Todd Banducci

Definitive profile of Banducci's role as the driving force behind NIC's governance crisis. Led the 3–2 vote to fire President Rick MacLennan without cause in September 2021; promoted NIC's wrestling coach as interim president; presided over faculty and staff votes of no confidence; expected MacLennan to receive "marching orders" from him.

Op-ed identifying "the KCRCC Three" — Banducci, McKenzie, and Barnes — as the cause of NIC's accreditation threat. Accreditors demanded governance compliance after the trio violated policy procedure; highly experienced attorneys advised against their actions and were ignored. Notes Banducci did not graduate from high school.

NWCCU accreditation complaint detailed; Banducci faced credible allegations of physically assaulting a female college employee at a college-sponsored event in 2019, as reported by President MacLennan; faculty passed votes of no confidence; accreditor noted the board majority's actions "led to the departure of all three Vice Presidents and one Dean."

NWCCU report found that Banducci considered his role to be ridding the college of "deep state" administrators; he pressured faculty over Covid protocols, involved himself in student grade disputes, and raised fears of tenure termination. MacLennan's wrongful termination cost taxpayers approximately $500,000 total — ICRMP paid a $250,000 insurance settlement, and MacLennan also received 12 months of salary and benefits totaling $249,971.

After Barnes resigned over residency questions and Wood and Howard resigned to allow state appointments, the State Board of Education appointed three new trustees over Banducci and McKenzie's lawsuit. Banducci stepped down as chair without a fight. Trustee-elect Goedde called the environment "toxic" and noted the college faced possible loss of liability insurance.

Former trustee Ken Howard's op-ed: after four years of Banducci and McKenzie's "inadequate and unacceptable behavior," the accreditor suspended all upcoming reviews pending improvement. "The KCRCC 3 have brought nothing but disgrace, financial mismanagement, and the gravest threat to the college in its 90-year history." Banducci did not seek re-election in 2024.

Retrospective confirming the KCRCC endorsed Banducci, McKenzie, and Mike Waggoner — the board majority when NIC received the highest-level accreditation sanction (show cause). Banducci did not seek re-election; the KCRCC ran three more candidates on a "Make NIC Great Again" platform, all of whom lost.

Full accounting of NIC's governance crisis period under the KCRCC board majority including the ~$500,000 total cost of the MacLennan firing (insurance settlement plus salary/benefits), the show cause accreditation sanction, and three consecutive presidential vacancies.

Documents the full financial cost of the Banducci-led firing of President MacLennan: ICRMP (the state's risk management insurer) paid a $250,000 settlement on the wrongful termination lawsuit, while MacLennan separately received 12 months of salary and benefits totaling $249,971 — bringing the total cost to taxpayers to approximately $500,000.