In what was a very quick action, Dennis Gervin, the President of Columbia College in Columbia, Ca. was removed from his office last Friday and told not to enter the campus.
Gervin was placed on administrative leave, reportedly with no prior notice, and only an email to inform him of the decision by the Chancellor of the Yosemite Community College District.
Last night, the District Board held a special meeting and made the decision to fire Gervin effective April 30, 2013. MyMotherlode was able to access a copy of the letter sent out by Board Chair Abe Rojas.
"By unanimous vote, today the Board held a Special Board Meeting and took action to terminate the contract of the Columbia College President, effective April 30, 2013. Dr. Gervin will have an opportunity to address the Board regarding this action. The Board's decision was the culmination of an extended process of performance evaluation. Reluctantly the Board concluded this decision had to be made for the good of the college. Dr. Leslie Buckalew will continue in her role as acting President."
Gervin's appointment in June of 2011 had been heralded as a great move forward with the process of eliminating the accreditation warning Columbia College had received.
The only hint at a reason for the dismissal was a statement made to a local radio station by Gervin: "I did receive an unflattering performance evaluation"
The Chancellor's office and the District Board are restricted by law from discussing personnel matters in public or in publicly viewable records.
The reason for the dismissal may yet come to light, but at this time, Gervin is gone and his replacement is moving forward with her duties.
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