Letter: CVTC sets dubious example

There is a simple solution to the Eau Claire school district’s budget shortfall this year and every year in the future: Simply contact Chippewa Valley Technical College President Bill Ihlenfeldt and CVTC’s board of trustees. The steps have already been adopted, adapted, tested and proven over the last five years.

Hire SunGard/Collegis of Florida (an outsourcing firm). Give all of your employees poor reviews, undefined and constantly changing jobs, and create a work environment of chaos and frustration. It make no difference if these staff members were highly competent, qualified and certified in their positions.

Then lay off these employees over a five-year period so no one knows what is going on. Outsource all of these jobs to Florida instead and later “in-source” several new local employees at higher wages than the previous staffers were paid. Now put them all in the leadership category. It looks better that way, more professional. Oh yes, and change the job descriptions too.

Take all of the work that was done locally to support local students and businesses and send it to Florida. They need the jobs more than western Wisconsin does.

Oh, and one more item: Inform the public that some staff members are undeserving of health insurance. Find companies who do not offer benefits and use them instead. The liability does not fall on the public taxes ... or does it?

GREG LAMPMAN

Eleva

Submitted by Topsyturvy. Thank You Topsy.... This guys gonna get fired for sure. Keep me informed what happens.

Low morale seen at CVTC budget hearing

To the editor:

After attending the recent Chippewa Valley Technical College budget meeting, it seems to me that morale is not high at CVTC.

Dr. Ihlenfeldt gave his budget presentation, highlighting the major changes and increases. One major budget item was the increase of 18 percent in the 100 percent healthcare coverage the college currently has in place.

Several new programs would be introduced, and after the current students finish in the GIS program (Geographic Information Systems), the program would be discontinued. The office assistant program would be discontinued as well. Pres. Ihlenfeldt has stated time and again that he uses a business model in decision making at the college.

It was not until the question-and-answer period that I got not only an earful, but an eyeful as well. The ground rules were simple: each person was allowed five minutes to state their questions.

A student with a disability had the courage to state her disability and questioned why there were changes going to take place in this area. This student seemed happy with the current system and questioned whether the resources and support would be there for students with disabilities in the future.

A student leader brought up an issue with charging students for paper. I’m sure that the college’s intentions were to reduce paper waste that often occurs when no charge is involved. The student explained that if students don’t have loans or other financial means, this is a hardship as I’m sure instructors require assignments or reports on paper for their classes.

The most divisive issue was Sunguard, the Florida-based IT vendor currently contracted by CVTC. Mr. Ihlenfeldt, being true to his business model, stated that the contract is a rolling contract evaluated yearly. The cost is $2 million a year.

He also stated that a new technology is being incorporated called Citrix. He stated that four new positions will be added and that the current IT employees do not have the skills that will be needed.

If it’s the Citrix network operating system I have read about, it’s not exactly new. Trying to simply state, Citrix is servers on steroids at the core and personal computers (no steroids) at the user side. All the various software applications and programs used by the college would be “pushed” down to the PCs [personal computers] from these central servers. It is reminiscent of the days of the mainframe computers, only repackaged with the latest technologies.

I have a problem with hearing a technical college president stating that the college’s IT employees do not have the skills for a new technology. To me, the phrase “throwing the baby out with the bath water” comes to mind.

I would suggest the college should practice what they teach. Isn’t one of the major functions of a technical college is to upgrade skills?

I heard an IT employee of 18 years state that when the college upgraded to a new voice technology, he paid for his training out of his own pocket. I witnessed a lady, hand shaking, trying to hold the paper she was holding, finally resting it on the back of an audience member in front her to get her point across.

One person I assume was an instructor said how much help the IT employees were in supporting them in the classroom. I heard retired employees’ testimony on how much support these IT employees gave them through the years.

In the discussion period, the nanotechnology program came up with a member of the audience verbally suggesting five students. Whether that is actually the current number of students enrolled in the nanotechnology program, no exact number was offered.

In Dr. Ihlenfeldt’s defense, he stated that the nanotechnology program would come under the same scrutiny that other programs offered by the school under his business model. It just so happens my son understands this business model as he graduated in May 2006 from the GIS program. He’s still seeking his “return on investment.”

I asked for a show of hands from the board relating to how many had the same 100 percent healthcare coverage the college currently has. Mr. Harness and one other board members were the only people raising their hands. The newest board member formed a zero with one of his hands to me across the auditorium. It was stated that the increased healthcare costs would be placed on the local property taxpayers in the district.

In Dr. Ihlenfeldt’s defense, one player was missing at the budget meeting that night: the state was not present. I saw no appreciable increase in funding from the state level, even though CVTC’s enrollment is increasing. The emotions I felt and heard that night were overwhelming. Most speakers used up their five minutes and had to be interrupted to give others a chance.

It seems that the business decision to outsource IT services (Sunguard) at CVTC has had a damaging effect on the morale of the employees. The common thread I heard was that stewardship, the cohesion between faculty and IT staff, and the committed focus on students was being affected. These things don’t show up on a budget spreadsheet.

Dr. Ihlenfeldt has previously stated that he will retire in December, or as soon as another president is hired. I believe the hiring process has started. His dedication to CVTC and the Chippewa Valley is not the issue.

After hearing and seeing what I did that night, I hope the board steps up to the plate and rethinks the firing of these dedicated IT employees and let the next president develop the strategic planning related to information technology at CVTC.

Failed IT projects at the state level — costing millions — is testimony that outsourcing is not always the answer, or good business.

Terry Nichols

Colfax

Submitted by New Recruit, Topsyturvy. Thanks much!! Who is this Terry Nichols?? Anyone know.