as a four year institution. IAIA comes to mind, UNM is still in the early stages of establishing a BFA program at the community college. To assume that this artistic and creative enclave will disappear is also unrealistic. CSF's academics were never a hallmark of its reputation; I'd further that the arts weren't all they were cracked up to be either. Aside from the financial woes, CSF failed to redefine itself aside from poorly executed branding. At the curricular level, they were hopelessly stodgy and academics were generally watered down. The blame goes here too. It is the shadowy underbelly of tuition driven budgeting which is rarely successful.
Another nail in the coffin? Loyalty above all else is prized there. Nothing is more valuable than that.
Is it perhaps for the benefit of all involved to let this horse die? It needs to be considered. Close down, get rid of everybody and start again in a few years? Maybe build a real college. Harsh, but it may be that or some nice condos there in two years.
Hilarious - 15 years ago
In response to "Vivi's" long-winded post: I wonder if the person behind the message isn't the "brilliant" Jonathan Wacks? Look how the poster spells the word "favourites." Wouldn't Jonathan Wacks, the only person in the MOV department educated in the UK, spell "favourites" this way?
This is a creative community of highly intelligent, creative, forward-thinking youth. The future. To lose such an institution that has brought the most unique individuals from across the country for art's sake would be a tragedy for all of Santa Fe, and New Mexico.
Vivi - 15 years ago
But in the end, it is the Board who bears responsibility for this, after all they appointed on incompetent after another without doing their homework.
Vivi - 15 years ago
The current admin. is just a slight mutation of the Lombardi admin. which did such great damage to CSF. A little history: in a stunning example of academic politics at its worst, Mark Lombardi was bull-rushed in by his friends in the Creative Writing program who threatened to quit en mass if the favored, far more experienced candidate, a man who ran the Kennedy Center at Harvard was given the job. Had the more qualified candidate been given the job, he might have been able to avert this whole horrible thing via his experience and his connections. Once Lombardi was given the job (after also conning the brothers), a reign of terror began -- those individuals and departments (MOV, Art) who had opposed Lombardi were punished in outrageous ways, all overt, large and small, while the creative writing program was given an inordinate amount of power,both publically and behind the scenes, which is still enjoyed today. Lombardi was President for three months, did incredibly destructive things like raiding restricted accounts, taking out bonds with teaser rates that would rise to untenable rates after two years. Within three months, Lombardi parlayed his CSF position to the much more secure college in St. Louis. Before leaving, he appointed Stewart Kirk and John Allen to run the place. Both have continued to reward those who were being rewarded by Lombardi and punishing those who dared speak out against them. Nothing has changed. Both were given permanent jobs without a national search which might have found real experienced candidates to fill those jobs. They have continued to lard the administration with Lombardi favourites. Before this latest crisis Kirk and Allen had constructed a strategy to push the brilliant Jonathan Wacks out of his longtime job as the Dean of the only successful (financial and enrollment) department at CSF, MOV/Moving Image Arts. They were trying to sell this to the rest of the college as a necessary move and their reasoning with which they tried to sell this to an unbelieving faculty was insane. Those of us who observed it felt we were being browbeaten until agreeing that "white was black."
If the state takes over, it will be a blessing, because just before this crisis hit, because of the actions of Kirk and Allen, most every decent faculty or staff member has spent the last few months applying for jobs elsewhere.
An institution of higher learning cannot be run like the mafia.
Iotronik - 15 years ago
Laurie,
The situation at CSF has been quite some time in the making. Ultimately it is the board who were asleep at the switch when it came time for the College to move decisively towards an arts centered marketing and recruitment plan. Instead they chose Presidents who were simply not a good fit for the school. There were certainly faculty members who tried to reason with the board but I am afraid these were a minority (a fairly large minority). When the current administration came in to power by appointment (no search was done) it quickly became apparent that this was to be a transition team. Despite the criticism of Dr. Kirk posted here, he basically came out of retirement to take this on. With that said, if the school is able to make the leap to become a state institution it would be imperative that a savvy leader with an arts background step in to realize the considerable potential of the school.
Laurie - 15 years ago
To those responsible: What a "Happy Thanksgiving" As a parent of a student that has been extremely happy to have the CSF experience, it is both shameful and embarrassing to learn of the mismanagement of school funds etc.
HOW COULD A HEAD OF SCHOOL LET THIS HAPPEN!!! Does he have a "golden parachute" Is he going to share it with all of the students that are so in debt with their "tuition payments"?
Whats the major problem with the college " Poor ( atrocious ) business oversight and operation. Listen to the students who have gone there WOW.
Its simply appalling that in academia generally and the educational system as a whole, good business management credentials are always subsumed by educational ones.
