Provost Kay Adkins Absent From CSCC; Students Left Out Of the Loop

March 19, 2009 by Douglas Gamble

CSCC Provost Office. Photo by Rob Knode

May 11, 2009 by Rob Knode

The outer entryway to the Columbus State provost's office, where Kay Adkins reportedly has not been seen in months.

 
As of mid-November, Columbus State Community College’s Provost, Kay Adkins, has been missing from campus. Despite her absence, she has still received her usual salary. Furthermore, her assistant is still present at the campus, though she was unable to comment on exactly what she has been doing.
 
There is, however, a perfectly good explanation. “She has not been working in the college,” says Vice President of Institutional Advancement Will Kopp, “She has been doing special projects for the president, all of which can be done off-campus.” These projects include forming alliances with other universities, and doing reports for the Board of Regents.
 
Also, Adkins plans on becoming President of another college. Her contract with the college times out on June 30th, and until then, she will be busy with the “Special projects”.
 
In the meantime, duties usually handled by the Provost, such as supervision of Deans and chairpersons, financial regulation, keeping classes and materials up to date, and student relations, will be handled by the college President. The new Provost will take up these responsibilities next, as soon as one is found. According to Kopp, interviews are already taking place.
 
Potentially, the college could be without a Provost for several more months. But do we even need a Provost?
 
Staff had been sent an e-mail on November 11th to inform them about the change, and the campus record shows no complaints yet. The provost’s responsibilities have not gotten in the way of usual business, and the college appears to be running smoothly. According to Tim Wagner, Vice President of Columbus State’s Human Resources Department, the college is well prepared to handle the Provost’s duties. “When you parcel out (the Provost’s) day-to-day duties to five or so people, it’s not too big of a stress.”
 
So is there really a problem? Staff had been informed, the duties are currently being handled, and the only people who seem left unaware of Adkins’ absence are the students. None of several students interviewed were aware that she was gone, and most didn’t even know what a Provost does.
 
“I have never heard anything about any Provost”, says Ben Kirkendall, a first-year CSCC student, “And no one ever said anything about her leaving.” Since student relations (making sure the needs of students are met and made known to Administrators) is part of what the Provost does, shouldn’t students be aware that such a service is available to them? What does it say about our college that students don’t even noticed when their link to the Administrators stops showing up?
 
“One of the things a Provost brings to the table is making sure that the needs of the college are met,” says Wagner. If this is true, CSCC definitely needs a Provost. Furthermore, they need to be informed that such an option is available to them. Students pay tuition money, and should be treated as such. If the Provost is leaving, students, not just faculty, should be informed. What’s more, students should be better informed that someone is there to field any concerns they have about the college. Isn’t that what student relations is all about?