The Board of Trustees voted to table the previously proposed development of an ombudsman program during their latest meeting Wednesday with three ayes and two abstentions. Trustee Greg McKenzie, who attended through phone conference, offered to create his own policy and cursed at the other members of the board.
An ombudsman program, similar to many institutions such as the University of Idaho’s, would have contracted an ombudsman from an outside source to resolve disputes within NIC unbiasedly. In many of these programs, students would have to bring their grievances directly to a person in power such as the president or a dean of students; employees would have to bring their grievances to the head of HR.
NIC President Nick Swayne criticized this reporting process, since those in the process itself may be the sources of these complaints.
“In looking at all the policies out there, this is the part that nobody does well,” Swayne said. “What happens if the person in question is the dean of students, the head of HR, or the president, or a member of the board of trustees? People just—they assume that’s not going to happen, and so those policies are kind of fuzzy.”
Secretary Pete Broschet motioned to table the ombudsman program, and was seconded by Vice Chair John Goedde.
“What happens if the person in question is the dean of students, the head of HR, or the president, or a member of the board of trustees? People just—they assume that’s not going to happen, and so those policies are kind of fuzzy.”
NIC President Nick Swayne
Before voting began, McKenzie—who strongly supported an ombudsman policy—proposed that he bring in his own policy that would “satisfy accreditation and make everyone happy” if given a month’s time. Chair David Wold suggested that McKenzie meet with Swayne, something he encouraged earlier in the meeting.
After the voting, McKenzie asked for clarification on the results of the vote and whether or not new policy would have to go through the president. Wold tried to go on to new business, but McKenzie interrupted, asking for further clarification and if he was “being blackmailed.”
“It’s a nice suggestion on my part,” Wold said. “And it would be kind on your part to maybe follow through on it.”
Wold tried again to move on to new business before McKenzie continued speaking.
“I’m going to wait a month and find out to see if my policy even gets on the agenda if I don’t meet,” McKenzie said. “I’m going to find out. I’m telling everyone right now, because you assholes are being assholes. . . You people are blackmailing me. You guys have no idea what’s going on in my life.”
McKenzie’s cursing was immediately met with objections by the board; Broschet recommended a two-minute recess to allow McKenzie to compose himself, which Wold granted.
Additional topics addressed by the board included:
A presentation by Outdoor Pursuits
Enrollment analysis
First reading of revised faculty employment policy which would move away from strictly requiring a master’s degree to considering other credentials such as professional and industry experience
Discussion about acquiring new liability insurance
