Complaint Review: Bellevue Community College - Instructor Mary Slowinski Business Division Head Margaret Talcott

In July of 2004, I started calling BCC in an attempt at getting information on Web Design and Development Classes and Programs. The information that I sought was not readily apparent after reading the Course Catalogue or the fall schedule. The catalogues don't indicate
what softwares are covered. After multiple attempts at calling BCC, I was unsuccessful at reaching anyone by telephone. However, on two occassions I did receive a voice mail referring me to the continuing education department (non-accredited division).

Although non-accredited, the continuing education department does appear to offer course offerings
that are quite different than the accredited program. One of the reasons I may have been referred to the Continuing Education Department was that the Continuing Education Department is nin danger of shutting down
permanently due to a lack of student enrollment. This doesn't surprise me since the Continuing Education Department is not eligible for most forms of financial aide. My informants advise me that the Continuing
Education Department has to actually pay money to BCC in order to use the facilities. It was my understanding that Microsoft paid for much of the facilities at the Continuing Education Department.

Subsequent calls were made to BCC and I was not successfull in getting information from anyone. Margaret Turkote, Chair of the Business Divsion
was not reachable through out most of August and September. As a result, I placed a call to a person by the name of Dr. Jim Bennett, Dean of Instruction. He brushed me off and said I need to call the Business
Division. After calls to Mr. Bennett, I then tried calling Jean Floten, President of the College and was advised that they don't take calls from the public or from students and that her office was fully aware of why I was calling and that they had discussed the matter with other departments.

Classes at BCC started on or about September 27, 2004. After multiple attempts at getting a copies of course syllabus, I decided that my efforts might be better addressed by showing up in the department on or
about the first day of class. Initially I met Margaret Turcott, Chair of the Business Division and her initial comments seemed to indicate that Mary Slowinski was conscientious in her work and "would take care of the
problem". While we were talking, Dr. Jim Bennett showed up, sat in on the conversation, but appeared to be bothered that I had contacted the President's Office.

After months of struggling to get information on the telephone, I was advised that Mary Slowinski was now the new Department Chair and that I could e-mail her. Mary did provide me a series of e-mails that outlined
some of the different softwares that were taught in the Web Multimedia Program.. However, the information was provided to me last minute and started coming in days before fall quarter 2004 classes commenced.. WebMM 110 is the first real html coding class in the Web Multimedia
Certificate Program. I was advised that a prerequisite Media 109, was mainly aimed at teaching people about operating systems and how computers work. It was suggested that I may want to test out of Media 109 and take an online examination that cost $20. On or about September 30, 2004, I showed up in the Business Divison to take an examination for Media 109 and at that time I was advised that the Evelyn Kasama, test administrator
was out sick and that no one else could administer the test.

In addition, Mary Slowinski advised me that Media 109 was completely full and had no room. Mary Slowinski also mentioned that WebMM 110 had two openings in the class, but was not going to be offered next quarter.
Subsequent e-mails from Mary have since back pedaled on the issue of whether or not WebMM 110 will be offered the following quarter.

On September 30, 2004, I was advised by registration that it is BCC policy for a student to obtain a Blue Card for any class that is registered after the 3rd day of the quarter -- this included classes that had not started yet or had met only once. As a result of this new information, I proceeded to the WebMM 110 Class but was stopped by Margaret Turcott on a sidewalk that made the remark "you can't walk there". I then questioned her why she did not provide a syllabus to the public. Her response was that she should have done it. I then proceeded to the class room and during the break asked the instructor for a copy of the syllabus and a blue card. M. Katell, instructor offered me a blue
card but said I could fill out the blue card, but he couldn't sign it.

The blue card was left with the instructor. Meeting the instructor in the class room was the only way to communicate with the instructor because the instructor was part time, didn't have office hours, and no
office campus phone number.

