BLINN REACTS TO NOLTE CONTROVERSY
A behind closed doors review of Blinn College President Harold Nolte’s relatively short tenure at the College could be contentious. In addition to conflicts with faculty members over his re-organization efforts, there are new reports that Nolte may have covered up a cheating scandal involving Blinn football player. The Sunday edition of the Bryan Eagle said this incident happened about two years ago, when Nolte had been in office for about a year. Blinn College Public Information Officer Rich Bray said Friday that while the Blinn Board will review Nolte’s contract and performance during an executive session tonight (Monday, it was part of the normal process the Board takes up each year.
The alleged cheating incident surfaced as a result of the other controversies. The allegations from sources close to the Blinn Administration say Nolte intervened in the disciplinary process. The Eagle obtained an email exchange through an open records request from April of 2012. Those seven emails between the student and natural science professor Dwight Bohlmeyer, that document the alleged cheating. One of the emails indicate that the player was Marion Grice. The emails also indicate the academic advisor for the football team did Grice’s homework for him. Bohlmeyer then submitted a four page resignation letter, that alleged Nolte mishandled the student’s disciplinary case.
Monday afternoon, Bray released the following statment:
For 130 years, Blinn College has had an unwavering commitment to excellence. That commitment includes a fierce dedication to academic integrity and continuous reexamination of our scholastic dishonesty review policies. While student privacy laws restrict the College from speaking about specific allegations, District President Dr. Harold Nolte and Blinn College administrators have emphasized impartiality, fairness and student confidentiality in all cases.
The College takes all such accusations seriously. When the article questioned why Dr. Nolte was directly involved in the “case” and notes that the “case was not officially appealed” to his level, it erroneously gives the impression that a formal appeals process was engaged. Dr. Nolte was asked to attend a meeting with two staff members, and his attendance did not violate any College policies or procedures.
We are dismayed by the article’s heavy reliance upon one anonymous source, as well as the disregard for student privacy demonstrated by The Eagle and its anonymous source. Regardless, Blinn will remain steadfast in safeguarding its students’ private academic records and maintaining its longstanding reputation for academic integrity
The Faculty Senate voted no confidence in President Nolte earlier this months, in protest of his sweeping re-organization of the college instructional structure. The vote came after several public meetings in which large numbers of the faculty came out to denounce the changes. President Nolte began the reorganization nearly two years ago, with appointing six deans to oversee faculty in instruction, instead of having department chairs. There were also changes in class meeting times, and lab schedules.
A controversial expansion of the Blinn College campus in Brazos County will also be taken up again in the closed session this ( Monday) evening
The Board will be hearing about several land acquisitions during the meeting on the Brenham campus. The chief concern however, is the 53.8 acres of land in the 2500 block of the Earl Rudder Freeway in College Station. Neighbors had complained that expanding the campus there would bring noise, traffic congestion and cheapen property values with property owners renting out residences for student housing. A petition was presented to the Board during their last meeting.
The Board will also discuss and consider a potential donation of property in the 14,500 block of Old Reliance Road in Brazos County.
The Blinn College Board meets this evening, (Monday) at 6:30 at the Blinn College Administration building on the Brenham campus.