Community college resolves dispute over acting provost

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

A drama at Kapi'olani Community College over the appointment of an acting provost has ended, but not before the chancellor of the community college system apologized and one candidate was dropped and another recommended to the Board of Regents instead.

Instead of Dan Ishii, vice chancellor for Student and Community Affairs, chancellor Joyce Tsunoda yesterday asked the regents to approve Leon Richards as acting provost. They did.

Richards, Dean of Instruction and International Education at KCC, and second in command to provost John Morton, is the faculty's choice to fill in for Morton, who was tapped to create a 10-campus Student Information System over the next year.

The controversy emerged over the last two weeks when Tsunoda, senior vice president and Chancellor for Community Colleges, at first named Ishii to step into Morton's position in an acting capacity.

"It was a matter of timing," said Tsunoda, "and making sure all of the replacements could be put into place with minimum disruption of the campus. Dan was willing to step in and cover for awhile."

But Ishii was relatively unknown on the KCC campus, and the Faculty Senate passed a resolution recommending Richards, and another asking for more input in such decision-making. Some pointed out that Ishii lacked credentials for the provost position.

Tsunoda accepted the faculty proposal and apologized for not involving them, as did Morton.

"They said, 'How come you didn't consult us,' " she said, "and I said 'Oh, shoot, I'm sorry.' "

Tsunoda acknowledged that the usual processes involved in choosing a provost — like the highly consultive process now taking place at Windward Community College — weren't followed. But she said it was only because of the speed necessary and the temporary nature of the position.

Richards is a long-time administrator who successfully launched the Title 3 program at KCC back in the 1970s to make higher education more accessible to nontraditional and needy students.

Faculty came away from the situation happy their opinions had been heard.

"The fact that what the Faculty Senate recommended was listened to is astonishing," said KCC Humanities chair Sheldon Hershinow.

And Tsunoda said of Richards: "He's got the faculty support I feel is important."

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.