SWCC's new dean on paid leave

Dr. Katie Davidson confirmed this morning she has been terminated from her position as dean of student services at Southwestern Community College Monday after she was placed on paid administrative leave May 13.

In an email, Dr. Barb Crittenden, president of SWCC, wrote:

“As I confirmed for you yesterday, Katie Davidson is still an employee of the College. She is currently on paid administrative leave.”

When asked to provide the “documented reasons and rationale” behind Davidson’s termination or resignation from SWCC, which the Creston News Advertiser has been advised are open record under Iowa Code Chapter 22: Examination of Public Records (Open Records), Crittenden responded by citing the section of the state open records law before stating in an email, “...Katie Davidson is currently still an employee of the college.”

Davidson said she does not believe she is the dean of student services based on a termination letter she received from the college Monday.

“The termination letter is pretty clear that I’m done and paid through June,” Davidson said.

Davidson said she was given her first performance evaluation on May 17, four days after she was placed on paid administrative leave.

“I had no other written evaluations or performance improvement plans,” Davidson said.

In regards to other documents requested by the CNA, some of which are not of public record, Crittenden denied sharing information relating to Davidson’s performance after Crittenden was “advised by college counsel” to not share the confidential information. The only information SWCC has confirmed with the CNA to date is that Davidson has been placed on paid leave, the date of its start and the date she first started as dean of student services.

Crittenden did not provide any further comments.