January 2012 Archives

January 30, 2012

Members of the Claremont McKenna College Community,

I am writing to inform you about an important matter related to the accuracy of the Office of Admission's reporting of admission data.

Earlier this month, I received information from within the College that the Office of Admission had reported inaccurate SAT statistics for the fall 2011 entering class. Upon receiving this information, I asked Jerome Garris, Vice President and Dean Emeritus, to conduct a review of this issue in coordination with the Office of Institutional Research. During Dean Garris' review of this matter, a senior administrator in the Office of Admission disclosed that he had been solely responsible for falsely reporting SAT statistics since 2005.

Although the degree of inaccuracies varied over time, we understand that the reported critical reading and/or math SAT scores were generally inflated by an average of 10-20 points each. For the fall 2010 class, which is the most recent year that has been reported generally to the public, the individual reported a combined median of 1,410 when the actual should have been 1,400, and reported a 75th percentile score of 1,510 when the actual should have been 1,480. It is also important to note that, while overall statistics were manipulated, we do not have reason to believe any student's individual score was altered.

As an institution of higher education with a deep and consistent commitment to the integrity of all our academic activities, and particularly our reporting of institutional data, we take this situation very seriously. I have therefore initiated a series of actions to respond to this matter. First, the individual has taken full responsibility and has resigned his position from the College effective immediately. At this time, we have no reason to believe that other individuals were involved. If we learn otherwise, we will take prompt and appropriate action.

Second, we have engaged outside legal counsel from O'Melveny & Myers to complete an independent review of our admission-related data processes. In addition, we are contacting and cooperating with external groups that may have received erroneous information to provide corrected data. Finally, we are reviewing our internal data gathering and reporting processes and will strengthen them to ensure that this type of conduct will not occur in the future.

While I am sorry to report this to you, I remain deeply committed to ensuring that Claremont McKenna will respond to this matter in a manner that is accurate, honest, and that will reflect the longstanding integrity of our great college.

Sincerely,

Pamela B. Gann, President

January 30, 2012

Regarding Office of Admission's Reporting of Admission Data

Claremont McKenna College has a deep and unwavering commitment to the integrity of its

academic activities, including its academic reporting. We were saddened and disappointed

to learn of this matter. The individual responsible for falsely reporting the SAT statistics has

taken full responsibility for his misconduct and resigned his position from the College effective

immediately. We have engaged outside legal counsel to review our admission-related data

processes and are committed to strengthening them to ensure that this type of conduct will not

occur in the future.

Claremont McKenna College admitted Monday that for the past six years, it has submitted false SAT scores to publications like U.S. News & World Report that use the data in widely followed college rankings.

"Earlier this month, I received information from within the College that the Office of Admission had reported inaccurate SAT statistics for the fall 2011 entering class," said president Pamela Gann in a letter to the Claremont McKenna College community. "Upon receiving this information, I asked Jerome Garris, Vice President and Dean Emeritus, to conduct a review of this issue in coordination with the Office of Institutional Research. During Dean Garris' review of this matter, a senior administrator in the Office of Admission disclosed that he had been solely responsible for falsely reporting SAT statistics since 2005."

The letter continues that "First, the individual has taken full responsibility and has resigned his position from the College effective immediately. At this time, we have no reason to believe

that other individuals were involved. If we learn otherwise, we will take prompt and appropriate action."

The college is also having legal counsel from O'Melveny & Myers omplete an independent review of the college's admission-related data processes.

Scripps College will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. by having Susan L. Taylor, who is a former Essence magazine editor-in-chief that founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement, talk at the campus.

The movement connects adults with vulnerable children, according to a Scripps College news release.

Taylor will speak at 9 a.m. Friday with Claremont College students and any members of the public in a question and answer breakfast. 

Taylor published a book of inspirational columns from the magazine for the best-selling book "In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor."

The Claremont Colleges' MLK Planning Committee is sponsoring the visit. 

The breakfast will be in the Scripps College Malott Commons, Hampton Room, 345 E. 9th St. 

For more information, contact Malott Commons at 909-607-8508.

Scripps College's sixth annual Elizabeth Hubert Malott Public Affairs Program presents "An Evening with Ben Stein--Author, Lecturer, and Actor" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9.

The free event takes place inside Scripps College's Performing Arts Center at Garrison Theater, 231 E. Tenth St.

Stein will discuss "Dark Days in America--How to Get to Daybreak," according to a Scripps College news release.

