Logan’s Rogue Board Members

Three rogue Board members are perhaps the most perplexing issue confronting John A. Logan College as it begins the process to gain another 10 years of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).  The three rogue board members are Don Brewer, William Kilquist, & Jacob "Jake" Rendleman.  These three rogue Board members just don't seem to understand that their individual and collective behavior as Board members jeopardizes John A. Logan College's efforts to gain accreditation in 2017.

These three Board members don't seem to get that the institutional goals of providing a high quality affordable education and student success are more important than each of their own personal agendas to micromanage the day to day operations at the college in order to skew the hiring process.  It is difficult to understand the obtuseness of these three individuals since the HLC put the Board on notice for micromanaging and creating a climate of fear at the college during the last accreditation process in 2007!

In 2007 John A. Logan College was reaccredited for another 10 years, but the HLC Evaluation Team recommended that there be a Commission follow-up with respect to the Core Component 1d (The organization's governance and administrative structures promote effective leadership and support collaborative processes that enable the organization to fulfill its mission) and Core Component 1e (The organization upholds and protects its integrity).

The Evaluation Team found " that not all policies have been followed in a consistent manner….evidence where the blurring of boundaries between the procedural and operational duties of the College Administration and the policy making duties of the Board of Trustees …appear to have caused continuing tensions within the college community.  The inconsistent application of college policies and the Board of Trustees tendency to micromanage has created a climate of mistrust and fear."  The Evaluation Team also notes that Board of Trustees received low scores on a question dealing with the integrity and ethical and honest behavior of Board members. 

Further, the Evaluation Team recommended that John A. Logan College (1) implement a new strategic planning initiative, and (2) review its hiring practices to add more diversity to its search/screening committees. So, what does this have anything to do with the current business at the College?

At the May 2013 Board of Trustees' meeting it was the rogue Board members that stood in the way of adopting a new strategic plan, the type of plan that is needed for reaccreditation! 

Guess what? Brewer, Kilquist, and Rendleman were Logan Board members during the 2007 accreditation process!  Don Brewer, in fact, was the President of the Board at the time.  Again, in 2013 these same three rogue Board members forge on with their personal agendas resulting in a climate of mistrust and fear at John A. Logan College!