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 October 2008 This monthly communication piece, which began in August, is one way to enhance my communication with you. I hope you find Ski Gram beneficial and informative. If you think there are other ways to enhance my communication with you and our College community, please let me know. INDEX
Meet and Greets ContinueAs I begin my fourth month on the job, I continue to visit employees at all of Mt. Hood Community Colleges (MHCC) locations (Boeing; Bruning Center; Gresham Campus; Maywood Park Campus, including Head Start; Steps to Success; and WorkSource Metro East Portland). Having visited some of the classrooms as well, I continue to be amazed by the dedication and commitment to student learning that occurs in many languages! During September, I welcomed students at the Health Careers Access Project reception; attended the Associated Student Government (ASG) retreat; and met with department chairs, Foundation President Ron Gullberg, Foundation Board members Pat Fiedler and Zaryab Sheikh, College donor Vivian Murhammer, College attorneys Chrys Martin and Peter Mersereau, MHCC new full- and part-time faculty and the classified association. Presidents Listening Tours Update and Various MeetingsOver the past 90 days, I have met with as many internal colleagues and external constituents as possible. These meetings help me to learn how MHCC can build upon its accomplishments and create new successes. During the month of September, I held Listening Tours with some of the following organizations: the Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association, Mt. Hood Regional Educational Consortium, Metro East Employer Council, West Columbia Gorge and Cascade Locks Chambers, the city of Gresham and the East Portland community at Parkrose High School. I want to thank faculty members: Rodney Barker, Dave Garlington, Jerry Kohler, Marilyn Pitts and Rick Zimmer for attending these events. Some of the other individuals I have met with include: Government Officials: Malcolm Boswell, Workforce Analyst for the Oregon Employment Department; Alan Wooley, Business representative for the Gresham WorkSource Oregon Employment Department; and Fairview Mayor Mike Weatherby. School Superintendents/Presidents: Eastern Oregon University President Dixie Lund and Michael Jaeger; Portland State University President Wim Wiewel; Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner; Multnomah University President Dan Lockwood; Portland Superintendent Carole Smith; Reed College President Colin Diver; School-to-Work Coordinator Angela Nusom (Centennial School District) and 32 students in the expanded options program; David Douglas School Board members Frieda Christopher and Annette Matson; Joyce Henstrand and Andrea Watson from Reynolds School District; Association for Student Government Director of State and Federal Affairs Andrew Hazell; and Vancouver, Wash., superintendent Steve Webb. In addition, I attended the monthly superintendents meeting at the Multnomah County Education Services offices. I also met with members of the following organizations: American Association of University Women, Portlands Leaders Roundtable, Gresham Chamber of Commerce and Oregon Presidents Council. I also attended the 2008 Oregon School Board Associations fall regional meeting with College Board member Dave Shields and was a guest on a Spanish radio station, KBOO 90.7 F.M., a community radio station powered by volunteers, including Elizabeth Perry and her family! Finally, some of the community events that I participated in include: Rotary Steak Fry, Gresham Community Fair, grand opening of the HM3 facility on our Gresham Campus and the Gresham Teddy Bear Parade (I dressed in a bear outfit and walked in the parade). Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (HMC): I met with the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber to discuss how we can strengthen our relationship to best meet the needs of MHCC students and our community. Approximately 18 people attended the meeting, including three from MHCC (me, MHCC District Board of Education Chair Duke Shepard and MHCCD District Board of Education Member Dave Shields). To strengthen the relationship, MHCC committed to doing the following:
Similarly, the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber committed to doing the following:
College News ItemsOffice of College Advancement: Effective Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, MHCCs Office of College Advancement (OCA) will report to Brenda Brady, director of resource development and special projects. Because OCA and the MHCC Foundation are both involved in communication and public relations of the institution and regularly communicate with the same publics, it strategically makes sense for OCA to report to Brenda on an interim basis. Although Brenda will be responsible for oversight of the office, OCA staff members will continue to handle the day-to-day functions of the office as they have been currently doing. Because OCA communicates with so many different publics, it is imperative that the office remain informed of what happens at all three locations. By submitting news to the office, it enables OCA to:
Please share your news with OCA by contacting Janet Brayson at 503-491-7145 or Janet.Brayson@mhcc.edu. Transitions and Transiciones program: According to Cynthia Dettman, the following information about the 615 women who inquired about the Transitions and Transiciones programs over the past three years notes that approximately 415 (67 percent) of these inquiries resulted in enrollment. Since the majority of these students were new to the College when they enrolled, they learned of our programs in the following ways:
Monthly Teaching and Learning Forum: To enhance communication among faculty, I have asked Dr. Paul Hill to host a monthly Open "Teaching and Learning" Forum with interested faculty members. Beginning in October, the forum will discuss instructional issues that affect the College. I have also asked Dr. Hill and Mr. Nielson to facilitate a forum with at least a dozen students on a monthly basis to learn what they are saying about MHCC and how we can best serve them. Recent Inaccurate Media Coverage: You may have recently read articles in the Outlook and the Advocate regarding decisions that I have made since beginning my tenure as president of MHCC in July. Please know that each decision I make is in the best interest of the College and those we serve. I am disappointed in Mr. Yoshida's comments. He clearly misinterpreted and misunderstood my comments during my few interactions with him and his wife. Also, it was never my intention to disparage the College or College Foundation. I have met and listened to hundreds of internal and external constituents since I joined the MHCC family. As part of these discussions and meetings, I have learned a great deal about the College's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The internal and external constituents have made their expectations of me clear, and I have done the same with them. Their main expectation is for me to build upon the great legacy of those who have served the College in the past and continue to serve the College and to help the College realize its fullest potential. It is unfortunate that Mr. Yoshida characterized my comments so inaccurately. However, I look forward to continuing to work with him to restore his confidence in the College and Foundation. Because of MHCC employees, donors, alumni and supporters like Mr. Yoshida, the College will achieve greatness and help to ensure a brighter future for our students. MHCC Foundation Board Retreat: Last week, MHCC Foundation Board members participated in a half-day retreat in Troutdale. We discussed the lack of a development director, lack of the Foundation's strategic plan, not enough donor cultivation and solicitation, organizational infrastructure, promotion of the College and Foundation, reliance on special events to raise money for the College and how Foundation Board work is only being handled by a few. In the end, we decided to focus our fundraising on four groups: retired employees; current individual donors (including major gift donors); current organizational donors; and former College Board members, former Foundation Board members and emeriti board members. The Foundation Board members understand the importance and need for tools and training and how we need to better educate the College community about the role of the Foundation. Gresham Campus Front Entrance and Signage Updates: Currently, we are working with TriMet to enable traffic calming plans for the main entrance at 19th and Kane Streets to include widening the ingress lane to accommodate a right-hand turn. Both directions will include bike lanes, and we will work with the city of Gresham to adjust the timing of the traffic signal during peak hours. We are currently working with TriMet to enhance the northbound bus stop area. All TriMet routes are being consolidated at the bus stops on Kane Street. MHCC Nursing Program: In collaboration with the Oregon Health Career Center, MHCCs Nursing Program will begin the first ever statewide registered nurse program offered through distance delivery this term. Supported by several hospitals east of the Cascades, this program will prepare 15 incumbent hospital employees to become registered nurses in rural eastern Oregon over the next six terms. Lecture-based instruction will be delivered online, while labs and clinical instruction will take place in sponsoring hospitals. Enrollment Management: On Oct. 6 and 7, Peter Bryant, a consultant from Noel Levitz, a national company that assists colleges and universities with improving their results in the area of enrollment management, facilitated discussions regarding developing a strategic enrollment management plan for MHCC. Through a series of sessions, Peter met with me and various faculty and staff in the areas of recruiting, marketing, admissions, financial aid, student affairs and instruction to help conduct an assessment of the challenges and opportunities for the college with a focus on recruiting and retention. The visit culminated with a presentation where Peter shared his assessment and analysis with the College community. Noel Levitz provided this service for actual travel expenses; there was no additional consulting fee or contract. Paul Hill will be sharing additional information about the assessment and next steps with MHCC employees. MHCC Thrift Shop: For decades, the Thrift Shop has provided valuable services (e.g. emergency loans, scholarships, food, clothing, etc.) to students. Currently, it is in