Stein's career included stints as speechwriter and lawyer for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford as well as being known as an economics professor in the film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and being featured on Comedy Central's "Win Ben Stein's Money" from 1997 to 2002 on Comedy Central which won seven Emmy Awards.

He currently is a commentator for CBS Sunday Morning and Fox News. 

For more information, contact Malott Commons at 909-607-8508.

The HBO documentary "Kick Like a Girl" will be screened at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at Scripps College's Balch Auditorium, 1030 Columbia Ave.

The public is invited to the free screening of the movie about how boys and girls compete on and off the soccer field while centering on an 8-year-old soccer girl with juvenile diabetes named Lizzie Mackenzie.

Jenny Mackenzie, Lizzie's mother and motivational speaker, will lead a discussion of the 25-minute film afterward, according to a Scripps College news release.

Ned Blackhawk, a Yale University history professor and American Indian historian, will discuss "The Violent Edges of Empire: Colonialism and North American Indian History" at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 inside Scripps College's Performing Arts Center at Garrison Theater, 231 E. Tenth St.

The discussion is part of the college's free Humanities Institute lecture series, according to a Scripps College news release.

Blackhawk is an enrolled member of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada and originally from Detroit.

He also wrote the book "Violence Over the Land: Indians and Empires in the Early American West."

The city of Claremont received a California Green Communities "silver" status award for its sustainability commitment, according to a city of Claremont news release.

California Green Communities, according to the news release, is a community based effort encouraging cities to use environmentally sound practices with water conservation, efficient transportation, waste reduction, energy efficiency and other activities.

Cities develop action plans to target activities and projects they'll use to reach silver, gold and platinum status in the program.

The founding partners in California Green Communities--Southern California Edison, Environmental Media Association and Green Seal--are expected to present the award Tuesday to the Claremont City Council at the Claremont Chamber of Commerce state of the city luncheon.

"We created California Green Communities to showcase what cities are doing to improve the quality of life for their residents," said EMA President Debbie Levin in a news release. "Claremont is a leader among southern California cities who are modeling sustainable practices for others."

Claremont's efforts, according to the release, include encouraging local gardening efforts, local water wise landscaping, making energy efficiency and water conservation improvements to city facilities, converting its fleet to cleaner fuels and encouraging bicycling and walking through new construction and education.

Free mulch will be available on a first-come, first served basis at 6 a.m. Feb. 11 at Blaisdell Park, according to City Manager Tony Ramos' weekly update on Jan. 5.

The park is at 440 S. College Ave. Mulch will be removed at 6 a.m. Feb. 13.

Residents must bring their own tools and containers.

The Claremont Public Library will hold an introduction to genealogy program from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 28 inside the meeting room at the library.

Attendees will find out about faily history and genealogy in the free class.

Full-time genealogist, author and lecturer Charlotte Bocage will teach basics on record keeping, forms and charts.

The library is at 208 N. Harvard Ave. 

For more information, contact 909-621-4902 or www.colapublib.org

Assistant to the City Manager Colin Tudor was named the city's interim assistant city manager for a six month appointment, according to city manager Tony Ramos' weekly update.

Tudor started in Claremont in 1998 in the Human Services Department and in 2006 transferred to the city managers' office as a management analyst and was promoted to assistant to the city manager in 2008.

The announcement was made Thursday.

Golden State Water Company started construction of water service for a Pitzer College student housing project on Tuesday.

The contractor will control traffic on Foothill Boulevard one lane at a time to find existing utilities and place new water lines, according to city manager Tony Ramos' weekly update.

Residents should expect some delays and the approximately five weeks of work will also have trenching along the west side of Claremont Boluevard north of 9th Street. 

Closure of pedestrian access from Marygrove and DePaul Roads to Arrow Highway will start Tuesday, according to city manager Tony Ramos' weekly update.

A new block wall, about 6-foot-tall, will be painted a uniform color to improve the area's appearance and be completed by the end of the month, according to the update.

The Indian Hill Boulevard, Mountain Avenue and American Avenue resurfacing project started Tuesday and completion date is scheduled for March 27 weather permitting, said city engineer Craig Bradshaw.

The project is on Indian Hill from Harrison Avenue to Foothill Boulevard, according to a city manager Tony Ramos' weekly update and includes:

- Crack fill, deep patch, street grinding and overlay with 1.5 inches of hot mix rubberized asphalt, traffic loop replacement and restriping

- Damaged gutter and curb replacement or repair

- Handicap ramp upgrade to reflect current Americans with Disabilities Act standards

The project also includes American and Mountain Avenues south of Arrow Highway. 

