Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: Shaping Our Future
August 20, 2021
Colleagues,
Our enrollment teams report a successful escalation of in-person services at our Valhalla campus and extension locations. Hundreds of students are receiving support onsite and remotely this week. Kudos and appreciation go to everyone who is transitioning back to campus workstations and remaining flexible as we deploy technology solutions and workplace modifications that connect us meaningfully and productively with each other and our students even as new protocols keep us at safe distances. Please continue to ask questions and report concerns so we can address them. There is no playbook for the work of restoring our on-campus presence. Despite this being an iterative and imperfect process, we can rest assured that our mission — the centrality of teaching and learning — and our commitment to health and safety will transcend the structures, procedures, and data points that guide our return.
Likewise, our values provide a framework for how we work together, serve students, and shape the future of the college. To better ourselves and our relationships, we have committed to personal excellence, respect, integrity, collaboration, civic engagement, innovation, diversity, environmental sustainability, and empathy.
Our presence, patience, and guidance at this juncture of students’ academic journeys help build a solid foundation for the positive student experience referenced in our mission and strategic plan. High-impact practices like robust enrollment strategies, orientation programming, and other student-focused activities increase engagement, community, and belonging for our students. Each of you who have volunteered to call students to guide and support them toward class registration serves as a significant touch point in their college experience. Your contact with students may be just what is needed to advance them in the direction of their goals. Empowering students and giving them the tools that will help them to succeed is always valued in every modality we offer. Thank you.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President