DEAR EDITOR:

Recently, Gov. Mike DeWine appointed a “conservator” to oversee the dissolution of Eastern Gateway Community College. There are, I believe, a few questions that still need answered.

Faculty, staff, students (their families), as well as supportive community members need to know how our college arrived at this sad juncture.

We’ve heard the stories of misused Federal Pell Grants. We are aware of administrative decisions that emphasized “growing the college” to the detriment of academic integrity. We know these things.

Questions that remain however, include:

1. Why did the governor-appointed Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees choose NOT to open a full search committee back in July 2020 when looking to replace the ousted Jimmie Bruce? The college community that had in the past been involved in presidential hiring procedures was not included at that time. There was no rigorous interview process. There was only one “candidate.”

2. Why did the board of trustees simply slide Mike Geoghegan (then chief financial officer and treasurer) into the position of president in July 2020 although he had no terminal degree in education and no experience in academics?

3. Why in July 2020, did the Eastern Gateway Community College Education Association (union) choose not to challenge this unprecedented move?

4. Why didn’t Gov. DeWine question this flagrant and fateful action by the Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees?

5. How did Mike Geoghegan and Michael Perik (from the student resource center) devise the plan to blatantly manipulate Federal Pell Grants so they could promote their “Free College” business scheme? And ultimately, WHERE ARE THESE TWO GUYS NOW? Will they ever be held accountable for their destructive, life-altering actions?

There are many, many people who made BAD decisions for many different reasons over many years at Eastern Gateway Community College. But our college will also be remembered for educating students who are making a real impact throughout Eastern Ohio and beyond. So many of us worked so very hard because we cared about our students and maintained a commitment to improving the quality of life in our community.

And, so, during these next several weeks, as we watch in sorrow the demise of a school that we loved, we only hope someone, SOMEONE, will look deeply into the mess that was made and make sure ALL of the incompetent con artists are punished. This should never happen again to any college, anywhere.

The hard lesson learned here is that when a college is run like a business rather than the institution of higher learning that it is, NO ONE WINS.

SHIRLEY J. FISHER-CIANCETTA

Associate professor

of communications (retired)

Eastern Gateway

Community College

Steubenville