Weekly Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles – September 16, 2016
Gathering for Faculty Convocation is a wonderful occasion to celebrate past accomplishments and consider future directions. Special guest Max Rodriguez shared perspectives on the power of language to support or inhibit student learning and success. Dr. Ostman made the observation that one marker for 2016-2017 will be “turning the college’s collective decision making policy from theory into practice.” The board unanimously approved our policy, attached, as a means to codify our shared value, responsibility, and commitment to listen to all voices and value all perspectives.
In that spirit, we are taking a slightly different approach from past by organizing an all-inclusive Student Success Summit. We have issued an open call for volunteers to serve as planners for this summit to take place on October 14. The committee will meet on Friday, September 29, at a time to be determined based upon the availability of our volunteers. Please respond to Yolanda Howell’s earlier email by the end of the day on Monday (September 19) so that we can make arrangements for a time and place for the planning meeting.
During the Student Success Summit, we will take time together to understand all of the ideas we’ve developed through a variety of initiatives from the past, how best to prioritize that work, and most importantly, and identify how each of us can get involved. Being involved in either the planning committee, the summit, or the ensuing work are excellent ways to bring life to our college-wide strategic plan and help achieve new results for our students.
Also during convocation, the Westchester Community College Foundation awarded recognitions for Professors Collis, Goodyear, and Simpson. And we celebrated 25 years of service for Professors Courage, Hanna, Schlanger, Wedlick, and Widulski. Three new endowed chairs were named: Professors Cousins, O’Brien and Director of Student Involvement Adam Frank. Special congratulations to all who received recognition at this special event. Finally, I appreciate your responses to the communications survey and the time that more than 100 of you took to provide input. Every comment is valuable and I will be utilizing your feedback to improve our practices. Although the survey has closed, I am still happy to hear from you as the semester unfolds. Please do stay in touch.
Thanks for making it a great week.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President