NSCS policy needs revision
As editors of a newspaper, it is not our job to babysit the college. It is not our job to make the college look bad or good. Our duty is to inform our readers about what is happening. Whatever it may be, a teacher earning tenure, or a coach under investigation. The public deserves to know what is going on around them.
We understand that with an issue like the current volleyball coach situation, it is important that officials take the time to get everything right. However, not releasing any information is not right. No one knows the official status of Head Volleyball Coach Chris Wells. As far as anyone knows, he could have had a family emergency or been sick for the last three weeks.
The NSCS policy, that forces employees to hide all of the facts from the public, needs to be revised. CSC officials aren’t talking, citing a policy that is set in place, but it is time that something is released.
A review of the CSC Employee Handbook from the Human Resources page yielded nothing about personnel information.
Anne DeMersseman, human resources associate vice president, said the policy referenced is the NSCS Policy 5018.
That policy states, “It is the policy of the Board that personnel information of College employees shall not be made public.” It then goes on to say the information that will be made public, which includes directory information.
As students at this college, we have the right to know what is happening on this campus. The vision statement of this college states: “Chadron State College aspires to be a premiere institution of higher education in the western High Plains states, innovatively pursuing excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.”
This college claims that it wants to be excellent in service and as students we feel a disservice is being done to us. Hiding facts and not updating us on the status of employees of this college is not service.
Furthermore, not explaining actions in personnel matters is a scary thought. As a student, if our professors don’t show up to class one day without any explanation from the professor or anyone else on this campus, concern would start to set in. How can we focus on our studies if the status of our professors is undetermined?
We are asking administration, professors, anyone who is an employee of this college to open up, to take a stand, and stop hiding behind a broad policy imposed by the NSCS. We want some answers and we aren’t getting them. Everyone on this campus deserves better.