Hocking College - Recent History

Recent History

Two new residence halls were built in 2009 and the Hocking College Energy Institute opened in Hocking County near Logan. The institute features green building design and hands-on learning labs for students studying in an advanced energy program.

Also in 2009, Hocking College President Dr. John Light retired after 42 years of service to Hocking College. He was replaced by Dr. Ron Erickson of Minnesota. In August 2008, the Ohio State Auditors website announced an audit of Hocking College to explore “various allegations regarding certain financial activities and financial transactions at the college.” Light and his wife, who served as his senior-vice president, and two other employees were found to have taken money illegally from the college. Light and his wife were charged with crimes related to these allegations in June 2011 and they pled no contest to the charges and were fined and ordered to pay restitution. Erickson himself was removed from office in June 2011 after "blindsiding trustees by sending out a campus wide e-mail that said he'd been micromanaged" but was reinstated three months later.

The college also had issues in January 2010 when a note was found on a bathroom wall that threatened the African-American students on campus. Although two students withdrew from the college, Hocking took a number of actions to protect the safety of its students. The college increased security measures, including more security cameras in the residence halls, provided alternative living quarters for those feeling threatened and offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who had information, and an additional $2,000 if they were willing to testify. In addition, Hocking President Dr. Erickson held a number of events to promote peace and healing around the campus, “We regret this kind of behavior,” he said “and as the parent of a multi racial family, it is especially important that everyone understand this kind of behavior will not be tolerated on the Hocking College Campus.”