At Nassau CC, Rejected Presidential Pick Prompts Lawsuit Threat

"Trustees at Nassau Community College are poised to file a lawsuit after the State University of New York's Board of Trustees denied their presidential pick. At a special meeting on Sunday, the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to allow the board chair to file a lawsuit challenging the SUNY board's decision, with one board member absent, reported."

"The conflict comes amid broader tensions between the college's faculty union and the administration over the consolidation of academic departments and a union contract that expired in August, among other issues. The union sued the college last year arguing the elimination of 15 department chairs violated state regulations, but a judge dismissed the case. The union has since appealed. Nassau has also reported less-than-optimal student outcomes in recent years."

"SUNY trustees voted unanimously, with three members absent, to reject Maria Conzatti, who has run the college as interim or acting president for almost four years. A SUNY official told Newsday it was the first time the system's board disapproved a presidential nominee. "SUNY is committed to excellent leadership for all of our campuses and the success of our students, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against any frivolous lawsuit," a spokesperson for the system said in a statement to Inside Higher Ed."

Nassau Community College's board unanimously authorized its chair to file a lawsuit after the State University of New York Board of Trustees voted to disapprove Maria Conzatti's appointment as president. SUNY said it will defend against any frivolous lawsuit and emphasized commitment to campus leadership and student success. The college's Student Government Association expressed gratitude for Conzatti and urged an equitable, transparent, and expeditious search for a permanent president. The dispute occurs amid faculty union tensions over department consolidations and an expired contract, including an appealed lawsuit over eliminated department chairs. Nassau reports poor student outcomes with very low graduation rates.

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