EDITORIAL: WCC President Owes Taxpayers an Explanation
DR. ROSE BELLANCA, in following popular president Dr. Larry Whitworth, had no easy way to blaze her own presidential path. She had two strikes against her. First, she is one of a minority of community college presidents in Michigan and the U.S. who are women. Second, Dr. Bellanca is trudging forward against a growing perception that she suffers from autocratic tendencies and poor communication. A vote of no confidence by her faculty just a few months ago has not significantly improved the relationship between Dr. Bellanca and her teaching staff.
The Ann Arbor Independent, using a growing number of internal documents related to the college’s finances provided to the newspaper, has uncovered a number of troubling issues.
Dr. Bellanca leads an institution which has slashed funding for student aid and student services over the course of her tenure. Enrollment is down from historic highs and the percentage of students who attain degrees within three years is 15 percent. Thanks to reductions in student aid, student debt is up as are loan defaults. Among local schools, at 21.4 percent WCC has the highest default rate for student loans. The number of student loan borrowers in default at WCC rose from 348 in 2009 to 640 in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Despite these sobering facts, a review of Dr. Bellanca’s college-issued credit card statements as well as her own unit’s 2014 budget show that she has allocated for her office a $32,000 business meal budget as well as $110,000 to spend on memberships. Her contract allows her $9,500 for miscellaneous expenses and a $15,000 housing allowance. She earns over $200,000 per year and her auto expenses, including car washes and fuel, are paid for by taxpayers, as well.
That WCC’s president allocated herself $142,000 for business meals, professional association and club memberships is not only unseemly, it’s irresponsible. Her credit card records reveal she purchased a meal costing in excess of $2,800 (allegedly reimbursed by the WCC Foundation) and other meals which cost taxpayers between $300-$800. It’s past time Dr. Rose Bellanca embraced frugality and transparency. WCC trustees should be questioned about their continued support of a college leader who engages in spending that sends the message she is so very out of touch.
Thank you. You took the words right out of my mouth and the mouths of a lot of other people I know who work at WCC. She should give her explanation on her way out the door – I hope.