This past week

I can’t believe this is the last weekly news for 2019. My time at the Penguin Nation has flown by fast. As I reflect back on the last twenty four weeks, I count your success and the amazing work you have done in teaching and supporting our students. I look forward to all that 2020 brings to Clark College, including its next President.

Correction

My apologies for the oversight in listing the Presidential search committee members in last week’s Weekly News: I accidentally omitted Cath Keane from Career Services. I greatly appreciate Cath’s participation on the Search Committee. Thanks, Cath.

Presidential Finalists College Forums

The four presidential candidate finalists will be on campus in January. I encourage everyone to attend the college forums that will be held as part of the two-day long interview process and provide your feedback.  We are still finalizing the location on campus but I can tell you the forums will be held 12:00-1:00pm on the following dates:

• Tuesday, January 14: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College.
• Friday, January 17: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College
• Wednesday, January 22: Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College
• Friday, January 24: Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, district vice provost of institutional effectiveness at Miami Dade College

Biographies of all four finalists are available online atwww.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php

Budget news from Olympia

The Governor released his 2020 Supplemental Operating and Capital Budgets on December 18. Below is a summary of the Governor’s proposals that impact the community and technical college system:

Operating Budget

1. $2.4 Million for the Job Skills Program – In alignment with his Career Connect Washington initiative, the Governor proposed to expand customized, short-term and job-specific training for incumbent workers through the Job Skills program. Job Skills co-invests with employers who need customized training due to growth and changes in technology, and to address skills shortages. Currently, the Job Skills Program has $5 million in funding to provide training to meet employers’ specific needs. Due to the high demand, the entire $5 million has already been committed for this biennium. If funded by the Legislature, this would allow a 50 percent expansion of the program, which is highly respected by both business and labor.

• $1.6 Million for Increased Attorney General Services – These funds were requested by both the Attorney General and SBCTC to cover unanticipated legal costs.

Capital Budget

The Governor’s budget does not include any new capital funding or local financing authorities for the CTC system.

These are the “bigger pieces” of his budget affecting our system. Minor changes that typically occur in a supplemental budget (i.e., changes in pension rates and funding) are also proposed. I will let you know if we discover anything noteworthy as we dig into the details, as well as updates on the Legislature’s budget decisions. 

Faculty Negotiations continue

Clark College and the AHE are meeting today, 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 staff, 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. We have created a website, easily findable from the clark.edu home page, to help everyone stay up-to-date on events and how they affect the college’s operations.

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.

Looking ahead

There is an exciting conference coming up on campus soon. Registration is still open for the inaugural Northwest Regional Equity Conference for Higher Education. Registration Fee: $250

I’m also looking forward to attending our annual MLK event in Gaiser Student Center on Tuesday, January 21, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and seeing the interactive, hands-on display of the history of Buffalo Soldiers/black cowboys, as well as attending the Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest documentary screening and discussion from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Join me in honoring Dr. King’s legacy of service to others by donating hair- and skin-care products for African-American families served by YWCA Clark County. Donations can be dropped off at the Student Center. More information at http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/mlk/

As we say goodbye to 2019 and head into the new year, I’m getting excited about delivering the 2020 State of the College Address on January 16. The most exciting part, for me, is announcing the inaugural recipients of two new employee awards: the  Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award and the Exceptional Administrative Exempt Award.

Thank you to all who nominated your colleagues for the inaugural Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award. As a reminder, this award is given to a member of the Clark College community who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing equity. We are excited to announce all the nominees:

• Dian Ulner
• Dr. Debra Jenkins
• Shanda Haluapo
• Connor Cantrell
• Cath Busha

For this inaugural year of the Exceptional Administrative-Exempt Award, 19 nominations were received. The award honors an Administrative-Exempt staff member who contributes in significant ways toward building a positive climate, inclusive environment, and improvement in the quality of life at Clark. The awards committee were impressed by all the submissions, whether nominees were eligible or not. Congratulations to all the nominees and heartfelt thanks to those who nominated them:

• Ben Cecka
• Kevin Damore
• Guisela Eberle
• Sarah Gruhler
• Shanda Haluapo
• Judith Hernandez Chapar
• Heather King
• Jennifer Lea
• Sami Lelo
• Kent Pruett
• Mirranda Saari
• Sabra Sand
• Ashley Schumacher
• Michael See
• Kevin Thomas
• Tasaday Turner
• Vanessa Watkins
• Melissa Williams
• Carley Willis

The winners of these two new awards will be announced at the 2020 State of the College Address on Thursday, January 16. A huge thank-you to all the nominees for making Clark College a better place to work and to learn.

If you have been nominated, be sure to attend the State of the College Address to be recognized. Please join me in honoring your colleagues at this event next month.

To all those who are off campus for the break, I wish you safe travels on your way back to us. I am off for a few days to attend my daughter’s wedding in Leavenworth, Washington. They are having an outdoor wedding in the snow on January 4. I’m hoping for clear roads to get over the pass.