By: Shaun Harper | Forbes
Compton College was in serious trouble. Because of significant financial problems and reports of corruption on its governing board, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges revoked the institution’s accreditation in 2005. It took 12 years to get it back. There’s a real chance that reaccreditation wouldn’t have happened had its trustees not hired Keith Curry in 2011 to serve as the College’s 12th president. This proved to be a really smart business decision.
“What Dr. Curry and the Compton College community accomplished in regaining ACCJC accreditation isn’t a miracle – it’s instead a testament to what excellent, focused leadership and a dedicated college that wants to serve its community can do when they work together,” says Pasadena City College President Erika A. Endrijonas.
Since Curry became its CEO, Compton has completed nearly $118 million in renovations and new building construction projects. He also has secured over $250 million for additional construction and student success initiatives. In impressive fashion, Curry has drastically improved the institution’s business affairs while simultaneously establishing it as a nationally-recognized leader on equity in higher education. “Racial Equity is essential for me as we change the policies, practices, systems, and structures of Compton College,” he explains. “We can’t continue to do business as usual because the student population we serve today is different than the one that was here in 1927 when Compton Junior College was founded.”
Read the full article on forbes.com.
1 Comment
The only thing exceeds the BS in this article is the USC writer wrote the Forbes article this is based upon. Start with there are about 1,000 students when used to be 6,000 real not faked students. Two, El Camino College not our trustees selected Curry, a PhD student four years out. Third, the staff and unions have lodged a vote of no confidence. Four, he takes sole credit leaving out the fact Bruce Boyden and I joining the statewide movement against the ACCJC, writing and speaking in Washington DC directly lead to restoration of the college’s accreditation while Curry was talking about extending the partnership with El Camino until 2024 even 2028. Fifth, when Curry tried to go to other colleges, they scoffed at his credentials included less than 20 years and no professor time on campus. Sixth, the bond was headed to defeat until we rallied the community around it. Finally, you can go far when you are willing to be a patsy.