Standard mantra seems to be that when an institution is poorly run and fails abysmally that its someone else's fault and the taxpayer or some outside entity need to come across with Hail Mary mirracle pot of money to --- Wait for it - Continue to run it poorly again. Go look at all the major educational institutions locally in this and other states ( except one notable exception on the hill ) are all run and operated by educators ( non business ) and all have problematical results and all are crying for a bigger slice of the public purse. Ask for a grounded business plan pier reviewed by skilled business people and you will get gobbledygook
From elementary to higher education we see supposedly great educationally qualified people without a business logic bone in their body running multi million dollar budgets who couldn't manage a 100 sq ft burrito stand ( we have great ones in SF making more profit than the college ) What business credentials and experience teach you is to match expectations and operation with the REAL world and that's something our educrats can never do, locked in there own theoretical nirvana with secure high paychecks and tenure. Worse again its seems to be a standard ploy that the creation and growth of a problem will attract money to the problem to research the problem and create lots of problem creating staffing and fix absolutely nothing.
Whats happening to CSF sadly is simply unreality colliding head on with the REAL world at the worst possible time and that's unfortunately how nature works.
I imagine Dr Kirks ( which hollodeck did he come from ) next iteration will be to act as a consultant for the real estate company drooling over the possibility of building a massive boondoggle at CSF suitably supported by state dollars with shuttle service to the northern pueblos next great casino project round the corner on Cerrillos.
But why do I have a funny feeling that the spirits of the Christian brothers will still get the last laugh.
Ideapete
www.ideapete.com
Santa Fe Arts Educator - 15 years ago
This entirely predictable disaster in primarily attributable to Stuart Kirk and the members of the board. The very unfortunate combination of arrogance, ignorance and dishonesty demonstrated by Kirk, and cosigned by the trustees made this outcome almost certain. The administration has sanctioned illegal raiding of restricted accounts and endowment income. Kirk has spoken with forked tongue about the situation. To students and parents, he has been optimistic, forecasting no threat to continued operations. To faculty and staff, Kirk has been the voice of doom demanding give-backs.
Kirk was selected by his fellow board members, and given two main challenges...raise enough money to keep the school solvent and increase enrollment. He failed badly at both. The idea that new major sports teams would attract passionate art students was at best silly. Failing to hire a professional admissions director was criminal.
Many of the best arts faculty members have been terminated and/or demoted. The interests of students have been ignored. For more tuition money, they now are allowed a smaller number of classes per semester. In addition, there are fewer courses to choose from and more students in each class. Charging more for a product with lower quality rarely results in having more happy clients. To the surprise on almost no one, enrollment is not up.
The board has ignored years of declining enrollment, annual deficits, and misappropriation of available funds. It has hired a series of Presidents with no background or demonstrated interest in the Arts. It has honored neither its fiduciary responsibilities nor its fund raising obligations. The downward spiral of annual losses, fewer students and terrible mismanagement has persisted through the terms of three different presidents without board intervention. Indeed the self-perpetuating board has largely remained the same, choosing to neither understand the impending crisis nor actually take responsibility for what has been allowed to happen on its watch.
For the students, who are indeed the only justification for the school to exist, this is massively unfair. They and their parents must be kept fully informed of the true financial situation. They must be shown their options. Full disclosure is absolutely required. Kirk and the administration must stop spinning the facts and tell the whole truth The idea that the failure of the Laureate deal to close has nothing to do with the managment of the College and its finances is ridiculous. How much money does the school have? How much does it owe? Is it meeting its current obligations? Will it be open in the Spring? What happens to the students and their tuition payments if the school closes? This is a time for transparency is the no-spin zone.
The very least Kirk and the board should do right now is to admit their mistakes (lawyers not withstanding) apologize and promise to resign.
Perhaps the State of New Mexico will bailout CSF. Hopefully so. I would support that as a taxpayer, but only if the senior management is completely replaced.
SorelyDisappointed - 15 years ago
Dear Dr. Kirk,
As an employee of College of Santa Fe and in light of the update Dr. Kirk sent last Friday, plus the additional message he waited to send until all faculty, staff, and students were gone for the day (yes, a fine “Happy Thanksgiving to all”) I’d like to address a couple of topics that have been on my mind, namely the state of the college and job security, both of which affect not only me but the entire College of Santa Fe community.
As Dr. Kirk noted in his email, he hesitated to send out any sort of update because he believed that it wouldn’t be very satisfying to hear that we’re still in negotiations. What he failed to see, in my opinion, is that not knowing anything is worse than even knowing a little bit. And with the information recently released, the fact that there is just enough money in the coffers for a few more payroll periods is quite disturbing, especially to folks like me who practically live paycheck to paycheck. Faculty and staff show up everyday and do their job and continue to show up without information and it makes me think that everyone is either really hopeful or really blind. Not many people on this campus have enough money in the bank to survive financially to make it through a few payrolls, much less a month. And for someone like myself, who knows that faculty would be taken care of first because of their contract, the most disturbing fact is that we could be given a pink slip with no notice whatsoever.
