Welcome Back Comments by Dr. Ruth Prather, Provost

August 2007

East Campus = Success

Seeing success in our students is special.

When you experience that special moment .when you know learning has occurred you feel it in your head and heart. Jane Wiese expressed it very well...yes Often that success is hard to put words .. As you saw in the video.. but all of you know exactly what it feels like. All of you are here at Valencia because you care about learning and want to see success in our students.

This afternoon I want to give you a brief update on where East was and where East is going; a little past and a little future. East campus continues to change as it responds to the learning needs of our students.

First it has been a very busy last few weeks. Registration is busy. Enrollment is growing we are hoping for a 4%-6% increase.

We have added additional online courses and will continue to develop new ones. Currently about   10% are on line.   We also have increased flex start classes. The deans will be working with you to determine which courses are appropriate for online and flex start models.

Many of you know that our registration systems were down for a week. They are up and running now. Your colleagues in student services are working very hard. When you see Linda Vance and her team please thank them.

Last year I asked those of you who wanted to participate in helping me develop goals for east campus to join the dream team.     A small group volunteered and that team led by Philip Bishop helped facilitate 2 large and many small meetings. Over 100 of you participated.   Lot of discussion occurred. Those meetings led to the development of 5 East Campus goals.

1. Learning Support

2. Diversity

3. Developmental education and first year experience

4. Quality / High standards High achievement

5   Integrating Advising and learning

These goals provide direction to the work we do.

The first goal is learning support .

It was clear that while East campus had many good learning support services, it was time to reenergize and expand that effort. Michelle Foster, assistant provost, coordinated SWOT analysis meetings and many follow up meeting. There was lots of thinking & discussion about how to use our resources in some new ways. There was much collaboration and communication.   It was important that space be used to support the learning outcomes that the front line faculty and staff have designed.   Student success matters. The result of your hard work is the new Student Success Center on the first floor of the library. We are adding a writing center, EAP support lab, & the math SPA. Who wouldn't want to learn math in a spa?

Further, we have combined the computer testing center from building 8 and the paper & pencil center in building 4. The honors support center will also move to the first floor.   We have added some color to make the environment more student-friendly.

This is phase one. We will continue to work with those faculty and staff on the front lines as we moveto phase 2. Expanding tutoring will be our next opportunity.

Diversity is our 2nd goal.

This campus has a diverse faculty, staff and student body. We value diversity of ideas, diversity of culture and diversity of race & religions.   Last year this campus offered numerous opportunities for learning about diversity in and outside the classroom.  

I would encourage you to continue to your work in creating a campus environment that values diversity.

The Third goal is developmental education.

The Achieve the dream grant brought attention to the fact that that not all of our students succeed at the same rate. The grant goals are to help all students succeed at a higher level.   The grant has 3 strategies, supplemental instruction, linked courses, and student success course.

This fall over 25 math classes will include a supplemental instructor. We also have expanded the number of student success courses. We are learning a lot from the ATD grant. I expect that we will move forward to develop or coordinate a more effective path for our first year in college students

Quality/ High standards/ high achievement is goal 4.

This is underlying culture of East campus. Quality

Last year on a daily basis I saw faculty, career staff, deans; facilities and security go the extra mile to ensure student success. The result is a culture where everyone contributes to the learning environment. Students benefit from this culture.

Please continue to care about quality and set those high standards for yourselves, your students and your departments.

Integrate Advising and learning is the goal 5.

This goal connects the traditional academic work with student services and student activities. Life map and the many themes associated with it provide a rich learning environment. We care about the whole" student-in-class learning promotes cognitive and academic growth, while out-of-class learning promotes personal growth and leadership.

We will continue to further develop these campus goals.

There are some exciting college opportunities coming your way.

This year the college will begin to develop a new college strategic plan.   This is very important work because this plan will guide the work of the college for next 5 plus years. In our current plan .starting right and learning leaders were 2 of the 6 key goals.   Many things have changed as we focused on helping students & faculty start right. Our TLA & faculty development program is the result of dreams faculty had 6 & 7 years ago.   I have no idea where the planning process will take Valencia but it will direct our work.

There will be many opportunities for you to get involved. I encourage you to participate. You will hear more about this tomorrow.

I am very excited to start this year.   To me Success is East Campus

Professor Rose Watson, president of East campus faculty senate would like to say a few words.

Thank you Rose,

I want to introduce you to my staff:

Ms. Michelle Foster, Assistant Provost

Deans & Directors please introduce us to your new faculty:

I have one more person to introduce you to--

Ms. Lindy White new coordinator of Student Activities.   Lindy has some gifts to give out

Thank you for coming and bring success to our students, Have a great term.