College Update

From: Sanford Shugart
To: All Faculty and Staff
Date: 08/26/03 12:25 PM
Subject: College Update

Welcome to fall term 2003. To the faculty, I guess this is welcome back. To the staff, it's more of a shifting of gears...You are already aware that the staff have been hard at the mission of serving our students so they will be ready to learn. We have had a dramatic reduction in complaints and service glitches, as we continue to get comfortable with Atlas and accommodate it to the needs of our students. Certainly, we still have some challenges, but I am very encouraged by the progress. Please give a word of thanks and encouragement to the staff in educational services, the business offices, the bookstore, etc.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to  fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries..."

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act IV, Scene iii

For a variety of reasons, I have the feeling that this will be a watershed year for the college, a tide rising that will carry us to our most important goals for our students' learning. Many of the strategies we've put in place over the past few years should begin to bear fruit. In fact, I just this day saw some numbers showing very dramatic increases in graduates at the college, at both the degree and certificate levels. I'll have more details for you shortly.

Also, this year will mark a signal year in the future of our facilities. I'll share more about this on Learning Day (September 16...) The need to create healthy learning environments, new campus capacity, and better space for faculty and staff has never been more acute. We have some bold, but achievable plans for this.

Soon you will see a refresh of our technology plans for the coming five years. You should already be seeing the first of the new "smart classrooms." This is only the beginning of a movement that will increase student engagement in learning using thoughtful blends of digital and personal environments.

And finally, this will be a watershed year in our political efforts. Already, the Governor and the State Board of Education are indicating a desire to "catch us up" in funding. If we can get the House and Senate to agree, we could have significant improvement in our financing.

The rhythm of academic life is a unique gift. Every year provides a natural time to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to learning. As I have reflected these past few weeks on our progress, I have found myself giving thanks both for the significant journey we are sharing, and for the fellow travelers. You are the best I have ever seen and I am privileged to work with you.

Blessings,

Sandy Shugart

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