the process of concluding its operations, since its small group of committed volunteers, mainly retired MHCC employees, will not be able to operate the shop for a variety of personal reasons. Robert Cox, Paul Hill and Rob Nielsen are working with staff to determine how best to transition the functions of the Thrift Shop. The Thrift Shop, a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization, is currently in the process of disposing of the organizations assets, both physical and financial, according to policy and procedures. To fill the void left by the termination of this organization, the Colleges Financial Aid Office recently began a program for emergency loans for students, made more accessible by the introduction of the MHCC Mountain Card. We will honor and celebrate the Thrift Shop volunteers for their many years of dedicated service to the College with a special event in the near future. Early Childhood Center (ECC) Project Fundraising Campaign: The campaign has received pledges totaling more than $2,200 since announcing the campaign on Sept. 17, 2008. Please contact the Foundation office or Brenda Brady if you have questions about this project and for information about how you can help us achieve our fundraising goal of $100,000 by Sept. 1, 2009. In addition, the College is in receipt of a federal Fund for the Improvement of Education program grant that will finance construction and equipping of an outdoor learning and play environment at the new ECC. The $306,549 award is the result of a federal appropriations request submitted in 2007 by Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer. HD 100 Program: The HD 100 program held a training session during the employee in-service for new and returning instructors. More than 30 College employees participated in discussions on the use of the College Student Inventory, course syllabi and resources. For the fifth year, the training was led by Nicole Gilbertson, faculty counselor in the Career Planning and Counseling Center, and Sharon Juenemann, supervisor of the Learning Success Center and a long time HD 100 instructor and proponent. Nicole and Sharon led the group in some activities from the OnCourse text. The HD 100 program has expanded its reach this year. New sections have been added for veterans, cosmetology students and the middle college. Next winter and spring, the program will be expanded to the welding and nursing departments. Also, new this fall are two experiential sections: one with a focus on outdoor education, complete with a weekend camping trip, and one on service learning, in which the students will complete and reflect on a service project. Step-by-Step Web site Tools: Anna Johnson, instructor and librarian at MHCC, has developed a series of online video demonstrations titled MHCC Web 101: A Guide for New Faculty and Staff. The tutorials cover such topics as:
The brief videos demonstrate how to navigate the MHCC Web site and find the information needed to answer the questions outlined in the tutorial. This information is very helpful for MHCC employees, students and prospective students. To view the demonstrations, please visit https://my.mhcc.edu/ics/Student_Services/Student_Support_Services/Library/For_faculty.jnz?portlet=Web_Demonstrations. BOOKSTORE: The bookstore is forming a task force to discuss what type of clothing faculty, staff and students would like in the store. Additional information on how to participate on this task force will be forthcoming. MHCC students: In coordination with the Oregon Student Association (OSA), MHCC students wrote and sent letters to the emergency board of the state legislature requesting that they not withhold $4 million dollars from the Oregon Opportunity grant, which gives many community college students access to higher education, to cover shortfalls in other areas of the budget. Of the 91 letters received from all colleges in Oregon, MHCC submitted 52 letters. Oregon House Representative Galizio specifically cited the letters when justifying his YES vote and urging the rest of the emergency board to do so also. Special kudos to ASG President Janine Jonhston and the ASG leadership! Board of Education September MeetingThe Mt. Hood Community College District (MHCCD) Board of Education received an update on the Economic Workforce Development and Industrial Technologies Division, reviewed new and/or revised policies on Risk Management and Student Services, which are related to recommendations in the accreditation report, and received an update from Cam Preus, commissioner of the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. The Board also evaluated ballot measures 58 and 59 to determine the impact on the College. Following their review, the Board unanimously approved taking a position in opposition of both ballot measures and is encouraging individuals to vote against these state ballot measures in the November election. The Board approved election of Kris Howatt, nominated by Gresham Barlow School District, and Bobbie Regan, nominated by Portland Public Schools, to the OSBA Board representing regions 18 and 19, and approved selection of Johnson Controls to perform energy savings performance contract services for the Gresham Campus. This is a multi-year, multi-phased project beginning with a preliminary analysis and energy audit and finishing with