As also noted, Dr. Kirk mentioned additional options, and yesterday’s email mentions a state deal. With this information, we are now left to wonder if there will jobs to come back to after the holiday break. With the employment opportunities listed on the website and the number of students coming through on tours, topically it appears that we’re going to be okay, but with the financial situation, no one knows what’s real and what’s fantasy. Some prominent schools who aren't even facing a financial crisis are taking steps to cut costs and ensure a future for its students, faculty and staff. For example, Michael Hogan, president of the University of Connecticut, turned down what would have likely been a $100,000 bonus in September; Rutgers University President Richard McCormick decided to donate $100,000 back to the university for financial aid after he received a performance bonus of the same size this summer; and Chancellor Mark Wrighton of Washington University in St Louis has voluntarily reduced his salary by 5%. Has Dr. Kirk thought to do something that thoughtful, in light of the fact that staff and faculty haven’t received a cost of living raise in almost two years and adjunct faculty make $538 per credit hour to teach a 16-week course, generally two or three times a week, for an average of 1-4 hours per class, depending on it’s schedule? I’m not math whiz but isn’t that about $8 per hour? Service and retail employees make more than that and, no disrespect intended, but most of them don’t have a bachelor’s degree, much less a masters and/or Ph.D.
In my opinion, if we need to lead the insurance companies to the people responsible for the demise of the college financial situation, give them Mark Lombardi’s and Linda Hanson’s phone numbers, and maybe add the Board of Trustees. If someone were actually policing the accounts and audits were done when they were charge, it would have been obvious that there were funds missing, misdirected, whatever, and that something needed to be done sooner.
It makes me sad that I might have to pick up and move again but it looks like that could be the case. Shame on you, Dr. Kirk (who was a board member at one time), and everyone who was responsible for letting this happen to an institution that has stellar students, amazing faculty and hard-working, dedicated staff. If it were up to me, I’d revoke your WHOLE salary and let you see how the other half lives.
Jack - 15 years ago
I am currently a senior attending the College of Santa Fe, and I can confidently state that this school is the poorest run business I have ever encountered. All I wanted was an education, so I put over $100,000 into this school. In return I have had four years that consisted of some extremely great classes, by wonderful professors, but that have been overshadowed by this political and financial fiasco that has wasted my time and money, and ruined my education. I am faced with several problems now, including the thoughts that I may not even get that piece of paper in May, and even if I do, if the college does not exist, what a great lot of good that diploma will do anyway. Real impressive: a diploma from a college that doesn't exist. Another problem: with the plain stupid classes that I was forced to take here (MAPS, etc.) many of my credits won't mean anything if I attempt to transfer. I don't have the money to retake classes at a real school. And because this school is $31 million in debt, there's no way I can be reimbursed, nor file a lawsuit and get anything out of it, as far as I can tell (If anyone knows how to sue this school and win my money back, please tell me. I'm not kidding). I have attended many of the meetings held by the president and many other top dogs, and at every meeting I was promised with a bright smile and a bucket of optimism that the school would never close, that Laureate would sign, that sports would save our school, that the Mouton Student Service Center would be in place months ago, and on and on and on. I have been lied to so often and so consistently that I can no longer believe anything that is said about this awful institution of supposed higher education. I will never again be tricked into an optimistic viewpoint. The College of Santa Fe should accept that they failed and they did it to themselves. I have seen nothing but stupidity among the higher ranks at this college. If I were Laureate, I wouldn't have even considered a deal. I'm trying to accept the reality of the situation, and in many ways I'm fine with the school closing. Just not yet. I was weeks away from getting all of the credits I needed for my diploma. That's the only reason I'm still here. Honestly, in the business I'm going into (film, like many students here) they don't care if you have a college education. They just care that you know your job thoroughly. And I do. Some from the school, yes (as I said I've had a few great classes), but mostly from my own experience working on film sets and interning. And yes, the college set these up. The MOV (Moving Image Arts) program is very strong at the school, headed by Jonathan Wacks, and with a solid foundation of superb professors. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take all the MOV classes I wanted, one: because of overlapping class times, and two: because I had to take BS electives that I swear make me stupider. I just wanted this college degree in case I wanted to go back for my masters, or if I took up interested in a different career. Anyways, the point is, shame on you College of Santa Fe, you frauds, you cheats, you horrible people. You stole my money, you conned me, you made a fool of me and every other student at this college. I'm truly ashamed to say I attended the College of Santa Fe. And that's as optimistic as I'll get at this point.
vivi - 15 years ago
The Board owes it to the faculty, staff and students to dig deep into their pockets and float the school till May. That Board has been so incompetent, it is criminal. Not only have they hired a series of incompetent presidents and vice presidents not at all qualified for those jobs, but the entire upper management has been inexperienced at best, and criminal at worst. Upper management has been feathering their own nests (Lombardi should face criminal charges) and rewarding their friends and punishing those who've dared to speak out against their actions for years. The newest crew is no exception, perhaps they are the worst.
It's a shame that good people are going to suffer great hardship because of the Board has been so checked out.
This city will lose a wonderful resource (and yes, source of tax revenue) if the College closes. But it should only survive if there is a clean sweep of upper management.
