Complaint Review: TSTC-Harlingen - Harlingen Texas

I mean this posting to be a warning to those who are considering enrolling at TSTC-Harlingen, at least while Gilberto Leal is President. I have no doubt that he is at the end of his rope, and I won't mind seeing him encouraged to retire.

In recent years, the management of TSTC-Harlingen, aka President Gilberto Leal, has shown itself to be deficient. The latest manifestation of this is the lawsuit for Sexual Harrasment by Dr. Olga Flores, a well established Scholar who would be a superior replacement to Gilberto the Gigolo. [Link #1: http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6063454&nav=0w0vRnxI ; Link #2: http://www.newschannel5.tv/2007/2/9/962492/ ; Link #3 http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/lawsuit_59___article.html/flores_leal.html ] .

Given the fact that TSTC-Harlingen has announced more than once over the last several years that they have had to cut back their educational services and course offerings, the lack of growth of TSTC-Harlingen while neighbor STCC has grown to 5 Campuses and has been promoted to Full Four Year College Status, one wonders how one Junior College shrinks while their neighbor grows with the same clientele base.

I also add that President Leal is always keen to have himself photographed with his Female Staff wearing thigh-high skirts. Though not a big deal, one wonders whether his Female Staff Members actually think of themselves as Professionals.

The low standards of professionalism at TSTC that make such a Sex Scandal possible, IF NOT EMINENT, is symptomatic by the demeanor of some of the faculty. In particular, from my own experience with the Computer Maintenance Department, the faculty members were not particularly discrete when they routinely hit upon and flirted with each other. While said faculty members may be as Celibate as Monks and Nuns, some more discrete behavior would be greatly appreciated. Its not that I have anything against ROMANCE, it's just that it should not get in the way of WORK, OR the needs of Tuition Paying Students. Students who belong in class should not be locked out of class just because the Instructor feels like it.

I also expect a modicum Professional Courtesy when I deal with Faculty, in particular the Electronics Department Faculty. Indeed, I feel that Professionals who go back to College to retool are discriminated against at TSTC, in contrast to South Texas College who openly recruits them. When I ask for and am granted a pre-arranged makeup because of a mandatory business trip, I expect said faculty member to keep his word and initials my memo stating thus. I do not like after-the-fact blubbering about missing class for the purpose of keeping my job is not a VALID EXCUSE for missing class! The fact that a certain Instructor was CRASS enough to quote from a BLANK PAGE from the Student Handbook to explain his position betrays a low standard, NAY Abysmal!, standard of scholarship. I note in passing that TSTC's hiring policy to promote Lab Managers without at least a Bachelor's Degrees to a Faculty Position is a recipe for Academic Disaster.

I also note that an atmosphere of FEAR permeates that campus. More than once, those who have become too vocal about someone's professional misconduct have been threatened with arbitrary arrest. I feel that the TSTC-Management Problems are dee[ly ingrained

Dr. Olga Flores, I hope you win your lawsuit! I pray that it is you who Rebuts this posting to the Rip-Off Report in the capacity of TSTC's New President with news that YOU are Cleaning House at TSTC Harlingen. Only thin will I consider this matter closed!

Jehanty bin Himmar

Harlingen
Afghanistan