College Update

From: Sanford Shugart
To: All Faculty and Staff
Date: 10/22/02 4:37 PM
Subject: College Update October 22, 2002

1. West Campus Provost - As you know, the search process for a West Campus provost has already begun. We hope to have a provost on board by summer. Meanwhile, Dr. Edwards has spent considerable time in dialog about interim staffing of the position. After much consultation, it is our intention to ask a "campus council" to manage the day to day affairs and scheduled decisions (budget preparation, schedule, hiring, etc.) of West Campus from January through approximately June. The Council will consist of the deans (instruction and student support) the provost's direct reports, and other staff as needed. The Council will be co-led by Karen Borglum and Karen Blondeau. This should prove an interesting experiment in collaborative leadership. Dr. Edwards will work closely with the council and co-leaders. We will want them to be collaborative, yet decisive, so the campus can function effectively during the interim period.

2. Senior Teaching Fellows - Some months ago, in response to our general shortage of faculty, we began entertaining a discussion of this new program. It is intended to create a valued role for some retiring professors. I will send a more detailed description of the program next week, but it essentially provides the opportunity for a Dean to ask a retired professor to return to Valencia as a bit more than an adjunct teacher, with both increased expectations of student engagement and some additional compensation. Watch for the details next week. You will receive the penultimate draft, i.e. I will be able to receive a bit more input, but only for a few days before finalizing the program details.

3. Good News on Health Insurance - Human Resources is contacting you for renewal of your benefits options. I am writing to give some good news to those with dependent care. Last year, dependent premiums increased some 29%. In light of this extraordinary increase, the college shared the cost of this increase, absorbing half of the increased cost. We had anticipated picking up this cost for only one year to spread the increase out over two years. However, because of better performance in the system and reduced claims, I can announce that there will be no increase this year in dependent care premiums. Meanwhile, we have a group working on an enhanced wellness program both to benefit the health of our work community and to reduce the rate of growth of our insurance costs.

4. The Valencia Institute - Over the past two years, the Valencia Institute, our name for corporate and continuing education, has achieved a number of important milestones. It operates now as a significant profit center for the college and has realistic plans to grow both in its mission to enhance the regional workforce and to grow as a source of revenue to the rest of the college. It has added a language and culture institute, greatly expanded its information technology training, grown its "soft-skill" training, and adopted a robust business model. Also, it has undergone some organizational evolution. Recently, Paul McNamara was named Dean of the Valencia Institute, a richly deserved recognition for the leadership he has already given to this division of the college and the big goals he has set for their near future. Be sure to congratulate Paul and his wonderful team of educators.

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