September 25, 2007 - DVC Scandal: Administrators On The Hot Seat

DVC Scandal: Administrators On The Hot Seat

Teachers Could Be Prosecuted

By Laura Anthony

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. Sep.25 2007 (KGO) - State lawmakers put administrators from Diablo Valley College to the test this morning, wanting to know how a large-scale grade-selling scandal could have been conducted on their watch.

Assembly member Mary Hayashi voiced her displeasure after hearing from Diablo Valley College administrators about the grade-selling scandal that rocked their Pleasant Hill campus.

"Right now, I'm not satisfied and I'm very disappointed."

The chair of the select committee on California community colleges asked DVC administrators why it took them more than a year to notify the public, after irregularities were first discovered in January 2006.

"We chose not to go public at that point because we did not know the extent of this, we did not want to compromise the investigation", says Dr. Helen Benjamin, Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor.

"They hired a consultant, a crisis management consultant, who told them "you need to let the public know" and they didn't take the advice of their own consultant, that they paid," says Mary Hayashi, Assembly Member (D) Hayward.

Contra Costa prosecutors have since charged 34 people, many of them student-employees, for making hundreds of illegal grade changes, in exchange for money.

Former DVC admissions and records director, Gary Fincher, said he first alerted administrators in early 2006 that far too many people, 103 in all, had access to the computerized grade-changing system.

"This should've never happened. This should've never, ever, ever, ever happened."

Fincher claims he was forced from his job for demanding changes and has filed legal action against the community college district.

District officials now say only a few people--all full-time employees--can change grades in the three-college district.

District administrators claim they've taken many steps to prevent future grade scandals, but not everyone's convinced.

"It helps, but anytime they get up from their chairs, I know they don't turn off their system," says Fincher.

Hayashi says she'll push for new legislation to set uniform grade-changing policies for the entire California community college system.

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DVC Scandal: Administrators On The Hot Seat
Teachers Could Be Prosecuted
By Laura Anthony PLEASANT HILL, Calif. Sep.25 2007 (KGO) - State lawmakers put administrators from Diablo Valley College to the test this morning, wanting to know how a large-scale grade-selling scandal could have been conducted on their watch. Assembly member Mary Hayashi voiced her displeasure after hearing from Diablo Valley College administrators about the grade-selling scandal that rocked their Pleasant Hill campus. "Right now, I'm not satisfied and I'm very disappointed." The chair of the select committee on California community colleges asked DVC administrators why it took them more than a year to notify the public, after irregularities were first discovered in January 2006. "We chose not to go public at that point because we did not know the extent of this, we did not want to compromise the investigation", says Dr. Helen Benjamin, Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor. "They hired a consultant, a crisis management consultant, who told them "you need to let the public know" and they didn't take the advice of their own consultant, that they paid," says Mary Hayashi, Assembly Member (D) Hayward. Contra Costa prosecutors have since charged 34 people, many of them student-employees, for making hundreds of illegal grade changes, in exchange for money. Former DVC admissions and records director, Gary Fincher, said he first alerted administrators in early 2006 that far too many people, 103 in all, had access to the computerized grade-changing system. "This should've never happened. This should've never, ever, ever, ever happened." Fincher claims he was forced from his job for demanding changes and has filed legal action against the community college district. District officials now say only a few people--all full-time employees--can change grades in the three-college district. District administrators claim they've taken many steps to prevent future grade scandals, but not everyone's convinced. "It helps, but anytime they get up from their chairs, I know they don't turn off their system," says Fincher. Hayashi says she'll push for new legislation to set uniform grade-changing policies for the entire California community college system. Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.
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