BENTONVILLE -- The president of Northwest Arkansas Community College is restructuring her administrative team, a move that will leave one administrator without a job.
President Evelyn Jorgenson announced this week she is eliminating the level of senior vice president and the provost position. Steven Gates, senior vice president for learning and provost, has been re-assigned as vice president for special projects through August, at which point he will leave the college, according to Steven Hinds, executive director of public relations and marketing.
"The August date was selected in order to allow time to bring some projects on which Dr. Gates is working to a close, and to be very fair to him and give him time to transition to another position," Hinds said.
Asked what led to the decision, Hinds said Jorgenson has said several times since she interviewed for the president's job she felt the college's administration was "top heavy" compared to other community colleges with which she was familiar.
The change had nothing to do with the college's finances, Hinds said. Enrollment has sagged the past few years, forcing officials to make some tough budget decisions. This week the board agreed to raise some student fees in order to help balance the budget for next fiscal year.
Gates and Debi Buckley were the only senior vice presidents in the administration. Buckley's new title is vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer.
Gates did not return a phone call on Thursday seeking comment.
The college issued a news release this week which quoted Jorgenson as saying, "I want to thank Dr. Gates for his dedication and commitment during the time he has served as provost and senior vice president for learning."
Gates was president of Crowder College in Neosho, Mo., for less than two years before resigning in May 2006. He joined Northwest Arkansas Community College in 2007 as vice president for advancement and was named senior vice president for learning and provost in 2011.
He was one of six semifinalists for the president's job at the college after Becky Paneitz announced her intention to retire in 2012. The Board of Trustees eventually chose Jorgenson, who began as president in July 2013.
The restructuring of the administrative team "flattens" the organizational chart, Hinds said. The number of administrators reporting directly to Jorgenson increases from five to eight, which Jorgenson believes will make the administration more efficient and effective.
"The efficiency comes into play because with those direct reports, it allows information to flow to her more quickly," Hinds said. "With the president having this information more quickly, it allows her to be involved in some additional decisions and do things that will truly benefit our students."
Additional administrators now reporting directly to Jorgenson include Tim Cornelius, vice president for learning: global business, health professions and external programs; Jim Hall, executive director of community and government relations; Todd Kitchen, vice president for learner support services; and Ricky Tompkins, vice president for learning. Tompkins also will serve as chief academic officer.
There will be no salary changes associated with these moves, Hinds said.
NW News on 04/17/2015