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http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/30/1sz30chopra202144-college-president-under-heavy-cr/?southcounty&zIndex=107885

College president under heavy criticism

Students, faculty, staff issue protests

By Chris Moran, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

2:00 a.m. May 30, 2009

Raj Chopra

CHULA VISTA — Southwestern College President Raj Chopra is under fire from students and employees for what they see as an autocratic leadership style, damaging personnel decisions and a crippling of the college's fundraising capacity.

The student newspaper has gone so far as to call outright for his resignation or termination.

No one else is calling for his termination, which would require the votes of three of the five governing board members.

Chopra said the protests result from a housecleaning he has administered at the college since his arrival two years ago as president. He has let go employees to save money and make the college more efficient at a time of budget cuts. Personnel changes are bound to draw resistance from an old guard interested in preserving the status quo, he said.

At age 72 and perhaps in his last job, Chopra said, “I can afford to do what I believe is in the best interests of the students and the best interests of the college.”

Chopra said he's cutting possible waste even now. He said he recently discovered that seven employees were collecting double pay for doing two jobs during the same work hours.

The drumbeat of criticism has persisted throughout the spring:

An editorial in this month's Southwestern Sun calls for Chopra's resignation or termination and concludes: “ ... it is time to correct a mistake.” The student newspaper's grievances include Chopra plucking a pen from the hands of a student reporter and demanding that she look him in the eyes while he was speaking with her.

The Council of Chairs, a group of academic department heads, passed a resolution of no confidence in Chopra on May 7. It complained that Chopra has not included them in decision-making, has not been transparent in the budget process and has cost the college grant money by reducing the staff that works on securing money from outside sources.

Student government President-elect Chris DeBauche said last week the Associated Students Organization will discuss this summer whether to hold a vote of no confidence in Chopra with possible action in the fall.

On a 26-1 vote, the Faculty Senate – the professors' representatives in college governance – passed a resolution of no confidence in Chopra in April. The faculty “takes great exception to the process by which the superintendent/president makes decisions,” according to the resolution.

The union representing non-teaching employees passed a vote of no confidence in Chopra this week.

Chopra said he has received and implemented some suggestions from employee groups but that ultimately he has to make decisions in the interest of the entire college and taxpayers.

The Sun and Council of Chairs both cited Chopra's elimination of an office that used to organize the college foundation's annual fundraising gala, which raises more than $200,000 each year for scholarships, guest speakers and student projects. Last year's gala was canceled.

Chopra explained that amid the recession and a $389 million bond measure campaign that called for raising taxes, he could not justify asking the community to give more. He said the gala will resume next March.

Chopra's recent reorganization eliminated several people who helped the college secure grant money, faculty leaders said. But Chopra said he will soon hire a full-time grant writer and fill a long-vacant position of dean that oversees grants and other fund-raising.

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Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637; chris.moran@uniontrib.com

Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637;