Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees discussed an investigative report but took no action Tuesday. From left, CCC acting President Robin Jones, Board members Laura Leal, Jan Bradburn, Lora Harlan, Terry Martin, Carolyn Spence and administrative assistant Perla Herrera.
CLOVIS – Trustees at Clovis Community College took no action Tuesday regarding their president who has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 3.
Trustees met in executive session for about an hour. CCC President Charles Nwankwo did not attend the meeting.
The trustees did acknowledge they have received an investigative report they requested from the Albuquerque office of Cuddy & McCarthy. That report was initiated following the board's receipt of letters of "no confidence" in Nwankwo's leadership from three professional groups on campus.
All five trustees were present for the session in which the only item on the agenda was to discuss personnel matters and "threatened or pending litigation." Asked about the litigation, board Chair Lora Harlan said it involved the investigative report but she would not elaborate.
Harlan read a statement in which she acknowledged the board members had received the report from Cuddy & McCarthy.
What was discussed in executive session is regarded as a personnel matter and what is in the report is a matter of "attorney-client privilege," Harlan said.
The board approved a letter of engagement May 25 to engage the services of Cuddy & McCarthy, the law firm whose attorneys will "interview the relevant employees and records, as necessary, and produce a report with findings of fact and, if appropriate, recommendations."
The letter of engagement left open questions of time limits for the investigation.
While Nwankwo is on administrative leave Robin Jones has been serving as the college's interim president. Trustees did not address Jones' status on Tuesday.
Nwankwo has repeatedly declined to answer questions about the allegations against him. He did not respond to a phone call or text messages this week. He is accused of being "an incompetent administrator" who has "done much damage" to the "climate of Clovis Community College," though specifics have not been made public.
The board's next regularly scheduled meeting is 8 a.m. Dec. 7 in Room 512 on the CCC campus.
