College of Santa Fe Deal Falls Through
Will there be a gaping hole in higher education?
By: 11/30/2008
The college is approximately $30 million debt and many considered the Laureate purchase to be the last possible route to avoid closure of the campus. Negotiations have been contractually exlusive with Laureate during an extended period of due diligence making it unlikely that CSF has other courters waiting in the wings. However, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and the Secretary of Higher Education Reed Dasenbrock are working to form a relationship with New Mexico Highlands University or University of New Mexico.
President Kirk expresses upbeat tones about the potential for a last minute state merger, but it's a hard sell to students and faculty who have been hearing optimism for months, while the situation continues to worsen.
The full text of Kirk's email is below:
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
Here is an update on the current negotiations.
It is now obvious that, because of their own financial realities,
Laureate will not be able to assume the debt required to retire our
bonds and fund the College. Over the weekend this information was given
to Governor Richardson, and he has asked the Secretary of Higher
Education to see if there is an arrangement in which the College can
become a state institution. There are two institutions involved in
discussions: UNM and Highlands. Highlands is very interested, and their
board has given preliminary approval. UNM has asked for financial
information, and we will be meeting with them next week.
We will know more about these possibilities next week. Further updates
will be made as they become available.
Sincerely,
Stuart C. Kirk
Despite Kirk's greeting being addressed to "students," as well as faculty and staff, students did not receive the notification by email until Friday, Nov. 28, well after reading about it the local news.
In a press release issued late on Nov. 26, Governor Richardson expressed his committment to resolving the crisis, saying "We need to explore every possibility to see if there is a way for it [College of Santa Fe] to continue to serve the citizens of Santa Fe and of New Mexico."
Secretary Dasenbrock was quoted as saying "We do think it is in the state’s and city’s interest that the College of Santa Fe continue to exist, and we think the state’s capital should have a four-year institution in it."
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, concerned students created a Facebook group in order to brainstorm ideas about how to support their school and contribute to a positive resolution. Kirk has promised a series of forums for staff, faculty and students, currently each scheduled for different times on Tuesday. Kirk is allowing 45 minutes to break down the situation for each group separately, presumably to address each group's specific concerns. But some are reading it as a divide and conquer move. Organizing via Facebook, students have scheduled their own strategy meeting on the night of Monday, Dec. 1 in advance of Kirk's forum. Students also spread among themselves the full contact information for the board of directors and are encouraging direct contact to express their frustration over the situation.
The administration is known to be frustrated by such student actions, but the students are determined to have their say, even as they work to satisfy end of the semester workloads in the face of an uncertain future.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Optic reports that outgoing Highlands University board of regents chairman, Javier Gonzales, claims the Las Vegas-based school is "very serious" about pursuing a takeover of CSF. Gonzales further said, in a statement that may not exactly infuse CSF students with vigor, that CSF would be similar to Highlands offshoots in Farmington and Rio Rancho.
News will be updated as it comes in.
Take a poll: What would be the worst aspect of the College of Santa Fe folding?
Comments (31)
Posted by Jack:
cont'd from above.
Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take all the MOV classes I wanted, one: because of overlapping class times, and two: because I had to take BS electives that I swear make me stupider. I just wanted this college degree in case I wanted to go back for my masters, or if I took up interested in a different career. Anyways, the point is, shame on you College of Santa Fe, you frauds, you cheats, you horrible people. You stole my money, you conned me, you made a fool of me and every other student at this college. I'm truly ashamed to say I attended the College of Santa Fe. And that's as optimistic as I'll get at this point.
Posted by Lotronik:
I would concur with Kym. This is a complex situation that is not only about the incurred debt but also the future health and well being of Santa Fe as an important southwestern cultural center. Readers might be very surprised at the large number of CSF graduates who are now part of burgeoning film, media, art and knowledge sectors of the state economy. RE: financial realities - it should be understood that some departments are producing consistent revenues and are poised for significant growth. It is also true that CSF needs thoughtful reorganization to succeed as a topflight fine and applied art and design school. In all the hullabaloo the College's board has escaped scrutiny for their lack of oversight, pragmatism and vision. While this group is well meaning, their decision to hire two successive presidents with virtually no knowledge of the arts or creative arts administration and marketing has created a vacuum instead of a fruitful dialogue within the extended cultural community. At this juncture just throwing CSF on the growing slag heap of failed enterprises is to ignore long term investment potential in our creative future - Any decisions should be weighed carefully.
