Institutions of higher learning should be in the business to educate, not agitate.

Roanoke-Chowan Community College has seen too much of the latter over the past few years.

Hopefully, the college is now prepared to move forward in what it does best – educate those looking for a better future – after last week’s sudden resignation of RCCC President Dr. Mary C. Wyatt.

From all indications, the resignation was not of her choosing.

Dr. Wyatt’s five-year ride at RCCC has been full of potholes.

The college suffered through several financial crises, many of which were avoidable given the proper leadership. Wyatt even went as far as to solicit special funds from the North Carolina General Assembly, much to the dismay of North Carolina Community Colleges President Martin Lancaster.

Lancaster along with the North Carolina Office of Budget and Management also scolded Wyatt for internal improprieties at the college. Both offered suggestions to correct these measures. Apparently, those proposals fell on deaf ears.

Wyatt’s rocky ride at RCCC also included a run-in with the school’s Faculty Association. In an overwhelming majority, that group voted &uot;No Confidence&uot; in their leader.

The Association aired its grievances with RCCC’s Board of Trustees, prompting the Trustees not to offer Wyatt a new contract in 2003. Instead, Wyatt – who was the first RCCC President to ever be offered a contract – had to &uot;work at the pleasure of the Board.&uot;

That same Board accepted Wyatt’s resignation last week. That same Board will now search for a new college president.

Given the end result of their previous selection some five years ago, the citizens of the Roanoke-Chowan area and the students, faculty and staff at RCCC can only keep their fingers crossed that the Board of Trustees will do a better job this time around.