PTC impresses MnSCU Civil Rights Auditors

Pine Technical College received rave reviews today, as the college just wrapped up a three-day civil rights audit. Beginning Mon. Mar. 29, PTC hosted five Civil Rights Audit team members who toured the campus, studied its facilities and conducted interviews with faculty, staff and students to determine if PTC's practices make the college accessible, fair and open for all students.

"We looked at and measured Pine Technical College across 32 areas, and from that, we determined whether the college is in compliance, or if the college must take corrective action," Civil Rights Audit team member Bill Warner explained in the exit interview in front of 20 faculty and staff members. "Overall, the team is very impressed with Pine Technical College," Warner added.

Warner detailed many of the positive outcomes the team found. "The students interviewed were extremely positive and think staff and faculty are very supportive; there is a strong focus on student success; there is great support for non-traditional students -- in fact, students who, by definition, are non-traditional do not identify as such -- they feel they are just students and not categorized, which is a good sign; the college has excellent counseling and disabilities services; the college clearly posts all required ADA and EEO statements on its literature, and overall, the college is clean and accepting," Warner explained.

Back in Oct. 2009, PTC learned the Civil Rights Team would visit for the audit and has been working hard to ensure the college is and would be in compliance. The college formed a committee with Penny Hudlow, Director of Human Resources, at its helm.

"PTC already was in compliance with most of the team's requirements," Hudlow says. "Nevertheless, we know details count, and our committee has worked very hard to ensure all our practices in all departments are on target," Hudlow adds.

Photo above: Civil Rights audit team leaders. Back row, L to R: Colette Campbell Stuart, Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action Officer at Hennepin Technical College and Bill Warner, MnSCU Consultant. Front row, L to R: Mary Sam, Director of Diversity at Central Lakes College and Renee Hogoboom, Associate Director of Diversity and Multiculturalism, Office of the Chancellor, MnSCU. Not pictured: Lloyd Petri, Consultant to MnSCU and Southeast Technical College.