construction and operation of new energy management systems throughout the main campus. Energy savings will cover the cost. Climate SurveyMt. Hood Community College has extended its Personal Assessment of the College Environment (PACE) climate survey to obtain perceptions of personnel concerning the college climate. If you havent already completed the survey, it has been extended to Tuesday, October 21, at 8 a.m. Results of this survey will be released soon. Rest assured, I will take your comments and concerns very seriously and am committed to working with you to make MHCC the community college of choice. Strategic Plan UpdateThe Administrators Forum and Joint Leadership Council members met recently to begin the process for updating the Colleges strategic plan. Planning sessions will begin the week of Oct. 13, 2008, and I will hold open forums throughout the term to discuss the evolving nature of the plan as follows: Gresham Campus The Bruning Center Maywood Park Campus Steps to Success In addition, forums have been set up with the following groups: An executive team, made up of one student, ten college and 25 community representatives, is being formed to help ensure the College is moving in the right direction and addressing the issues identified during the Listening Tours. We will complete the strategic planning process in mid-December, present the final strategic plan to the Mt. Hood Community College District Board of Education for its review at its January 2009 retreat and begin implementation on July 1, 2009. I look forward to working with you on this exciting and mission-critical initiative at the College. Citizen Advisory Committee Application - City of Gresham If you are interested in serving on any city of Gresham short-term task forces or focus groups that would meet for a specific purpose and then disband when the business has been completed, please see June Jacobs in the presidents office for a copy of the application form. You may also contact City Council Coordinator Connie Otto at 503-618-2360 or connie.otto@ci.gresham.or.us with any questions. The following kudos, some of which were submitted to me by peers and supervisors, are arranged under our College values. Since I am interested in celebrating success and acts of high performance, please send me information about your peers when they do something phenomenal. That way, I can include them in future KUDOS reports! (I reserve the right to edit your comments for brevity.) As the fall term gets underway, I want to thank all MHCC employees who have worked diligently to prepare for another academic year. I would especially like to thank Robert Cox, Dawn Forrester, Luis Juarez, Pam Kuretich, Rob Nielson and all other employees who planned and executed the New Student Orientation sessions. These sessions are a vital part of preparing MHCC students for their educational journey, and the time and effort spent in planning these important events are greatly appreciated. IntegrityKudos to Heidi Davis, Early Head Start family worker, and the staff from the Early Head Start home base program who have been working with the city of Gresham Parks and Recreation, local civic organizations and merchants to cultivate the Yamhill Community Garden. Early Head Start staff provided transportation, snacks and child care while parents and neighbors attended workshops on gardening and worked in their garden plots. RespectKudos to Judith Poutasse who has returned to MHCC for another academic year working 2:30 to 7 p.m. assisting evening faculty and students. She is professional, sincere and committed to both students and faculty. She is always friendly, positive and cheerful. She is a wonderful ambassador for MHCC. Thank you for funding 1663 and her position. New staff members, Kristina Hargie, Head Start teacher-home visitor, and Amanda Atkinson, family worker, greeted new families at their sites on their second day of work! They both have a wonderfully respectful and engaging way with parents. Wow, talk about hitting the ground running! Maintenance and custodial (and all areas of facilities) regarding the recent move between VA11 and VA17. There were sinks to be re-plumbed, heavy equipment to be moved and what seemed to be an unlimited amount of objects to be ferried back and forth. A move like this could have gone awry very easily but was, instead, orchestrated and performed with amazing teamwork, muscle, speed and respect. You are AMAZING. We THANK YOU. The Visual Arts department APPRECIATES YOU ALL every day. InnovationKudos to Roxana Walls and Alicia Stankus for their work in significantly reducing cycle time in Accounts Payable. Jamie Simms, grants and contracts budget analyst in the Business Office, provides continuous high quality internal customer service to Steps to Success with enthusiasm, accuracy and a quick turnaround. During these past few months, she has given us invaluable extra time and effort to help with some in-depth analysis with our subcontractors in the annual fiscal monitoring process. She is an excellent liaison for us with Jennifer as well as with other Business Office staff. In addition, Jamie has come up with some quick, creative (but legal!) AP solutions over this summer to help with critical payments during the fiscal year CX turnover/transition, which in turn helps STS give excellent customer service.
