Posted: April 8, 2015
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
ST. PAUL, Minn., April 8, 2015 – Dr. Annette Parker, president of South Central College, today released findings from Western Kentucky University dismissing allegations of plagiarism and affirming her doctoral degree. Parker was recently accused of plagiarism in her dissertation by a former adjunct instructor from South Central College.
MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone said, “We take charges of plagiarism seriously and now consider the matter closed. As we said at the time of the accusation, the accepted protocol is to rely on the issuing institutions to evaluate the work, and we would fully respect that process. That said, it has become clear that these reckless charges are one tactic in a coordinated campaign of personal attacks intended to tarnish the reputations of MnSCU presidents. In light of the motivations of the accuser and the findings of Western Kentucky University, we will not be taking any further action. We are pleased to be able to focus on serving our students without any additional distraction.”
MnSCU Board of Trustees Chair Tom Renier echoed Rosenstone's comments, saying: “MnSCU has attracted some of the very best, brightest, and accomplished educators in the nation to lead our colleges and universities and they are all committed to student success. Dr. Annette Parker personifies that high standard and we are grateful for her tremendous leadership.”
Western Kentucky University issued the following findings in a letter to Mark Carlson, vice chancellor for human resources: “The university’s policy defines research misconduct as ‘an intentional act of deception by the researcher in proposing, conducting, or reporting results of research . . .’ The Policy further defines plagiarism as ‘representation of another’s work as one’s own.’ A review by the committee formed to conduct the preliminary inquiry concluded that Dr. Parker did not intentionally commit plagiarism and that a full investigation is not warranted.” The complete letter is attached.
“I deeply appreciate the continued support of the students, faculty and staff of South Central College. We will continue to take care of each other and move the college forward together,” Parker said.
Under Dr. Parker’s leadership, South Central College led a consortium of 12 colleges and a Center of Excellence in winning a $15 million Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant that is benefitting more than 3,000 students and hundreds of manufacturing companies throughout Minnesota. She has served on President Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) Steering Committee 2.0 and co-chaired AMP’s “Demand-Driven Workforce Development” work team. She previously served at the Kentucky Community and Technical College (KCTC) System as system executive director of the National Center of Excellence in Advanced Automotive Manufacturing and as system director of Workforce Education. Prior to KCTC, she served from 2002-2007 as department chair, Manufacturing Engineering Technologies at Lansing Community College (MI). Previously, Parker served on the faculty of Lansing Community College teaching college students, corporate employees, and dual-enrolled K-12 students. She was recently named alumna of the year at Lansing Community College and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ferris State University’s College of Education and Human Services in 2014.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system includes 24 two-year community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving more than 410,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.
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