Posted by Kym:
Instead of thinking of it as how the state system could be saddled with extra debt- consider the economic impact to the city, and how many other industries not related to csf that might suffer- how many homes will hit the market in the current climate- how many businesses will loose a substantial consumer base etc.. the effects are countless- csf does not stand alone in Santa Fe- it is very much a part of this city growth and economic stability- it will be a sad day when this college goes down- and part of it sproblems were created from the inside- Yes- but a huge part is that the community just never gave a damm about what it did or what it stood for- never stopped to connect the dots in term of the huge economic windfall tied to the city revenue and its businesses- some of you need to wake up and understand that CSf closing is not a problem just for its students, staff and faculty- but rather for the entire city- cause as the surveys points out- the students will just go to another private college probably in another state- the faculty will find jobs at other university- but where will the state and the city get its lost revenue in taxes etc...
Posted by Briget Boyle:
I attended the College of Santa Fe from 2000-2002 (did not complete a degree for personal reasons) and see it as a catalyst for creative people to discover, learn about, and manifest their potential. It makes me horribly sad to think about CSF folding as I see it as one of the most valuable institutions in Santa Fe. It attracts students that add vibrancy to the artistic and musical communities in Santa Fe and to take that away would be very disappointing. It seems as if there has been poor management for years, which has created this situation, but closing the school is not the answer. I am not sure what the answer is, but I think Santa Fe would suffer greatly from the closure of CSF.
As a student, it seems as if all of the problems that the college is currently dealing with could have been easily avoided over the years with better management techniques (Although me criticizing management techniques is beyond hypocritical) and organization (Ditto). If this college were to go down, it would be doubly sad. Not only would a very cool, unique, and challenging school be wiped from the educational map, but it all could have been prevented. There is no reason for it to go this badly.
But, ultimately, I wish the college itself would be more honest and forthright with the students and faculty. Our livelihoods are staked in this school and they owe it to us, if only for continuing to believe in this grand institution.
Santa Fe and the state cannot afford such a black mark.
This effects everyone, as a small business I know it will effect the long term of my business.
Posted by Pete Baston:
Whats the major problem with the college " Poor ( atrocious ) business oversight and operation. Listen to the students who have gone there WOW. Its simply appalling that in academia generally and the educational system as a whole, good business management credentials are always subsumed by educational ones. Standard mantra seems to be that when an institution is poorly run and fails abysmally that its someone else's fault and the taxpayer or some outside entity need to come across with Hail Mary mirracle pot of money to --- Wait for it - Continue to run it poorly again. Go look at all the major educational institutions locally in this and other states ( except one notable exception on the hill ) are all run and operated by educators ( non business ) and all have problematical results and all are crying for a bigger slice of the public purse. Ask for a grounded business plan pier reviewed by skilled business people and you will get nonsense From elementary to higher education we see supposedly great educationally qualified people without a business logic bone in their body running multi million dollar budgets who couldn't manage a 100 sq ft burrito stand ( we have great ones in SF making more profit than the college ) What business credentials and experience teach you is to match expectations and operation with the REAL world and that's something our educrats can never do, locked in there own theoretical nirvana with secure high paychecks and tenure. Worse again its seems to be a standard ploy that the creation and growth of a problem will attract money to the problem to research the problem and create lots of problem creating staffing and fix absolutely nothing. Whats happening to CSF sadly is simply unreality colliding head on with the REAL world at the worst possible time and that's unfortunately how nature works. I imagine Dr Kirks ( which hollodeck did he come from ) next iteration will be to act as a consultant for the real estate company drooling over the possibility of building a massive boondoggle at CSF suitably supported by state dollars with shuttle service to the northern pueblos next great casino project round the corner on Cerrillos. But why do I have a funny feeling that the spirits of the Christian brothers will still get the last laugh?
Posted by Santa Fe Arts Educator:
cont'd from above.
Kirk and the administration must stop spinning the facts and tell the whole truth The idea that the failure of the Laureate deal to close has nothing to do with the managment of the College and its finances is ridiculous. How much money does the school have? How much does it owe? Is it meeting its current obligations? Will it be open in the Spring? What happens to the students and their tuition payments if the school closes? This is a time for transparency is the no-spin zone. The very least Kirk and the board should do right now is to admit their mistakes (lawyers not withstanding) apologize and promise to resign. Perhaps the State of New Mexico will bailout CSF. Hopefully so. I would support that as a taxpayer, but only if the senior management is completely replaced.
Posted by Chris Taylor:
I love this school.