The streets are located in Claremont and Pomona.

According to the release, Pomona has agreed to pay for the resurfacing of their streets through a shared resurfacing agreement.

Work will start on Indian Hill at Harrison and continue northbound on the east side up to Foothill.

For any further information, contact the city's engineering division at 909-399-5465.

Bradshaw said the first month will be concrete preparation and have no asphalt work. 

The group Claremonters Against Outrageous Water Rates will march in front of Golden State Water Company's Claremont offices on Jan. 26.

The march takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. and people are asked to bring their yard signs for a visual display of opposition or VDOO.

The offices are at 915 W. Foothill Blvd.

For more information, contact ClaremontOutrage@gmail.com or the group's Facebook website at www.facebook.com/pages/Claremonters-Against-Outrageous-Water-Rates/289349567762862.

Former mayor and city historian Judy Wright, who died on Jan. 7, will have a memorial at 2 p.m. on Jan. 28 at Little Bridges Hall of Music, 150 E. 4th St.

Wright, 72, sustained a cardiac arrest on Jan. 1 before she died.

Flags at Claremont's municipal buildings have been lowered to half-staff in Wright's honor.

"She was one of my heroes if not my main hero," said Claremont Mayor Sam Pedroza on Tuesday. "She was the first to endorse me and give my campaign some legitimacy. She was one of my guides all the way through."

Family members have asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Claremont Heritage, P.O. Box 742, Claremont 91711. 

Note: Photo courtesy of the Wright family. 

The state court also struck down ABX27, which would have kept agency operations to continue with annual payments. 

Updating this item, on Jan. 10 the Claremont City Council voted to adopt a resolution for the city to become the successor agency of the Claremont Redevelopment Agency. 

For more information on the redevelopment agency, head here:

http://www.ci.claremont.ca.us/update.cfm?resID=248211

Cristina Rose and Charles Winner were announced on Tuesday as appointees to the Claremont University Consortium Board of Overseers.

Rose, according to the news release, was one of California's first women lobbyists in Sacramento when she began advocating on behalf of California's consumers in 1972.

Board chair Bryant Danner said in a news release: "Cristina Rose brings to the CUC Board impressive knowledge of government, public affairs, and public relations. She will be a tremendous asset as a member of the CUC Board of Overseers."

Winner, according to a news release, is the founder of Winner & Associates, LLC in Los Angeles which is one of the premier public policy, corporate and branding advertising and public relations companies in the country.

Danner said in a news release: "Charles Winner has a remarkable breadth of experience in California's public and private sectors. His knowledge and guidance will be exceptionally valuable to CUC."

The 2010 Harvey Milk Award from L.A. Pride recipient Rev. Neil Thomas will discuss queer theology Jan. 15.

He will speak around 11:30 a.m. at the meeting of Another Voice in the Louise Roberts Room at Claremont United Church of Christ. 

Another Voice is a group at CUCC serving gay, lesbian, transgendered and bi-sexual members of the congregation and the larger community, according to a news release.

There is no charge for attendance but lunch is pot luck so attendees are asked to bring a dish. 

The meeting normally ends at 1 p.m.

Thomas will also be a co-celebrant at the 10 a.m. Jan. 15 service along with Rev. Rob Patton, Senior Pastor of CUCC. 

Thomas, known for his social activism in England and the U.S., is the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, Los Angeles, the founding church of Metropolitan Community Churches, an international movement of progressive and inclusive churches, according to the release.

Thomas also currently serves as President of California Faith for Equality, an interfaith coalition about marriage equality, according to the release.

The church is at 233 W. Harrison Ave. For more information, contact 909-626-1201.

A community services tree committee meeting has been cancelled this month because a lack of a quorum.

The 6 p.m. Jan. 23 special meeting of the Community Services Commission Tree Committee at the Community Services building, 1616 Monte Vista Ave., is no longer taking place.

The Claremont City Council will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss issues surrounding the proposed water rate increase, according to a city news release.

The meeting will take place inside the Padua Room at the Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Rd.

For more information, contact 909-399-5460.

Tree removal started Dec. 26 and continues through Thursday.

Residents can just place their trees on the curb during their regular trash collection day, according to a city news release.

Trees must be removed from their stands and have no decorations including tinsel. 

The trees must be cut to size if they're more than 6 feet tall and do not place them in bags.

For more information, contact the Claremont Community Services department at 909-399-5431.