GCC
Office of the President
Newsletter:
Time seems
to fly faster each year, making it more important to pause during the holidays,
reflect on our work together, and express appreciation. In this year of
managing growth and planning for the future, we can be
proud of many accomplishments--far too many to list here. To all of you who are
making GCC better, continually serving students and helping them reach their
diverse goals--thank you. Your work is noticed and always
sincerely appreciated. I wish all GCC faculty, staff and friends the
happiest of holidays.
Winter Facilities Projects on a Fast Track
Winter break is by no means "down time" for our maintenance and
operations crews and contractors. "Construction Update #11" from
Chuck Jeffery, sent via e-mail on Dec. 15 and archived at
www.gc.maricopa.edu/construction, presents a comprehensive summary by
building/area of winter break facilities projects, large and small. I encourage
you to take a look at this list and see what projects
might affect your area(s). Some of the highlights in select areas of campus
include new paint and new carpeting; roof repairs; plumbing checks and repairs;
window tinting; and a whole lot of cleaning, among other projects. Also, all sidewalks on campus will be inspected, with broken
corners and cracks to be repaired, improving access for everyone. As I have
mentioned before, even seemingly minor maintenance is becoming more important
for our facilities as we approach four decades of continuous service for many
buildings. I appreciate the extra effort of everyone involved with our
facilities maintenance.
GCC United Way Campaign
Exceeds Goal, Part Two
As promised in my previous newsletter, I
have more information for you about our recently concluded
"Empty Bowl
Two annual GCC events held in late
November again reminded us about those less fortunate. The annual "Empty
Bowl
HLC/NCA Presentation
Summarizes Change
On Dec. 11, Higher Learning Commission
(HLC)/North Central Association (NCA) Assistant Director for Accreditation
Services Diane Nyhammer presented an overview of
changes to HLC accreditation criteria taking effect in January 2005. While this
may seem a long time off, it's important that we
understand these criteria and how they will affect us. Diane
talked about the HLC's shift toward analyzing
colleges' outcomes, and its new emphasis on themes supporting criteria,
"connectedness," and forward-looking projections rather than
retrospective data reporting. Among the five newly defined criteria for
HLC/NCA are "integrity in mission," "community engagement and
service," and "preparing for the future." Beyond the specifics
presented, it was helpful for us to get to know Diane
as she is our new HLC contact person. Introducing her to GCC was time well
spent. Many thanks to the dozens of GCC faculty and staff involved with the
many aspects of her two-day visit.
Farewell to Linda Hawbaker
Someone central to
many GCC initiatives--College Research Services Director Linda Hawbaker--has accepted a position with the District Office
and will leave GCC in January. She will become Director of Strategic
Information Technologies in Business Services. Anyone at GCC who has needed
data knows what a great job Linda and her team have done. She has provided
strong leadership for the most recent HLC/NCA re-accreditation visit,
coordinating dozens of employees. Perhaps most significantly, Linda has helped
make data more easily accessible and understood, and moved us toward being a
more data-driven campus culture. We will miss her and wish her well.
Gaucho Football Team Wins
its Eighth "Valley of the Sun" Bowl
The GCC Gaucho Football Team won a
thrilling victory, 41-17, over
GCC Faculty Prominent at
State AACHE Conference
GCC faculty played
prominent roles at the annual conference of the Arizona Association of
Hispanics for Higher Education (AACHE), held in
Coming Up
in January...
Please be looking for important updates
soon about activities on campus in January planned to commemorate the life and
legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I encourage your participation and
attendance as schedules allow. Also in January, we hope to finalize our search
for a Dean of Administrative Services. The first week of accountability for
faculty begins Jan. 12. It will be a busy month and we will keep you informed
about events and activities.
GCC hosted many current and emeritus
faculty and administrators, donors, community leaders, alumni, District Office
administrators and staff, and others in two open house sessions on Dec. 5.
Emphasizing the dual theme of the holiday season and GCC history/heritage, the
event showcased various offices in the newly renovated
Dr. Phil D. Randolph
President
Glendale Community College