Iotronik - 15 years ago
I would concur with Kym. This is a complex situation that is not only about the incurred debt but also the future health and well being of Santa Fe as an important southwestern cultural center. Readers might be very surprised at the large number of CSF graduates who are now part of burgeoning film, media, art and knowledge sectors of the state economy. RE: financial realities - it should be understood that some departments are producing consistent revenues and are poised for significant growth. It is also true that CSF needs thoughtful reorganization to succeed as a topflight fine and applied art and design school. In all the hullabaloo the College's board has escaped scrutiny for their lack of oversight, pragmatism and vision. While this group is well meaning, their decision to hire two successive presidents with virtually no knowledge of the arts or creative arts administration and marketing has created a vacuum instead of a fruitful dialogue within the extended cultural community. At this juncture just throwing CSF on the growing slag heap of failed enterprises is to ignore long term investment potential in our creative future - Any decisions should be weighed carefully.
xsfer - 15 years ago
The writing has been on the wall for many years now. While there are folks that are sad to see this happen, the reaction always stays the same. I'm hard pressed to find any benefit to the school remaining open when weighed to the amount of debt the school has managed to carry. The huge economic windfall is something I think one is hard pressed to argue. The simple fact is that school has had a gaping financial wound (exacerbated by incompetent handling at many levels) that can do nothing but bleed money. Kirk's response is typical of the administration by stating that it was Laureate's financial reality that prevented a closure of the deal. How absurd? It is however indicative of the fantasy land mentality that this college has in ignoring its own responsibility in this mess. I think it is also time to get real as far as the contribution that this college actually gives. Is it worth 30 million (if we assume those numbers are correct) in debt? Are people going to ignore the fact that it sounds like a bailout? Maybe CSF will have better luck going to the federal government and asking for money.
kym - 15 years ago
Instead of thinking of it as how the state system could be saddled with extra debt- consider the economic impact to the city, and how many other industries not related to csf that might suffer- how many homes will hit the market in the current climate- how many businesses will loose a substantial consumer base etc.. the effects are countless- csf does not stand alone in Santa Fe- it is very much a part of this city growth and economic stability- it will be a sad day when this college goes down- and part of it sproblems were created from the inside- Yes- but a huge part is that the community just never gave a damm about what it did or what it stood for- never stopped to connect the dots in term of the huge economic windfall tied to the city revenue and its businesses- some of you need to wake up and understand that CSf closing is not a problem just for its students, staff and faculty- but rather for the entire city- cause as the surveys points out- the students will just go to another private college probably in another state- the faculty will find jobs at other university- but where will the state and the city get its lost revenue in taxes etc...
Briget Boyle - 15 years ago
I attended the College of Santa Fe from 2000-2002 (did not complete a degree for personal reasons) and see it as a catalyst for creative people to discover, learn about, and manifest their potential. It makes me horribly sad to think about CSF folding as I see it as one of the most valuable institutions in Santa Fe. It attracts students that add vibrancy to the artistic and musical communities in Santa Fe and to take that away would be very disappointing. It seems as if there has been poor management for years, which has created this situation, but closing the school is not the answer. I am not sure what the answer is, but I think Santa Fe would suffer greatly from the closure of CSF.
Squirrelhead - 15 years ago
The worst thing about CSF teetering on the brink of failure is the possibility that before HE ditches town, Governor Richardson will broker a deal that saddle the state college system with CSF's massive debt.
well now its to late the college has expired and Kennedy Hall has been put out to pasture. Where is Greer Garson to save the day !!
I went to CSF in the seventies I had the good sense to transfer to UNM after 2 semesters. Even then there were to many required courses of theology and philosophy. I now have a good job in a hospital up in Denver. I joined a CSF alumni group that folded a number of years ago.
I live in Santa Fe and as a college student at UNM, I am hoping for a state take over. Las Vegas NM, a city with only 15,000 people has a 4 year school, Santa Fe, the CAPITAL, will not if CSF closes.
As a parent who sent their only child halfway across the country, I will add my two cents to the fray. We sent our child to CSF because it was rated in the top ten of Arts Schools in the country. She has been at the School for almost 3 years now, and has loved being in the programs at CSF. We have traveled to the area at least 10 times, each stay lasting at least a week. Losing the School would be a huge economic impact on the area, we can't be the only parents who have traveled to the area (which we Love). To lose CSF would be devastating to the surrounding area, I'm not saying that they should be given a get out of trouble free card. I am saying that the state in it's own best interest should take over the School and appoint people who are able to actually run a for profit business. The entire board and any other individuals who are not qualified to be there should be shown the door. The School has been run into the ground by people who have only their own best interests at heart. The students interests should be taken into account, this was supposed to be their education. To not inform the students and or their parents as to what was happening in a timely matter is irresponsible. This is the time of year most parents send out their FAFSA reports to all Schools of interest, waiting to tell students and parents has made it very hard to get financial aid reports to other Schools, and in our case will cause extra expenses to get them routed to the right Schools. We as parents should have been in the loop from the start. Please save the School, as once the School folds the economic impact will force many area businesses to close their doors as well.
