Updates from the President’s Office
March 14, 2008
Spring break greetings and well wishes to you as we approach the middle of another productive spring semester at the college. I am sending you a brief update to keep you apprised of various activities and conversations occurring on campus.
Current Faculty Hiring Cycle
The hiring process continues for thirteen (13) full-time, tenure track faculty positions in the following areas: Accounting, Art History, Biology, Building Inspection Technology, Counseling (General), Economics, ESL, Fire Technology, History, Math, Music, Pharmacy Technician/Allied Health, and Sociology. The positions represent a nice balance of general education, transfer, career and technical, and basic skills education. With this new group of faculty, our college will have 195 full-time faculty, along with 282 adjunct faculty members. Did you know that the average tenure of a Los Rios faculty member is 25 years? A special thanks to those involved with the hiring process, perhaps the most important function we perform to sustain and build on our academic excellence.
Administrative Searches
The Vice President of Instruction and Student Learning (VPI) position has closed with interviews scheduled for early April. Vice President Celia Esposito-Noy is chairing the search committee. You are invited to participate in the Finalists’ Impressions Groups segment of the process on Thursday, April 10. We expect the new VPI to begin on or about June 1, 2008. A special thanks to several campus administrators who are taking on additional responsibilities during the interim period.
The Dean for PE, Health and Athletics is posted with a close date of April 7, 2008. A start date is expected of on or about July 1, 2008. Vice President Don Wallace is chairing the search committee and a special thanks to Liz Belyea who is serving as Dean for the area during the interim period.
Enrollment Growth
Our spring census enrollment indicates a student headcount of 13,490 – a 10.4% increase in headcount over the previous spring semester. Even more impressive was our growth from Spring 2007 to 2008 in Weekly Student Contact Hours (WSCH) – a whopping 14%! Thank you to all of you who continue to serve our growing student population, both in and out of the classroom.
Accreditation Team
Our campus and district will be visited by the accreditation evaluator team in Fall 2009. Meetings have begun to train the Steering Committee Chairs and Sub-Standard Chairs listed below, with the collection and review of documents and research continuing during the spring semester. The writing of our campus Self-Study will begin in the fall. Special recognition to our campus Accreditation Self-Study Team (Steering Committee), Accreditation Chair Norv Wellsfry and Kathy McLain, our Accreditation Liaison Officer. Other Standard Tri-Chairs:
Standard One, Institutional Mission and Effectiveness: Colette Harris, Chris Thomas, Kathy McLain
Standard Two, Student Learning Programs and Services: Cori Burns, Nancy Edmonson, Judy Beachler
Standard Three, Resources: Gary Martin, Katie DeLeon, Don Wallace
Standard Four, Leadership and Governance: Marjorie Duffy, Linda Neal, Ellen Arden-Ogle
As part of our review of our college’s Mission, Vision and Values Statement, the College Planning Council (CPC), along with our shared governance constituency leaders, is hosting a Leadership and Planning Summit on Friday, March 28, 2008. Our facilitator for the day is Regina Stanbeck-Stroud, Vice President of Instruction at Skyline College.
Compressed Calendar
We continue to learn and grow from our transition to a compressed academic calendar this semester and we will continue to do so. Anecdotally, students, faculty and classified staff have shared comments ranging from the very positive, to “too early to tell,” to adapting to a myriad of unforeseen challenges. I look forward to reviewing the results of the faculty evaluation currently underway with Academic Senate President Jamey Nye. A special commendation to each of you for your part in ensuring a smooth transition from a traditional calendar.
Student Success Initiatives
With the leadership and guidance of faculty and staff, the campus is engaged with a host of student success initiatives, including assessing the effectiveness of our basic skills program as part of the Basic Skills Initiative, Diop Scholars, Puente Project and the Freshman Seminar. Our CASSL outreach efforts and programs to support teaching and learning also continue to grow. Each activity has one common goal: to increase the success of our students through intentional, academic enrichment intervention strategies and programs.
Facilities
Phase II of the Community & Athletics Center is underway this spring and once completed a year from now will include the new Fitness Center, expanded seating and classroom space, and other amenities to make it a sporting jewel in the south region. The Science Building expansion, which doubles the amount of classroom and lab space, is slated for completion in Fall 2009. Preparations continue for Regional Transit Light Rail coming to CRC in 2011-12. Our Board of Trustees has signed an MOU with the Regional Transit Board which outlines the first steps of constructing a 2,000 stall, four-story parking structure (think Sac City College) on the southeast quadrant of our college, adjacent to the Bruceville Road entrance.
I hope that you are enjoying the new Fountain Quad area which provides an attractive and functional location for both informal and formal gatherings. As the sun warms and activities are planned, we will witness its true potential.
Amador County & Elk Grove Classes
This summer, the college will offer an 8-week construction class and fall classes are scheduled in Business, CIS, ECE, EMT, English, Fire Technology and Photography to take place at the Amador Learning Center in Sutter Creek, a facility that now hosts a 40-seat general classroom, a 36-seat computer laboratory, and web-based connectivity to our distance education classes. This education collaborative between our college, Amador County Office of Education, and the County of Amador was recently recognized last fall by the Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership (CCS) group for exceptional collaboration.
Our college’s plans to begin offering classes this fall in the City of Elk Grove have been postponed. We are currently negotiating the location for such classes. Once identified, we will have taken another important step in building interest and enrollment for our permanent educational center, which is slated to open in Fall 2012, just four and a half years from now.
CRC Foundation
Our College Foundation Board is hosting its signature event, Gala 2008, on Saturday, April 26 from 4:00-7:00 pm at our college’s new Fountain Quad area. The theme this year is built around jazz and food, with several top restaurants invited and featuring jazz artists the Reuben Rodgers Group, the Garrett Perkins Project, and our own Wendell Fishman. Tickets for the event are $50.00 and are available at our College Advancement Office.
A special Thank You for your support of the college’s Annual Fund drive which provides assistance to a myriad of campus and community programs. A mid-year report indicates that 22% of our college’s staff is participating in our Annual Fund, up from 18% a year ago.
Community Relations
I continue to serve on the Chamber Board as past chair and on the Board of the newly-formed Elk Grove Economic Development Corporation. In addition, I am continuing to enjoy my service on the boards of the League’s Advisory Committee on Legislation, UC Davis School of Education, and the Community College Commission on Athletics. I remain active in the Rotary Club of Elk Grove and share that our college will host them again for lunch on May 7. I continue to appreciate your support and understanding of the increasing external responsibilities related to the college presidency.
Please feel free to e-mail me directly if you have any questions on any of the above and GRACIAS for your outstanding service and dedication to our students and this college. If your schedule allows, I look forward to seeing you at the Coffee with the President gathering on April 17 at 8:30 am in the Garden Room.
Best wishes for a restful and enjoyable spring break.
Francisco