LETTERS to the editor
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Response to Personnel-Related Coverage

Dear Editor:

It is unfortunate that employees at Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) have had to take time away from our students to address recent news coverage about a personnel matter. However, I feel that it is important and appropriate to address the community about this situation.

Like every organization in this country, the College has to occasionally address difficult situations. It is crucial that the College’s internal and external stakeholders know that we remain committed to meeting the needs of our students and community.

Students who disagree with the recent personnel-related decision have been provided several opportunities to express their concerns. We provided dates and times for them to meet with a vice president and dean, and I personally made myself available at the Fauquier Campus for three consecutive days. When the College’s administrators met with students recently, we explained to them that there are many factors involved in making administrative decisions and that we make decisions in the best interest of students, the institution and the community.

Although we have students’ best interests at heart, we are prohibited by law to share with them personnel-related information used to make these decisions. Personnel information is confidential and will not be discussed. I commend the students on their passion and commitment to a cause. However, their perspective is more limited than that of the College’s leadership team. The knowledge and approach of LFCC’s leaders must be more global and holistic.

It is important for students to know that while they are paying to receive a quality education, they are not paying for the right to make administrative decisions for the College. Those decisions are reserved for the leadership of this institution. Also, contrary to what was noted in recent media coverage, I do not make personal decisions in my role as the president of LFCC. Professional, administrative decisions are made conscientiously, with no personal agendas and in consultation with the College’s executive leadership team.

We continue to be focused on educating students. Although this incident is unfortunate, it will not deter us from doing what we do best—focusing on the needs of our growing student population and the organizations we serve. We have many things to be proud of at the Fauquier Campus. Achievements we should be celebrating include the following:

• This semester, fall 2006, the Fauquier Campus is serving 1,394 students, an increase of 18 percent compared to enrollment for fall 2005.
• This fall, 18 new adjunct instructors were hired to guide and educate students at the Fauquier Campus. In addition, we will hire a new full-time faculty member to teach biology this spring.
• This year, three new classes are being introduced at the Fauquier Campus—Internet and Networking Foundations, Physical Geology and Improvisational Dance. We will also be bringing back Introduction to Theater.

In addition, we continue to have some of the best and most dedicated faculty in the Commonwealth:

• One of our faculty members just returned from serving his country in Afghanistan. The world perspectives he brings to the classroom and the excitement he has for teaching enhance the educational experience for his students.
• An LFCC instructor is currently writing the College’s history and is the recipient of a Shenandoah Arts Council grant to write “The Women of Clarke County.”
• An LFCC professor is working with the Virginia Community College System to develop a system-wide faculty diversity initiative to recruit graduate students from underrepresented populations to teach in Virginia community colleges.

The unfortunate situation that LFCC has been addressing should not detract from, in any way, the opportunities and positive experiences the College offers our students. I encourage our students, employees, alumni, supporters, friends and community to remain open minded; to remember that there are always two sides to every story and, most importantly, to continue to trust in the long-standing, positive reputation and leadership of LFCC.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

John J. “Ski” Sygielski
President
Lord Fairfax Community College