"Hilarious" you've got the wrong person, and the wrong department. Every faculty at CSF who isn't in the admin's inner circle recognizes the insanity that has been occuring. The vice-pres's meltdown a month back at a faculty meeting took a struggle with MOV very public.
Btw, the Harvard candidate was voted the job, but the vote was overturned by the protesting creative writing faculty, in concert with the brothers, and given to Mark Lombardi He didn't withdraw his application.
4 yrs ago i was in serious consideration of attending the college of santa fe. i love the school, its arts programs and its location. but at 20K + yr, many credits not transferable, hard to get into classes, much discontent among professors/students/staff made the decision for me. it still pains me that i had to consider another plan. i wish them the best but i am not sure what the answers are. the debt really is the least of their problems.
I'm not terribly concerned at Vivi's identity; to out someone like this on a public dialogue is generally unproductive. As to the comments Vivi makes, certainly people did indeed hear them during this unfortunate time for CSF. To assume that the other candidates that were interviewed for president as incompetent is simply untrue. The best that can be said is that they saw the writing on the wall and pulled their application. Whatever the truth may be, the behavior of administration and the board has been less than transparent which leaves only room for speculation. In this regard, the board and previous presidents acted in a manner where I am sure the board will be more than happy to plead ignorance in lieu of secrecy.
The creative writing department was (and is) a good and solid department. The comments bringing this up fall out of scope to the accusation that they bullrushed Lombardi to the post. The question to ask is it 30 million dollars good. Is the college 30 million dollars good?
With due respect to the ascertations of CSF's reputation as an institution of higher learning, it needs to take a profound and perhaps painful look at itself. There are some professors that are very knowledgeable and engaged in their areas of expertise. There are some students who are creative, motivated, and dynamic. That being said, the college itself is at the kindest I can be a second or third tier college. There are also other dynamic institutions in santa fe that foster an arts education some as a four year institution. IAIA comes to mind, UNM is still in the early stages of establishing a BFA program at the community college. To assume that this artistic and creative enclave will disappear is also unrealistic. CSF's academics were never a hallmark of its reputation; I'd further that the arts weren't all they were cracked up to be either. Aside from the financial woes, CSF failed to redefine itself aside from poorly executed branding. At the curricular level, they were hopelessly stodgy and academics were generally watered down. The blame goes here too. It is the shadowy underbelly of tuition driven budgeting which is rarely successful.
Another nail in the coffin? Loyalty above all else is prized there. Nothing is more valuable than that.
Is it perhaps for the benefit of all involved to let this horse die? It needs to be considered. Close down, get rid of everybody and start again in a few years? Maybe build a real college. Harsh, but it may be that or some nice condos there in two years.
In response to "Vivi's" long-winded post: I wonder if the person behind the message isn't the "brilliant" Jonathan Wacks? Look how the poster spells the word "favourites." Wouldn't Jonathan Wacks, the only person in the MOV department educated in the UK, spell "favourites" this way?
Dead giveaway.
This is a creative community of highly intelligent, creative, forward-thinking youth. The future. To lose such an institution that has brought the most unique individuals from across the country for art's sake would be a tragedy for all of Santa Fe, and New Mexico.
But in the end, it is the Board who bears responsibility for this, after all they appointed on incompetent after another without doing their homework.
The current admin. is just a slight mutation of the Lombardi admin. which did such great damage to CSF. A little history: in a stunning example of academic politics at its worst, Mark Lombardi was bull-rushed in by his friends in the Creative Writing program who threatened to quit en mass if the favored, far more experienced candidate, a man who ran the Kennedy Center at Harvard was given the job. Had the more qualified candidate been given the job, he might have been able to avert this whole horrible thing via his experience and his connections. Once Lombardi was given the job (after also conning the brothers), a reign of terror began -- those individuals and departments (MOV, Art) who had opposed Lombardi were punished in outrageous ways, all overt, large and small, while the creative writing program was given an inordinate amount of power,both publically and behind the scenes, which is still enjoyed today. Lombardi was President for three months, did incredibly destructive things like raiding restricted accounts, taking out bonds with teaser rates that would rise to untenable rates after two years. Within three months, Lombardi parlayed his CSF position to the much more secure college in St. Louis. Before leaving, he appointed Stewart Kirk and John Allen to run the place. Both have continued to reward those who were being rewarded by Lombardi and punishing those who dared speak out against them. Nothing has changed. Both were given permanent jobs without a national search which might have found real experienced candidates to fill those jobs. They have continued to lard the administration with Lombardi favourites. Before this latest crisis Kirk and Allen had constructed a strategy to push the brilliant Jonathan Wacks out of his longtime job as the Dean of the only successful (financial and enrollment) department at CSF, MOV/Moving Image Arts. They were trying to sell this to the rest of the college as a necessary move and their reasoning with which they tried to sell this to an unbelieving faculty was insane. Those of us who observed it felt we were being browbeaten until agreeing that "white was black."
