A strange message from a covert NCU employee

All,

This is a copy of a message that was posted on the Walden University group message board last week. Below is the entire message as it was posted on our message board. I don't know if any of this information is accurate.

Folks,
I received a strange message from an NCU employee who called
herself "Ruth Landers" last night. I don't know who this person is,
and I considered not even posting it because of that fact, but after
exchanging a few emails with her (or possibly him), I thought the
information was plausible enough to at least pass on to you all so
you guys could make your own decisions on it's merit.

I'm posting the conversation between myself and "Ruth" in it's
entirety. I asked the questions that were on my mind and that I
figured would be on your mind as well. I don't know ANYTHING about
this person, nor have I learned anything from this person that you
aren't about to read to please don't expect any clarification from me
on this cause your guess is as good as mine. I was kind of hoping
some of you may be able to make this info more clear to me.

So anyways, here is a copy/paste of the message. Just to be clear,
her ("fact") and ("Opinion") comments are her way of seperating what
she knows as fact from what is simply her opinion. (That wasn't me
validating or invalidating her comments.) Also, I left her contact
information intact in case you want to contact her (please don't
email me or Ken...like I said, we don't know anything.) You'll need
to start at the bottom of this message and work your way up to
understand the flow of thought.

"Justin and Ken:

My "opinion" is that NCU was doing very well with Dr.
Santin at the healm, hiring a COO, staffing and
training for growth, in preparation for going public
or be put up for sale. I "think" NCU/Innova holdings
are for sale now. The new president was on site within
an hour after Dr. Santin was terminated (fact). The
new president and provost came from Argosy and U o P
(fact), both were terminated from U o P (fact), the
new president was interviewing at NCU for various jobs
as much as 9 months before he came on board (fact).

The provost's only mission and vision now is the HLC
visit on February 25,26 and obtaining
reaccreditation(opinion). The staff count was 189 on
September 30, Dr. Hecht pulled out the Innova/SCUPS
people so staff was down to 161 on November 1, staff
is at 137 today (fact). The last 20 or so "layoffs"
have been department sepecific such as Education,
CARA, Business with a few Psyc people. He's also
targeted several full time, virtual employees (fact).
He has retained some as adjunct mentors, but not all
(fact).

It is my "opinion" there has been growth without
planning and a tremendous lack of communication from
management and department chairs to staff, mentors and
learners. One of the remaining department chairs has
been out of the office for 7 of the last 9 weeks
(fact) and 8 of her 17 people have been fired or
terminated or quit (fact).

This is all I know for now.

RL
--- Justin Wallraven <[email protected]>
wrote:

> "Ruth",
> Why is NCU all of the sudden "reducing it's force"
> when enrollment seems to be exploding? What is the
> problem/goal? Are they having financial problem?
> Trying to go public?/get bought out? or just trying
> to be more profitable? (These are questions people
> will ask if we post this info.) Typically, when
> businesses start laying off, something is up. I'm
> wondering if you have any inside info on this.
>
> Justin
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Ruth Landers <[email protected]>
> To: Justin Wallraven <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 12:22:07 AM
> Subject: Re: Change
>
> Cheryl Winsten Barlett
> Lonny Ness
> James Nieman
> Ann O'Connor
> John Theodore
> Linda Gaughan
> Troy Robinson
>
> "Reduction in force" is the message, however some
> were retained as adjunct mentors, without salary or
> benefits, will just be paid per learner fee. Please
> do
> not release this info for about 24 hours until it
> has
> a chance to be "more public." However you can verify
> it with your AA on Tuesday. Thank you for doing the
> right thing.
>
> --- Justin Wallraven <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > Do you know the names of those terminated? Also,
> do
> > you know why they were terminated?
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Ruth Landers <[email protected]>
> > To: [email protected]; [email protected]
> > Sent: Monday, January 7, 2008 10:31:56 PM
> > Subject: Change
> >
> > Ken and Justin,
> >
> > I'm writing to you at your personal accounts
> because
> > I
> > can't get onto to the NCU Group site. Regardless
> of
> > me
> > being staff, mentor or learner, you need to be
> aware
> > of the latest changes today at NCU today. You can
> > confirm these changes with your academic advisors.
> > It's not just hearsay. I doubt they will show up
> on
> > the public ncu site for a few days. Several full
> > time
> > mentors and a few other integral staff were
> > terminated
> > by the provost today. This is about 20
> > layoffs/terminations in the last 30 days.
> >
> > Please understand I would rather not hide my
> > identity
> > but I would also like to preserve my income. I
> > appreciate and welcome your public posts.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Ruth Landers (pseudonym)