Designing services that focus on degree-completers only focuses on 13 percent of our student population. In addition, the national average to complete a four-year degree is seven years! ServiceCongratulations to June Jacobs who was recently elected to the Sandy (OR) Chamber of Commerce Board! She will also serve on the Chambers education sub-committee. Kudos to Robert Cox, Luis Juarez, the Orientation Committee (Rob Nielson, Pam Kuretich, Carolyn Ganus, Dawn Forrester, Lisa Marie Morgan, Pat Martin, Jessica Ruiz, and Meadow McWhorter), and to all faculty, staff and students who participated and helped deliver the biggest and best Student Orientation Day ever. All MHCC students, faculty and staff who participated as tour guides, registration check-in folks, morning information table staff, student and parent session panelists, academic fair participants, optional sessions speakers, resources to answer questions for our guests, facilitators, speakers and helpers during New Student Orientation and to those who put together the goody bags, the flash drives and the t-shirts (in our cool blue MHCC bags). Technical staff for providing microphones and general sound services; facilities staff for their timely roles in setup and teardown; grounds crew for having the campus looking great, clean and ready for the start of the new school year. Sally Wright for a tremendous job pulling all the pieces together to make sure in-service was a success. Sunny Klever, Wendy Patton and the Foundation Board for their work to produce a record-breaking golf scramble in August that raised more than $30,000! These funds will support our students. Thanks also to all the sponsors, golfers and volunteers who made this event possible. Rick Bolesta for helping create and deliver an excellent professional development day for our department chairs, and to all those who made presentations: Sheri Mosher, Pam Polito, Sherri Lynn Bottari, Peggy Maas, Paul Karczag and Chris Jackson. Becky Weisen, Leisa Beck, Reiko Sherlock, Teri Wooley and Jeff Forbis for your hard work and extra time put in assisting employees and retirees, processing OEBB information and ensuring each employees benefits were processed properly. Becky Weisen and the entire HR department for a wonderful job in helping everyone transition from Oregon School Board Association (OSBA) to Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB). The enrollment process has been handled with patience and the desire to make it as easy as possible for us. As one of the classified members on the Benefits Committee, my heartfelt appreciation goes to Becky and the HR folks. Mary Ann Snow, Pam Polito and Sheri Mosher for making sure interviews for new hires go smoothly and for making all our applicants feel welcomed. Peggy Maas, Cheryl Owen, Cheryl Faust, Darcy Dalrymple, Dee Parsons, Erin Sause, Jenny Duquette, Jerri Ellis, Judy Froehlich, Kim Applin, Laura Whiting, Ming Sok, Shireen Duke, April Southard, Carrie Northway, Connie Roshone, Donna Harrison, Janice Bolt, Katelyn Ellis, Kathy Cortisser, Lisa Riegel, Paula Kelly and Rue Nelson for transforming lives by assisting students with negotiating the system of admission, registration and then graduation, and assisting them when the system doesnt seem to work for them. If JoAnn [Zahn] hadn't become our interim supervisor so many good and positive changes wouldn't have put us where we are today. If Ski (and Mike Wolfe) hadn't placed their trust and confidence in JoAnn's decisions this part of KMHD's evolution wouldn't have probably happened. Mary Burlingame Pam Kuretich from the College Center for the table decorations and treats, Rebecca Casey for general assistance, Elizabeth Johnson for the replenishment of sweets, Brandi Dolce, Peggy Maas and Erin Sause for recruitment, and all those who