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Pacific Oaks College Seeks Merger
April 17, 2009
I recognize failure – which is important, some people don’t – and fix it, because it is data, it is information, knowledge of what does not work.
-Toni Morrison
-Toni Morrison
One of the most respected early childhood training institutions, Pacific Oaks College, is about to call an end to its renowned 62-year history. The Pasadena Star News reported that the college can survive only by pursuing a merger or takeover by another 'higher learning institution.' "We are in preliminary discussions with three institutions who are most interested," Pacific Oaks Interim President David Marker said Thursday, declining to name them. "We've been quite forthright with them about the current situation, so it will come as no surprise to any institutions we are in conversation with."
The problems at Pacific Oaks have been brewing for a long time as reported in an earlier issue of ExchangeEveryDay ("A Crisis at Pacific Oaks"; August 2, 2007). The decision ended months of speculation by faculty and students about the future of the Quaker-founded college. The world pioneer in early childhood education has been struggling with projected multi-million dollar budget deficits, and also faces possible loss of accreditation as early as April 15, 2010.
Marker said the college is still addressing concerns raised in a scathing report released December 1 by the Western Association for Schools and Colleges, California's accrediting body, which was prompted by a formal complaint lodged by the entire faculty in March, 2008. The WASC report cited 'failed leadership' by former President Carolyn Denham — who resigned late in February after 10 years as president — and the Board of Trustees for many of the college's woes. They called it "an institution embattled and in turmoil," with a "complete failure to maintain accurate financial records" among other findings.
Louise Derman-Sparks, who retired two years ago after 33 years as a professor of human development at Pacific Oaks, said she was not surprised by the decision. "It's what I expected, but it's very disappointing," Derman-Sparks said, adding that she fears the Pacific Oaks mission — social justice, respect for diversity, and the valuing of individual uniqueness — could be lost in any merger.
Two schools frequently mentioned as possible partners are Antioch University and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, both of which have a Los Angeles campus.
Over the past 30 years Pacific Oaks faculty, and professionals nurtured by Pacific Oaks, have frequently graced the pages of Exchange magazine with their unique perspectives. No more is this in evidence than in Developing Capable, Creative Teachers CD Book, which contains over 50 articles on training staff — many of them reflecting the Pacific Oaks philosophy.
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Comments (5)
Displaying All 5 CommentsBig Bear City, CA, United States
I graduated from PO in 1980 with a BA. My experience at PO was life changing and my degree has enabled me to work in positions I never would have qualified for otherwise. If a merger occurs, I do recommend that the mission of this unique college remain intact. The professors continue to be sought after at ECE conferences because of their innovation and steadfast dedication to honoring children and what is best for them. I learned how to provide environments where children learn by doing, where their confidence in learning becomes engrained and where we challenge them to think, explore and invent. Enrolling at PO actually saved my life and changed my life. I love that place.
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, CA, United States
As a core faculty member in Human Development at Pacific Oaks College, I would like to voice my concern about the tone of your recently published article (4/17/09) on Pacific Oaks College. In reading it, I felt it implied two things which I believe are incorrect 1) That the college is currently is disarray, and 2) That a merger would mean the end of the college’s commitment to social justice, respect for the individual, honoring diversity, and its unique pedagogy.
The failed leadership by administration and board cited by WASC created a financial crisis at the college. However, faculty has not veered from their commitment to teaching adult learners. This includes our continuing development of quality educational programs in leadership for early childhood professionals.
In the affiliation just announced on the Pacific Oaks website, the college has an opportunity for firm financial and structural support while maintaining its autonomy, its name, and its current curriculum. Pacific Oaks College is not closing. We are continuing to actively enroll students in our degree programs.
Sincerely,
Susan Bernheimer, Ph.D.
Portland Community College
Portland, OR, United States
As a graduate of Pacific Oaks College this news is very sad. I was fortunate enough to be in one of the last cohorts at Pacific Oaks College Northwest, in Seattle. When the satellite campus closed it became clear that the direction of the school was changing. I found the offices in Pasadena to be very difficult to work with. After receiving my Masters Degree certificate in the mail and paying my outstanding balance PO sent a collection agency after me. I talked with the agency multiple times, documenting my payments and more. They persisted for almost a year! I feel very lucky to have been a part of the Bilingual Preschool-3 Grade cohort. I benefited from fabulous leadership and mentors.
Laura Linda Negri-Pool
Instructor, Keyano College
Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
I am a graduate of Pacific Oaks College. I earned a Masters of Human Development in 2006 after 4 years of part-time online studies (and 2 summer intensives) while I continued to teach full-time at Keyano College in northern Alberta. I was thrilled when I realized that Pacific Oaks offered online degrees, and moved heaven and earth to be able to participate in one. I have written to the ex-president, written to specific board members, been in touch with faculty, alumnae/i, current students as we all tried to find solutions to save our school. The Board and president have been exclusionary and non-receptive to attempts by students, alumnae/i or faculty to offer input or have questions answered. A group called "Friends of Pacific Oaks" was formed by those of us who love our college and value the teaching and learning experiences we had there. I would appreciate you contacting them at pacificoakssos.com to hear their perspectives. Pacific Oaks College provides transformative education, and as your article stated - most of us found our way to PO because of articles and books written by the likes of Betty Jones, Louise Derman-Sparks, Margie Carter and Deb Curtis, John Nimmo - to name just a few. Their teaching is as thought-provoking, intriguing and respectful as their presentations and written work would suggest. To lose Pacific Oaks would be a crime with far-reaching negative effects for the early childhood field in the US and beyond. Thank you for publishing this article and bringing this sad situation to light. Pacific Oaks STILL has fabulous faculty, and the chance to take even 1 course with them would be a positive step in the professional development of any early childhood educator. So grateful for my Pacific Oaks experiences, and so proud of my masters from Pacific Oaks College.
Wheelock College
Lincoln, MA, United States
It breaks my heart to think of losing Pacific Oaks and its superb faculty in ECE. Many of the advances in California ECE policy were stimulated by Pacific Oaks' ability to convene and build consensus in higher education on ECE issues. It doesn't surprise me because
I have studied the data on higher education in ECE and I realize how precarious the entire ECE professional field is, because of the lack of depth in ECE faculty nationally, at a time when colleges face many economic problems. This danger creates major organizational risks for all colleges with a commitment to the ECE profession.
I hope Pacific Oaks will find a university affiliation that will value their knowledge, skills, and their reputation. What would make sense to me would be for a university that does not have an ECE Department to merge with Pacific Oaks in order to attract the best students in the nation to one of the best schools. I would hope that this ECE Department would be named the Pacific Oaks School, and that it would be possible for Pacific Oaks to make such a merger, using its own name, with more than one such university, somewhat like a franchise.
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