If the state takes over, it will be a blessing, because just before this crisis hit, because of the actions of Kirk and Allen, most every decent faculty or staff member has spent the last few months applying for jobs elsewhere.
An institution of higher learning cannot be run like the mafia.
Laurie,
The situation at CSF has been quite some time in the making. Ultimately it is the board who were asleep at the switch when it came time for the College to move decisively towards an arts centered marketing and recruitment plan. Instead they chose Presidents who were simply not a good fit for the school. There were certainly faculty members who tried to reason with the board but I am afraid these were a minority (a fairly large minority). When the current administration came in to power by appointment (no search was done) it quickly became apparent that this was to be a transition team. Despite the criticism of Dr. Kirk posted here, he basically came out of retirement to take this on. With that said, if the school is able to make the leap to become a state institution it would be imperative that a savvy leader with an arts background step in to realize the considerable potential of the school.
To those responsible: What a "Happy Thanksgiving" As a parent of a student that has been extremely happy to have the CSF experience, it is both shameful and embarrassing to learn of the mismanagement of school funds etc.
HOW COULD A HEAD OF SCHOOL LET THIS HAPPEN!!! Does he have a "golden parachute" Is he going to share it with all of the students that are so in debt with their "tuition payments"?
I love this school.
Whats the major problem with the college " Poor ( atrocious ) business oversight and operation. Listen to the students who have gone there WOW.
Its simply appalling that in academia generally and the educational system as a whole, good business management credentials are always subsumed by educational ones.
Standard mantra seems to be that when an institution is poorly run and fails abysmally that its someone else's fault and the taxpayer or some outside entity need to come across with Hail Mary mirracle pot of money to --- Wait for it - Continue to run it poorly again. Go look at all the major educational institutions locally in this and other states ( except one notable exception on the hill ) are all run and operated by educators ( non business ) and all have problematical results and all are crying for a bigger slice of the public purse. Ask for a grounded business plan pier reviewed by skilled business people and you will get gobbledygook
From elementary to higher education we see supposedly great educationally qualified people without a business logic bone in their body running multi million dollar budgets who couldn't manage a 100 sq ft burrito stand ( we have great ones in SF making more profit than the college ) What business credentials and experience teach you is to match expectations and operation with the REAL world and that's something our educrats can never do, locked in there own theoretical nirvana with secure high paychecks and tenure. Worse again its seems to be a standard ploy that the creation and growth of a problem will attract money to the problem to research the problem and create lots of problem creating staffing and fix absolutely nothing.
Whats happening to CSF sadly is simply unreality colliding head on with the REAL world at the worst possible time and that's unfortunately how nature works.
I imagine Dr Kirks ( which hollodeck did he come from ) next iteration will be to act as a consultant for the real estate company drooling over the possibility of building a massive boondoggle at CSF suitably supported by state dollars with shuttle service to the northern pueblos next great casino project round the corner on Cerrillos.
But why do I have a funny feeling that the spirits of the Christian brothers will still get the last laugh.
Ideapete
www.ideapete.com
This entirely predictable disaster in primarily attributable to Stuart Kirk and the members of the board. The very unfortunate combination of arrogance, ignorance and dishonesty demonstrated by Kirk, and cosigned by the trustees made this outcome almost certain. The administration has sanctioned illegal raiding of restricted accounts and endowment income. Kirk has spoken with forked tongue about the situation. To students and parents, he has been optimistic, forecasting no threat to continued operations. To faculty and staff, Kirk has been the voice of doom demanding give-backs.
Kirk was selected by his fellow board members, and given two main challenges...raise enough money to keep the school solvent and increase enrollment. He failed badly at both. The idea that new major sports teams would attract passionate art students was at best silly. Failing to hire a professional admissions director was criminal.
Many of the best arts faculty members have been terminated and/or demoted. The interests of students have been ignored. For more tuition money, they now are allowed a smaller number of classes per semester. In addition, there are fewer courses to choose from and more students in each class. Charging more for a product with lower quality rarely results in having more happy clients. To the surprise on almost no one, enrollment is not up.
The board has ignored years of declining enrollment, annual deficits, and misappropriation of available funds. It has hired a series of Presidents with no background or demonstrated interest in the Arts. It has honored neither its fiduciary responsibilities nor its fund raising obligations. The downward spiral of annual losses, fewer students and terrible mismanagement has persisted through the terms of three different presidents without board intervention. Indeed the self-perpetuating board has largely remained the same, choosing to neither understand the impending crisis nor actually take responsibility for what has been allowed to happen on its watch.
For the students, who are indeed the only justification for the school to exist, this is massively unfair. They and their parents must be kept fully informed of the true financial situation. They must be shown their options. Full disclosure is absolutely required. Kirk and the administration must stop spinning the facts and tell the whole truth The idea that the failure of the Laureate deal to close has nothing to do with the managment of the College and its finances is ridiculous. How much money does the school have? How much does it owe? Is it meeting its current obligations? Will it be open in the Spring? What happens to the students and their tuition payments if the school closes? This is a time for transparency is the no-spin zone.
