Edward Kdonian - Editor in Chief
On December 2, the Post Secondary Education Committee convened on CCRI’s Knight campus in Warwick. On their agenda were a variety of referenda including the appointment of a new president to CCRI in replacement of Ray DiPasquale. After a lengthy executive session the council voted near unanimously to designate Dr. Megan Hughes as the college’s first female president.
Members of the faculty expressed trepidation over the decision to install the only of the three finalists for the position who possesses no direct experience working in a community college. While some students are concerned with the decision as a result her performance at the recent open forum where the candidates were introduced to the public.
The open forum, which drew in enough of a crowd that an overflow room was necessary, functioned as a place for students and faculty to officially meet the candidates and ask them questions. Among those present was the Editor in Chief of the college’s student newspaper, Edward Kdonian.
Kdonian inquired of all three candidates their opinions on performance based funding, block scheduling, and guided pathways. All three of these subjects have been the source of much contention for the students and faculty at the college. Meghan Hughes was the only of the candidates who neglected to respond to the question.
Immediately following the forum one student expressed that he had been compelled to walk out in disgust when she refused to answer the question. As a result Mr. Kdonian chose to speak at the open forum which began the committee’s meeting last wednesday night. In his speech he offered his personal support for Dr. Jean Wihbey as the next president.
“I may not have agreed with her answers to my question, the honest and thoughtful response she gave succeeded in garnering my respect.” said Kdonian.
While she may not have the same experience in the field of community colleges that her adversaries, Hughes does have an impressive resumé. After nearly six years working with the art department at Tufts University, she became the Executive Director of Year Up.
After almost six and a half years with the organization dedicated to providing accelerated learning programs to urban youths, she put her application in to become CCRI’s president. A title which she now officially holds.
Members of the faculty expressed trepidation over the decision to install the only of the three finalists for the position who possesses no direct experience working in a community college. While some students are concerned with the decision as a result her performance at the recent open forum where the candidates were introduced to the public.
The open forum, which drew in enough of a crowd that an overflow room was necessary, functioned as a place for students and faculty to officially meet the candidates and ask them questions. Among those present was the Editor in Chief of the college’s student newspaper, Edward Kdonian.
Kdonian inquired of all three candidates their opinions on performance based funding, block scheduling, and guided pathways. All three of these subjects have been the source of much contention for the students and faculty at the college. Meghan Hughes was the only of the candidates who neglected to respond to the question.
Immediately following the forum one student expressed that he had been compelled to walk out in disgust when she refused to answer the question. As a result Mr. Kdonian chose to speak at the open forum which began the committee’s meeting last wednesday night. In his speech he offered his personal support for Dr. Jean Wihbey as the next president.
“I may not have agreed with her answers to my question, the honest and thoughtful response she gave succeeded in garnering my respect.” said Kdonian.
While she may not have the same experience in the field of community colleges that her adversaries, Hughes does have an impressive resumé. After nearly six years working with the art department at Tufts University, she became the Executive Director of Year Up.
After almost six and a half years with the organization dedicated to providing accelerated learning programs to urban youths, she put her application in to become CCRI’s president. A title which she now officially holds.