 

If there are potential buyers, they could be trimming the fat to make it appealing from a cost perspective. Maybe the trimming is needed and they grew to fast without proper management. If UOP is interested in buying NCU, then is the current NCU pres installed for purposes of overseeing the purchase. I don't understand why Dr.Santin left. She seemed to be effective as an NCU president. All of the above is simply speculation. The question is, who is Ruth Landers? A story teller? Dr.Santin? An ex department chair?

This is turning out to be an interesting mystery

 

Hmmm, I think I'll hold onto my admissions application check for a while.

 

I have written about the two women who came up to me at an AACRAO (registrars) convention three years ago, to say they were recently-terminated NCU people, carrying "smoking guns" about procedures there, looking for advice. They had taken their name badges off. I simply suggested that they take what they had to North Central Association, and know nothing more.

 

Did I miss something? I didn't read anything in the original posting that alluded to any "smoking guns." If there's any truth to "Ruth's" allegations, there was no suggestion of anything beyond an internal shake up taking place, which may presage a potential sale or some other reorganization. Who knows, perhaps there is a rotten smell in Denmark, but there was no direct mention of any smoking gun-like improprieties going on at NCU in her post.

 

The sky is falling!!!

 

The fact that the new president and provost of NCU had both been terminated by UOP does not constitute evidence that UOP is trying to buy NCU.

 

Financial foresight of NCU's new president in preparation for re-accreditation

I'm so tired of speculation, but here goes...

Accreditation isn't just about the quality of academics, but it's also about the financial strength of an educational institution. In this case, NCU built a very large complex, which invariably took a lot of capital. Now a re-accreditation visit is impending and, abruptly, quite a few people from NCU were terminated prior to the re-accreditation visit. Are all of those salaries (that are no longer being paid-out) enough to have a significant effect on the financial strength of NCU -- at least on paper? Yep, that's my speculation. The ratio or percentage of incoming cash to outflow of cash is now changed, thus making the financial strength of the institution look much stronger on paper! As a result, that aspect of re-accreditation should not present any problems.

 

It takes a lot to topple a school's accreditation. But it does happen. And even when it doesn't, the threat of such action can cause a school to make radical changes.

In the early 1970's, Dr. David Chigos, a General Dynamics executive, turned to San Diego State University, asking them to create a night program so his managers could get their MBAs. SDSU said no, that if these managers were serious about their education, they'd leave their jobs for the 2 years necessary to do the MBA. (Remember the times.) David was so incensed that he started his own school, keeping the records in the truck of his Cadillac.

That effort exanded to become the 2nd largest (in enrollments) private university in California. It was (and is) called National University. A truly innovative school, it leveraged computer systems, databases, computer-based education, and many other technologies long before traditional schools. They also grew like mad, buying real estate all over San Diego County (and in other cities up and down the coast). Much of that real estate was in Mission Valley, right under SDSU's nose.

In the mid-1980's, WASC warned them they were becoming over-extended, and told them not to expand to Las Vegas. David, feeling he was bigger than WASC, did it anyway. WASC stepped in, put National's accreditation on probation, and ordered a whole bunch of changes. These included dumping the founder, Chigos, halting the planned doctoral programs, and divisting much of the owned real estate. It worked. National emerged much more financially sound and the probation was removed.

I have no doubt WASC would have pulled its accreditation of this behemoth had they not complied.

I don't have any first-hand knowledge about NCU. But accredited schools close every year, and others see their accreditation either threatened or pulled. Any indication of this should be taken seriously by current and prospective students, who should satisfy themselves that the school they consider joining likely will be solvent and accredited. I don't know how one does that in this situation, but that's what I'd look for.

 

others terminated

Several others were terminated from NCU in addition to those mentioned -- Kathy Hollywood, Sue LeBeau, Donna Blaess, and more. It seems most of them were recruited by the same person (Santin?) and have degrees from Nova Southeastern.