The very least Kirk and the board should do right now is to admit their mistakes (lawyers not withstanding) apologize and promise to resign.
Perhaps the State of New Mexico will bailout CSF. Hopefully so. I would support that as a taxpayer, but only if the senior management is completely replaced.
Dear Dr. Kirk,
As an employee of College of Santa Fe and in light of the update Dr. Kirk sent last Friday, plus the additional message he waited to send until all faculty, staff, and students were gone for the day (yes, a fine “Happy Thanksgiving to all”) I’d like to address a couple of topics that have been on my mind, namely the state of the college and job security, both of which affect not only me but the entire College of Santa Fe community.
As Dr. Kirk noted in his email, he hesitated to send out any sort of update because he believed that it wouldn’t be very satisfying to hear that we’re still in negotiations. What he failed to see, in my opinion, is that not knowing anything is worse than even knowing a little bit. And with the information recently released, the fact that there is just enough money in the coffers for a few more payroll periods is quite disturbing, especially to folks like me who practically live paycheck to paycheck. Faculty and staff show up everyday and do their job and continue to show up without information and it makes me think that everyone is either really hopeful or really blind. Not many people on this campus have enough money in the bank to survive financially to make it through a few payrolls, much less a month. And for someone like myself, who knows that faculty would be taken care of first because of their contract, the most disturbing fact is that we could be given a pink slip with no notice whatsoever.
As also noted, Dr. Kirk mentioned additional options, and yesterday’s email mentions a state deal. With this information, we are now left to wonder if there will jobs to come back to after the holiday break. With the employment opportunities listed on the website and the number of students coming through on tours, topically it appears that we’re going to be okay, but with the financial situation, no one knows what’s real and what’s fantasy. Some prominent schools who aren't even facing a financial crisis are taking steps to cut costs and ensure a future for its students, faculty and staff. For example, Michael Hogan, president of the University of Connecticut, turned down what would have likely been a $100,000 bonus in September; Rutgers University President Richard McCormick decided to donate $100,000 back to the university for financial aid after he received a performance bonus of the same size this summer; and Chancellor Mark Wrighton of Washington University in St Louis has voluntarily reduced his salary by 5%. Has Dr. Kirk thought to do something that thoughtful, in light of the fact that staff and faculty haven’t received a cost of living raise in almost two years and adjunct faculty make $538 per credit hour to teach a 16-week course, generally two or three times a week, for an average of 1-4 hours per class, depending on it’s schedule? I’m not math whiz but isn’t that about $8 per hour? Service and retail employees make more than that and, no disrespect intended, but most of them don’t have a bachelor’s degree, much less a masters and/or Ph.D.
In my opinion, if we need to lead the insurance companies to the people responsible for the demise of the college financial situation, give them Mark Lombardi’s and Linda Hanson’s phone numbers, and maybe add the Board of Trustees. If someone were actually policing the accounts and audits were done when they were charge, it would have been obvious that there were funds missing, misdirected, whatever, and that something needed to be done sooner.
It makes me sad that I might have to pick up and move again but it looks like that could be the case. Shame on you, Dr. Kirk (who was a board member at one time), and everyone who was responsible for letting this happen to an institution that has stellar students, amazing faculty and hard-working, dedicated staff. If it were up to me, I’d revoke your WHOLE salary and let you see how the other half lives.
I am currently a senior attending the College of Santa Fe, and I can confidently state that this school is the poorest run business I have ever encountered. All I wanted was an education, so I put over $100,000 into this school. In return I have had four years that consisted of some extremely great classes, by wonderful professors, but that have been overshadowed by this political and financial fiasco that has wasted my time and money, and ruined my education. I am faced with several problems now, including the thoughts that I may not even get that piece of paper in May, and even if I do, if the college does not exist, what a great lot of good that diploma will do anyway. Real impressive: a diploma from a college that doesn't exist. Another problem: with the plain stupid classes that I was forced to take here (MAPS, etc.) many of my credits won't mean anything if I attempt to transfer. I don't have the money to retake classes at a real school. And because this school is $31 million in debt, there's no way I can be reimbursed, nor file a lawsuit and get anything out of it, as far as I can tell (If anyone knows how to sue this school and win my money back, please tell me. I'm not kidding). I have attended many of the meetings held by the president and many other top dogs, and at every meeting I was promised with a bright smile and a bucket of optimism that the school would never close, that Laureate would sign, that sports would save our school, that the Mouton Student Service Center would be in place months ago, and on and on and on. I have been lied to so often and so consistently that I can no longer believe anything that is said about this awful institution of supposed higher education. I will never again be tricked into an optimistic viewpoint. The College of Santa Fe should accept that they failed and they did it to themselves. I have seen nothing but stupidity among the higher ranks at this college. If I were Laureate, I wouldn't have even considered a deal. I'm trying to accept the reality of the situation, and in many ways I'm fine with the school closing. Just not yet. I was weeks away from getting all of the credits I needed for my diploma. That's the only reason I'm still here. Honestly, in the business I'm going into (film, like many students here) they don't care if you have a college education. They just care that you know your job thoroughly. And I do. Some from the school, yes (as I said I've had a few great classes), but mostly from my own experience working on film sets and interning. And yes, the college set these up. The MOV (Moving Image Arts) program is very strong at the school, headed by Jonathan Wacks, and with a solid foundation of superb professors. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take all the MOV classes I wanted, one: because of overlapping class times, and two: because I had to take BS electives that I swear make me stupider. I just wanted this college degree in case I wanted to go back for my masters, or if I took up interested in a different career. Anyways, the point is, shame on you College of Santa Fe, you frauds, you cheats, you horrible people. You stole my money, you conned me, you made a fool of me and every other student at this college. I'm truly ashamed to say I attended the College of Santa Fe. And that's as optimistic as I'll get at this point.