When I got home that evening, I received the attached inflammatory e-mail from Mary Slowinski. My first response after receiving this e-mail is the nerve of these people. Who do they think they are? As a
resident of this community I am entitled to inspect every facet of BCC's existance including its finances, courses of curriculae, personnel policies, etc. This is a public school and the public has something to say on the quality and conduct of its staff. At this point I am not impressed with what has been conveyed. The inattentiveness of administration, arrogance, theats and incompetance. I am having trouble believing that a school can stay accredited for long without filing
course syllabus.

I have discussed the matter with Nikoleta Kelcheva, President of the Associated Student Body and she tell me the practice of not posting syllabus on the web or making them available in advance of class is a
wide spread abuse. Kelcheva also reported to me that multiple e-mails sent to her were not received concerning my complaint. In addition, Adam Fathelbab did not indicate that he had been contacted by e-mail which seems indicates that he didn't receive his e-mails either. I now must question whether or not BCC has been filtering e-mails or is so incompetant that electronic communication is not possible.

An inquiry has been made to administrative staff with the Board for Community Colleges and Technical Schools and I was not provided any contact information (e-mails) for Board Members. Instead I was advised that I should contact the Board of Trustees at Bellevue Community
College. The public has a right to have access to this information at all time and I request that the Board Members either make their e-mails available to the public or to post procedures for initiating complaints
or other official business before the board. This morning Nikoleta Kelcheva referred me to someone at the college who will be reviewing my complaint and assisting me with presenting the complaint before the monthly Board Meeting of the Trustees.

At this time I am calling for the resignation of Jean Floten, President at Large for failure to take calls from students and the taxpayers of this community. I am also calling for the resignation of Jim Bennett,
Dean of Instruction at Large for failure to properly supervise curriculae and take personal responsibility for disseminating this information to the public. I am also calling for the resignation of Margaret Turcott,
Business Division Chair for insubordination and conspiracy to deny access to a public facility for purposes of inspection or preenrollment issues.
I am also calling for Mary Slowinski to be severly reprimanded for her duplicity in the manner.

The attached e-mail is pretty arrogant. These administrators must pay with their jobs. There is no room for them at BCC and I will not stop my crusade until they are gone.

I would like to bring to your attention that Tonya (206) 522-4275, a nursing student from Lake Washington Technical College has brought to my attention that there are serious problems at her school as well. Her
comments would seem to indicate that problems of administrative abuse, open access, and curriculae quality are widespread in King County. For this reason, I would suggest that the Board for State and Technical
Colleges immediately implement a state mandate that requires the:

1) Online posting of a syllabus for all classes at least one quarter in advance. There should be a comment period published with an opportunity for educators and the community to have such comments publicly posted on a website or to submit such comments by mail.

2) A revision in the WAC and/or modification of the RCWs that allows anyone to audit or inspect a class without cost. This revision would not entitle an auditor to have final exams graded nor would it offer credit to anyone auditing a class. This policy is intended to
parallel the California Open Access Standard that was
instituted more than 40 years ago.

I am sending a copy of this message to Nikoleta Kelcheva and State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos. I believe that both ladies are interested in working with the Board to come up with some constructive solutions that everyone can live with. Universal access to quality
education is important for all residents that live in this state.

Your interest is appreciated and I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Sincerely,
RANDAL

ATTACHMENT

From:
To:
Cc: "Jim Bennett" ,
"Margaret Turcott"
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 16:51:34 -0700
Subject: WebMM110

It's come to my attention that you have been present and active in the WebMM110 classroom both Tuesday and Thursday of this week.

When I spoke with you in person this morning, and again on the phone this afternoon, I specifically instructed you not to attend the class. This was twice today, Thursday, once within two hours of the class start time.
I told you both times that you were not to attend the class until you had:

1) satisfied the prerequisite for the course, Media 109, either by waiver exam or by taking the course; and

2) enrolled in the campus section of WebMM110

Until you are actively enrolled in this course, you are not allowed to be in the classroom. If you are present in the classroom again, and not enrolled, you will be escorted from the campus by security.

Mary Slowinski
Chair, Digital Communications
Bellevue Community College

Randal
Renton, Washington
U.S.A.

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