Weekly Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles – December 9, 2016
Connecting curricular and co-curricular activities with relevant cultural, socio-economic, and political issues enriches opportunities for our students to learn interdisciplinary skills needed for the 21st century. Seventeen students from the International Law Organizations Honors class reenacted the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference where 150 countries pledged to reduce carbon emissions to combat global warming. The event, sponsored by the Philosophia Society of the Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa, the African Renaissance Club and the Environmental Committee of the Faculty Senate, increased awareness and understanding of global sustainability efforts, and provided a platform for students to contribute their own academic expertise to an issue of great importance at both a local and international level. Thanks to Professor Anne D’Orazio and others for facilitating this wonderful learning experience. Thanks also to the more than 130 students, faculty, and staff who made the Climate Change Conference reenactment a successful event.
Daily at WCC, we salute our own Physical Plant Department as well as members of the Sustainability Committee which continue the “greenification” of our college. Notable college-wide sustainability efforts include the replacement of interior and exterior lighting with LEDs, automatic shutoff valves on faucets, HVAC and boiler equipment with energy management systems, LEED certified materials for building and roof maintenance, the installation of recycle bins in all buildings, and efforts to pilot solar street lighting. These projects are indicative of the value we place on creating an environmentally friendly campus.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you at next week’s Completion Ceremony on Thursday, December 15 at 4 pm. We have so much to celebrate as we anticipate more than 600 students accomplishing their goals and who benefitted from all of your hard work to get them to the finish line. I remain excited by the progress being made by the Student Success and Academic Excellence Summit group. Watch for a full campus update next week. Save the date for our End of Year Celebration and Campus Update on Monday, December 19 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. This will be a great time to join colleagues for cookies, conversation, and good news. This year our service focus is our own food pantry for needy individuals as we work to tackle student food insecurity. Please consider bringing a canned or non-perishable item to the event.
Thank you to the Offices of Admissions, Bursar, Counseling, Financial Aid, Registrar, and the Extension Centers for planning and facilitating our Saturday Enrollment Days initiatives. Our next Saturday Enrollment effort will occur on December 10, from 8:30 am to 1 pm and then again on January 7 during the same hours. Please continue to encourage students to register for winter and spring classes. The list of classes is available at MyWCC.
Thanks for making it a great week!
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President