The Board owes it to the faculty, staff and students to dig deep into their pockets and float the school till May. That Board has been so incompetent, it is criminal. Not only have they hired a series of incompetent presidents and vice presidents not at all qualified for those jobs, but the entire upper management has been inexperienced at best, and criminal at worst. Upper management has been feathering their own nests (Lombardi should face criminal charges) and rewarding their friends and punishing those who've dared to speak out against their actions for years. The newest crew is no exception, perhaps they are the worst.
It's a shame that good people are going to suffer great hardship because of the Board has been so checked out.
This city will lose a wonderful resource (and yes, source of tax revenue) if the College closes. But it should only survive if there is a clean sweep of upper management.
I would concur with Kym. This is a complex situation that is not only about the incurred debt but also the future health and well being of Santa Fe as an important southwestern cultural center. Readers might be very surprised at the large number of CSF graduates who are now part of burgeoning film, media, art and knowledge sectors of the state economy. RE: financial realities - it should be understood that some departments are producing consistent revenues and are poised for significant growth. It is also true that CSF needs thoughtful reorganization to succeed as a topflight fine and applied art and design school. In all the hullabaloo the College's board has escaped scrutiny for their lack of oversight, pragmatism and vision. While this group is well meaning, their decision to hire two successive presidents with virtually no knowledge of the arts or creative arts administration and marketing has created a vacuum instead of a fruitful dialogue within the extended cultural community. At this juncture just throwing CSF on the growing slag heap of failed enterprises is to ignore long term investment potential in our creative future - Any decisions should be weighed carefully.
The writing has been on the wall for many years now. While there are folks that are sad to see this happen, the reaction always stays the same. I'm hard pressed to find any benefit to the school remaining open when weighed to the amount of debt the school has managed to carry. The huge economic windfall is something I think one is hard pressed to argue. The simple fact is that school has had a gaping financial wound (exacerbated by incompetent handling at many levels) that can do nothing but bleed money. Kirk's response is typical of the administration by stating that it was Laureate's financial reality that prevented a closure of the deal. How absurd? It is however indicative of the fantasy land mentality that this college has in ignoring its own responsibility in this mess. I think it is also time to get real as far as the contribution that this college actually gives. Is it worth 30 million (if we assume those numbers are correct) in debt? Are people going to ignore the fact that it sounds like a bailout? Maybe CSF will have better luck going to the federal government and asking for money.
Instead of thinking of it as how the state system could be saddled with extra debt- consider the economic impact to the city, and how many other industries not related to csf that might suffer- how many homes will hit the market in the current climate- how many businesses will loose a substantial consumer base etc.. the effects are countless- csf does not stand alone in Santa Fe- it is very much a part of this city growth and economic stability- it will be a sad day when this college goes down- and part of it sproblems were created from the inside- Yes- but a huge part is that the community just never gave a damm about what it did or what it stood for- never stopped to connect the dots in term of the huge economic windfall tied to the city revenue and its businesses- some of you need to wake up and understand that CSf closing is not a problem just for its students, staff and faculty- but rather for the entire city- cause as the surveys points out- the students will just go to another private college probably in another state- the faculty will find jobs at other university- but where will the state and the city get its lost revenue in taxes etc...
I attended the College of Santa Fe from 2000-2002 (did not complete a degree for personal reasons) and see it as a catalyst for creative people to discover, learn about, and manifest their potential. It makes me horribly sad to think about CSF folding as I see it as one of the most valuable institutions in Santa Fe. It attracts students that add vibrancy to the artistic and musical communities in Santa Fe and to take that away would be very disappointing. It seems as if there has been poor management for years, which has created this situation, but closing the school is not the answer. I am not sure what the answer is, but I think Santa Fe would suffer greatly from the closure of CSF.
The worst thing about CSF teetering on the brink of failure is the possibility that before HE ditches town, Governor Richardson will broker a deal that saddle the state college system with CSF's massive debt.