 

Here is an update from a NCU instructor that was post on the Walden online discussion board in regards to Ruths email. Below are his comments


I am rather new to this forum, and I just dipped "my toe" back into
adjuncting at Walden-thank goodness. Read Ruth's post-some of it is
very accurate.I was working as a full time faculty at NCU until the
third round of terminations. Lots of good people, all PhDs, EdDs,
and DBAs (I think about 25 or so)-many who had been there for
awhile were let go. All of them had accredited degrees, and were
very dedicated to helping the learners. They closed down or took
apart most of the student centered new initiatives like the doctoral
research center and the writing program which was formed last year
and looked like it was going to be something rather special in the
world of online. I started as adjunct mentor there and taught for
almost three years before going full time. Was actually considering
moving to Prescott, but glad I didn't! Taught mostly in the state
university system prior to retiring. Then I moved from adjunct to
full time. My Ph.D. in ed is from a pretty good sized state
university. I can tell you we thought they had a great thing going,
enrollment was growing rapidly over the spring, summer and fall
months and lots of infrastructure for learner support was being put
in place and lots of good communication between faculty and their
school chairs. Now there almost no full time faculty left. Part of
the problem could be that the place is owned by one person who has
had some bumps with the DOE because of bankruptcies in the past
(googled him) and federal aid and the accrediting body also has had
their challenges with the owner (got this from a person on the
inside who is still there)-and they are having some struggles with
governance issues because of this, but no one really knows what is
behind all the downsizing, because it makes no sense other than to
make more money for the owner or to put it up for sale-don't know.
Don't know really what the new vision is of the new leadership, but
I do know both the pres and provost are from the Phoenix campus of
Argosy, so maybe they are looking to model themselves after them.
Change is fine, but rapid and what appears to be Chain Saw Al
tactics is a bit frightening especially when it is all focused on
academics. Gosh, it makes no sense as most of the students are
seeking doctoral degrees. I adjunct for Walden in the School of Ed
and they have a massive staff of full time faculty and
administrators. My friends inside NCU tell me they have absolutely
no support left as the new folks pretty much took everything apart
and quickly. Perhaps they just want their own people in, but it
hurts when you had nothing to do with the politics and you get
riffed just because the new guys come in-but I guess this is what
happens in companies-but shouldn't happen in academia-am I
idealistic or what? Didn't understand what happened with the pres,
as she was around for almost 6 years or so, first as a board member,
then she started the school of ed, and then went to vp and provost
and pres. (got that from the press release that they put out on her
way back),
but I was also around for a while and I am one of those people who
pay attention to what goes on where I teach. Must be that they put a
new board in place after she left and they decided to go in a
different direction-don't know. Wouldn't discourage anyone from
entering, because if you are a new student and something happens
with the accrediting visit next month you can always transfer your
credits out-or hopefully so. Good luck. Looking for adjuncting
opportunities. Hope I didn't go too long. Just wanted to bring a
different perspective to the conversation.

 

dismantling of student-centered programs at NCU

You're quite right: the new admin is quickly dismantling many of the student-centered initiatives at NCU, most noticably the Writing Center. This service was wonderful, and really unique in the world of online. I used it as a student and was impressed with the quality and substantiveness of the feedback. It was a real educational service. Now gone. Just poof. I hope they bring back some of these excellent services. Don't undo what was great about the institution because NCU was great.

 

Any further developments?

 

Here is an update that was posted on our Walden University group message board.

I think you may be either being mislead or just being optimistic. The changes that are being made at NCU are not 'growing pains' but the pains incurred with a new team comes in without experience. The new provost has no experience at the provost level or at the operations level. From what I hear from employees inside, the place is being torn to shreds, and academics is taking a back seat to those on top who want big bonuses to see the bottom line be huge. There was nothing broke. Removing the chair of education, which was the most profitable and fastest growing school was just politics. Schools are being squeezed and squeezed tight. Any student who complains gets what they want without caring about policy just so no complaints are lodged with the accreditors. Board changes were frequent over the course of this organization's 5 year history, and the academics now have absolutely no voice in any of the academic changes that are going on-lots of unhappy campers-but not crybabies. Tuition increases-normal. NCU is still the cheapest deal in town because they don't have federal financial aid. They got booted out due to some business with the owner. Listen I understand for profit, and I understand that with new administrations comes folks wanting it "their" way but firing more than 2 dozen academics (who were all qualified with regionally accredited degrees), leaving students without dissertation committee members, yanking full time faculty out of classes to put in cheaper adjuncts, and completely changing a board a couple of months before a full fledged visit by the accreditors smells. I don't think people are being "cry babies" they are discussing what the real motivation behind the changes are, so unless you are inside and know what is going on-or are just trying to put a spin on things, well-all is not what management text books might tell you.

