To the Editor:
Sullivan County has experienced a nursing shortage for a long time. Orange County Community College accepted 2 to 4 students from Sullivan County per year. A select committee was formed to assess the need for a nursing program at SCCC. Reading help-wanted ads underscored the need. The 
demand had been strong and will remain strong. The committee’s recommendation: YES!
Research shows major competency issues with the administration of the nursing program at Sullivan County Community College. The responsibility goes from President Dr. Mamie Howard–Golladay, to the head of the nursing program, Donna Belgard. The mismanagement has resulted in two lawsuits against SCCC, one in June 2009 and one in February 2011.
Former students Tara Knack–Moreno and Thomas Crowley, plaintiffs, filed in federal court in June 2009, a civil rights suit. The defendants are SCCC and James Murphy (instructor). Early in fiscal year 2008–09, it is alleged the instructor made sexual remarks about plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, through channels, reported to Donna Belgard, Director of the Nursing Program,the comments. In the complaint, “Belgard assured plaintiffs that they would not suffer any form of retaliation or reprisal for reporting these comments.” Statement was confirmed by the defendant.
When the second semester of the 2008–09 school year started, Murphy was promoted to the lead-instructor position and, therefore, had more responsibility and authority over the students, including plaintiffs. Plaintiffs alleged the instructor was more involved with plaintiff’s testing and clinical scheduling. Plaintiffs believed the college took no corrective actions because they experienced hardships in retaliation for speaking up.
The plaintiffs claimed their rights were violated under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, First Amendment, and Title. IX. They are looking for compensatory damages, punitive damages, fees and costs of the action. Outcome pending.
Lawsuit two, filed on February 25, 2011 in State Supreme Court, County of Sullivan, involves 11 students with a GPA of 3.13, who were “failed” out of the nursing program through improperly administrated Competencies. Competencies are another name for practicals. The students were required to take a test and three competencies, all completed within 30 minutes, a direct contradiction to the nursing handbook which required two competencies.
Five and a half weeks after the third semester ended, the Competencies were administered. Results were 13 (16%) passed and 67 (84%) failed, a major red flag to educators indicating substandard instruction. A week later the 67 were retested, with 50 passing, leaving an overall failure rate of 23%. Unacceptable! If the nursing students had as much practice time with instructors as the Sullivan Generals with coaches, they all would pass with their eyes closed.
The testing area was not organized in a professional manner. Taking Competencies was a scavenger hunt, looking for supplies and materials and waiting in line, losing time to complete the required skill. Many students did pass 2 Competencies, but timed out on the third, and therefore failed.
U.S. President Harry S. Truman remarked “the buck stops here.” Dr. Golladay, in the past four years I have witnessed you sign a lease agreement without reading it, authorize payment of over $2 million for an ill-advised and nonexistent wind turbine, install an outdoor $370,000, 24’ x 40’, 3 ½-to-5 foot deep swimming pool for a nonexistent summer school population, involve the college in two lawsuits involving the nursing program and see 53% of the graduating RNs pass the state boards versus an 85% state average. You have spent money for lawyers, legal fees and toys that would be better used for education.
You have failed your competency test for management.
Sincerely yours,
Kenneth Walter
Grahamsville, NY
The Catskill Chronicle 
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