The Weekly News: Week 22

Dr. Sandra Fowler-Hill in front of Chime Tower

This past week

Usually the week before the holidays is quiet on a college campus. Not so at Clark College this past week.

Presidential Search Finalists Named

I am happy to share the news that four finalists have been selected in the search for Clark’s next college president. The Board of Trustees approved the list as recommended by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.

The four finalists are: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College; Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, district vice provost of institutional effectiveness at Miami Dade College; Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College; and Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College.

Full biographies of all four finalists are available online at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php

Clark College received 65 qualified applications. Last week, the Presidential Selection Committee interviewed ten semifinalist candidates and made their recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

This is a milestone in the process and I thank everyone from Clark College who served on this committee: Danielle Plesser, Dannie Nordsiden, Donivee Randall-Jones, Dr. Siri Wickramaratne, Evans Kaame, Heather Adams, Justin Flint, Rashida Willard, Suzanne Southerland and Tanya Kerr. Thank you!!

The finalists will be invited to the college in January for constituent panel interviews and public forums. It is expected that the Board of Trustees will make its selection by the end of February 2020 and that the new President will begin onboarding in the summer of 2020 in preparation for the 2020-2021 academic year.

More information about the ongoing search process—including photos and complete biographies of the finalists—can be found at www.clark.edu/presidential-search.

Faculty Negotiations continue

Clark College and the AHE will meet Friday, December 27 to continue negotiations to settle a contract dispute. I want to acknowledge the strain that this places on everyone at Clark: our students, our employees and our faculty. Clark College is committed to our students to ensure they are able to start and successfully complete their winter quarter.

Contingency planning is underway in the event there is a strike. Communication will be critically important as we move forward. Starting Monday, December 23, we will provide updated information on our website on the homepage.

I am deeply concerned a strike would have detrimental impacts on students and our college community. Please know Clark College wants to reach a settlement, move forward and support our students.

I want to also remind employees of our EAP resources during these times of stress. It’s easy to say and sometimes harder to do, practicing good self-care as stressors build up.

Washington State EAP is accessible, free and confidential. You can call (360) 407-9490 or toll-free at (877) 313-4455. You can also Visit the EAP website for more information.

New campus safety tool

Clark College is launching a new safety tool called Rave Guardian. It’s a free mobile app that turns your smartphone into a personal safety device and college resource center. I just downloaded it on my phone and it was really simple.

By downloading the app on your mobile phone, you’ll have access to safety features that directly connect you to the college’s Security and Safety staff, as well as the ability to submit anonymous tips should you see something suspicious. You can invite friends and family to join your network as your “Guardians” and have one or more of them virtually walk with you on or off campus. It’s like having a trusted friend with you at all times.

The Office of Security and Safety encourages all students, faculty and staff to enhance their personal safety by downloading the free app. You can text “Guardian” to 67283 to instantly receive the download link to register OR you go to your App Store or Google Play Store on your mobile device and search “Rave Guardian”.

Jeff Kaliner can answer any questions you may have at jkaliner@clark.edu. I appreciate all the work that has gone into this project, providing an extra layer of safety on campus.

Student Entrepreneurship

I want to give kudos to one of our Business Professors, Nathan Webster. He’s working with students who are entrepreneurs. Clark College is a member of the NACCE (National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship). Clark is hosting a networking event on Monday January 13, from 11am-2pm. This event is open to all students, staff and faculty. In fact, our faculty and staff business owners will be speakers. Nathan welcomes your questions about this event or other activities scheduled throughout the year. You can email him at nwebster@clark.edu. Thank you Nathan for all you do.

Community Service

I want to acknowledge the service work that you do out in our community. Clark College Director of Teaching and Learning Center, Dr. Judith Hernandez Chapar recently spoke at the Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Luncheon. Her topic was the intersection between housing and educational attainment. Judith has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and carries a strong message about the need for safe housing in our community and the impact it has one people’s lives. Well done Judith!