 

Anything new to report?

Wondering if there is any update regarding what is happening with NCU?
I am in the Homeland Security Specialization, and am one course away from finishing my MBA. The chair of the business department seems to be awol. The internal discussion boards are being monitored by the higher ups, at least that is what we learners believe, because once something negative gets posted-it disappears. Anyway, I had a really good experience at NCU up and through this fall. Things seem to be unraveling. A whole bunch of faculty are gone-and you cannot get a straight answer out of anyone. Those of us finishing up our programs are antsy to get out because the drum beats say the place is in trouble with the accreditors. Anyway, heads up to anyone out there thinking about going there-wait until after you hear if they achieved accreditation at the end of this month!

 

The more I hear about NCU, the more glad I am to have crossed them off my list.

 

All-

Here are the latest updates from my discussion board (Walden) This individual is still an employee of NCU. As I do not know if the information is true. Below are the recent comments from a NCU employee:

I am still inside the place. I was one of the faculty who were not "riffed." I have worked at other for profits, but wanted to move to a slower paced town as I am getting upthere in years. I have been there three years. I plan to be out of there before the visit at the end of this month because quite honestly I cannot ethically stay there. They are monitoring employee phone calls and reading employee emails -yes I know private companies can do this but they are doing because they don't want anybody leaking info to the accreditors. The folks that were riffed had Ph.D.'s from Fordham, University of Iowa, and other big name schools. They also riffed Ed.D.s from Nova. It was all political. The registrar just resigned in disgust over having to monitor her employee phone calls. The education chair had the fastest growing school and was making tons of money for the institution. They told her they were taking the school in a new direction. Well, they put someone in place with no doctoral experience other than having her own doctorate. They wanted the former chair out because she was recruited bythe president and didn't like how the owner was lying to the accreditors. Lots of witnesses remain to the stuff that went on during the summer which was in direct conflict with the accrediting guidelines. But they have people eithe r terrified or have promised bonuses to the executive staff depending on how many years they receive. They are now down to a bare bones academic skeleton. Don't feel any animosity just disgust. Luckily, my husband and i are mobile and as soon as land a new job we are out of here. I already am adjuncting for a couple of places and have some interviews. It is okay to be for profit, but when one person owns a place and runs it pretending their is real governance, well it is too much. They also treat faculty like cattle. Anyway, enough of my going on and on. I understand this forum is about online teaching opportunities.

 

Degrees

Dr. Hollywood is a doctorate from Fordham. Dr. Blaess from University of Iowa, Dr. LeBeau was a Nova grad, I believe. I actually read the mentor sites and saw their credentials while they were still day and right after they were canned and I just wanted to set the record straight-no sense ruining reputations-I think Dr. LeBeau may still be on the public site. The new dean of the school of ed has no personal experience working with doc students-she was formerly the director of mentor affairs at NCU. i know this because my advisor told me. Seems like money is the objective here, not serving students or anything wrong with those that were in place-political, as Santin built the school of ed for the owner and took it through hlc accreditation. Then she was promoted to vp of academics and then provost and then president. You can read the old press releases on the web-do some research. I am also good friends with one of the FT faculty from business, as he adjuncts where I work. From what I Hear from those inside who are talking is that it about the owner who was all about hiding stuff from the hlc that th eowner had been up to and they brought in a new board to cover their tracks. These people who were fired in business, education and psychology and those who helped build the school of education, one of the fastest growing and profitable centers at NCU all had terminal degrees from regionally accredited schools.

 

Not that I need any additional validation, but I am glad that I left NCU for Valdosta State.