helped staff the Welcome Table and assisted in promoting and working on MHCCs great new programs, HD 100 and orientation. Carla Kelly and Brad Swiggart for doing a very admirable job of holding down the Vocational Training fort during the MOST hectic time of the year for VT. Meadow McWhorter for outstanding efforts in organizing and selling the blood drive sponsored by the Athletic Department. According to Joseph Schockley, Red Cross representative, Meadow did an amazing job on the drive. I would say the only thing as great as her planning of this event was the athletes and coaches who volunteered and donated. We had 21 first-time donors which, on a goal of 36 units of blood, is phenomenal. The final tally was 39 units collected with 58 people showing to give bloodThank you, thank you, thank you for supporting this effort Robert Cox and Meadow McWhorter, along with Elizabeth Perry and others, for their work with the MECHA (Movimiento Estudiantl Chicano de Aztlan) club, which supports a growing population within our community. Beth Sammons, who for a mere two ILCs of release time per term, serves as coordinator for the Developmental Reading and Writing Program. In effect, she does the work of a department chair assistant to the department chair in English. She is a perfectionist, a tireless and dedicated leader who is always anticipating student needs and best practice. Beth is also the faculty advisor to MHCC Rho Theta. Georganne Watters for her creativity and quality instructors materials for online classes. Shannon Valdivia and Aaron Kaio for organizing and putting on a debate camp in August for three Tillamook area high schools. Mike Wolfe for his foresight, wisdom and experience. His leadership has made a difference in facilities. Janette Hansen, Matt Anderson, Anna Hawley, Cheryl Oliver and Heather Tucker: Heather, who coordinates this area of Technical Services, has been with us for about a year now and has done extraordinary things with the library automated system and its interfacings with the Orbis Cascade Alliance; Janette and Matt who job share and keep us technologically alive and up to speed in these challenging electronic times; Cheryl is always and unstintingly ready to help me as my assistant, and she does a lot of the acquisitions, budget and serials (periodicals, journals, magazines) work for the library; Anna H. is a long-time extraordinary worker who handles the minutest details of cataloging with aplomb. Our library is blessed to have such people. Letter from Hiroshi Morihara. president and CEO of HM3, to all MHCC Staff: Thank you to everyone who attended and those who took part in the preparation of the ribbon cutting ceremony for HM3 Ethanols test production laboratory on Friday, October 3rd. Despite the inclement weather, the turnout was a great success with a wonderful group of business supporters and public officials to celebrate our achievement. We appreciated the opportunity to share our mission of becoming a world leader in the sustainable production of cellulosic ethanol. Also, thanks to the staff who have worked so diligently in helping to make our lab a reality. HM3 Ethanol looks forward to working further with MHCC over the next several years in this collaborative effort. The HM3 Ethanol website, www.hm3e.com, is now live. We hope that youll take a moment to review it. Please visit our news page for the ribbon cutting press release. Sincerely, Closing CommentsThe six central tasks of leaders1. Leaders Find and Listen to Their Inner Voice Thank you for including me in the future of Mt. Hood Community College! This edition was initially compiled by June Jacobs, written and edited by Ski and reviewed in final form by June Jacobs. Please forgive any errors and let me know if you still find the Ski Gram helpful. Thank you! |
