This week
This past week I enjoyed celebrating with our community 30 years of research and community collaboration at WSUV. And, the Business and Health Sciences Unit invited me for some Q&A. Thanks to the BHS faculty and staff for sharing your thoughts and concerns with me. I especially enjoyed hearing about learning in action in a Professional Selling Class. A student developed a sales pitch as his final project to propose to another student in the class. And, she said, “Yes!” Thanks James Ron Powers, Adjunct Professor, for sharing the adorable pictures.
At the L.E.A.D. meeting on Friday we got a sneak preview of what will be presented at the upcoming budget forums. VP Bob Williamson and Director of Business Services, Sabra Sand, did an outstanding job of describing a very complex topic in an open and transparent way.
Budget
The Budget Committee is finalizing instructions for the college to assist in the development of the 2020-21 budget. This process will allow all members of the college community to contribute proposals. Input is vital as the college anticipates a $5.4 million shortfall in the 2020-21 budget, which will result in an approximate 8% cut.
It is important for all of us to see the projections, the numbers and have a chance to ask questions as we move forward through this process. The budget committee will be loading budget documents onto our intranet for your ongoing review. It’s at https://clarknet.clark.edu/governance/budget.
Three budget forums will be held:
- February 27, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., PUB 258
- February 28, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m., PUB 258
- March 3, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., FHL 126
I want to thank the budget committee, which includes faculty, classified, staff, and students. I want to encourage all of us to participate in this process. The committee will develop a list of ideas on how we can close the gap. They will prioritize and submit to the Executive Cabinet. The EC will give weight to the recommendations in making budget decisions and reporting back to the committee. This is difficult work and it is important we do it with respectful communication, discourse and transparency.
Legislative Update
The 2020 legislative session passed its halfway mark Tuesday as fiscal committees reached their deadline for passing bills out of committee. The House and Senate used the remainder of the week for floor action debating and voting bills ahead of the Feb. 19 floor cutoff date. The Senate confirmed several community college trustees this week including Reekah Strong.
A bill to fix the funding structure behind the Workforce Education Investment Act is headed for the Governor’s desk. Once he signs, it will put into place a funding structure supporting the 2019 act, which includes the Washington College Grant and Guided Pathways.
President Search
The Board of Trustees has narrowed the field of presidential candidates to two: Dr Karin Edwards and Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy. Their bios cans be reviewed on the Clark College Presidential Search Page.
The Board has identified a few key follow up questions for the two finalists. They have asked them to provide additional information that will be used to help make a final decision expected next Friday, February 21st.
The College began this work a year ago and I want to thank each of you who have contributed along our collective journey. Engagement has been key to a transparent, equitable and inclusive process and we are grateful for everyone who has played a part in preparing for this important moment in Clark College history.
Sad news at Concordia University
As many of you already know, Concordia University Portland announced this week that they will be closing at the end of this spring term.
This heartbreaking news has brought up questions. One set of questions is around what we are doing for Concordia students. Earlier this week, I reached out to Concordia’s president to offer any assistance we can provide in supporting their students. Student Affairs is planning on attending a transfer fair at Concordia next week. And I’ve asked HR to reach out to their HR department to connect with employees who may be eligible to fill open positions here.
The other set of questions revolve around whether what happened at Concordia could happen at Clark. It’s important to understand that we are two very different institutions: Concordia is a private university with a large online graduate-degree program, while Clark is a public community college. Accreditors were concerned enough about Concordia’s finances to require additional monitoring; Clark just received a very complimentary financial audit with no findings. This informative article in Inside Higher Ed explains in greater depth how Concordia’s troubles developed.
Nevertheless, this news has impact on our community. Some Clark students were planning on transferring there; some Clark employees are midway through graduate programs at Concordia, or have children who are attending there, or are alumni themselves; and many of us know people working at the university. I want to extend my sympathy to everyone affected.
Kudos to Team
Thank you Cath Busha, Dean of Student Engagement, who has agreed to serve as Interim Title IX Coordinator pending hiring of the Director of Compliance position. Genevieve Howard, Associate Vice President of Instruction, and Mike See, Director of Safety and Security, will serve as Deputy Title IX Coordinators. I appreciate all the ways our staff pitch in during times of challenge.
Clark survey of students on food and housing insecurity
This week, The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice released its #RealCollege 2020 National Report. 330,000 students at more than 400 colleges and universities were surveyed about food and housing insecurity.
Here is the data specific to Clark College:
- 36% of respondents experienced food insecurity in the prior 30 days
- 46% of respondents experienced housing insecurity in the previous year
- 17% of respondents experienced homelessness in the previous year
- 55% of students at Clark College experienced at least one of these forms of basic needs insecurity in the past year
- 28% of food-insecure students utilize SNAP benefits
- 11% of homeless students utilize housing benefits
Invitations to complete the questionnaire were sent by email to
approximately 7,600 students from Clark College and 1,156 students
participated. Thus, the estimated response rate is 15.2%. To read the
full report for Clark College:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5bed243399f122edd399e7728/files/7a9598e1-ba5f-4be3-a523-69f5e8ad1074/RC2019_InstRpt_ClarkCollege.01.pdf
It affirms the importance of our wrap-around services for students to help them stay on the path, acknowledging the barriers that they face in their pursuit of a certificate or degree.
Faculty Honors
The Faculty Excellence Award Committee encourages all of us to nominate an outstanding instructor, librarian, counselor, or department head for the Exceptional Faculty Award.
This award is professional recognition of the highest order, as it spotlights the instructor’s teaching excellence and positive impact for all to see. Faculty members can nominate their peers as well.
For more information and to nominate your favorite instructor or an outstanding peer, please go to http://www.clark.edu/cc/efa. The deadline for making your submission is March 13, 2020.
Next week
I hope you all enjoy the three-day holiday weekend. I will be attending the Association of College Trustees (ACT) new trustees orientation and legislative advocacy conference with our trustees.
Next week the college is hosting the inaugural NW Regional Equity in Higher Education Conference organized by our amazing DEI team (Rashida Willard, Dee Harris, Alyssa Voyles, Melissa Williams and Rosalba Pitkin.) Speakers from, Washington (including Clark College), Oregon and Idaho are presenting on Creating Inclusive Systems Beyond Diversity: Equity in Practice.
We are also hosting the Columbia River Economic Development Council Education Committee at CTC. I am looking forward to presenting an overview of our programs and Francois Wevers, Director of Economic Partnerships and Customized Learning, will be providing a tour of the CTC Building. And, I am honored to serve on a panel of regional community colleges at the Greater Portland Inc. Economic Summit to share the great work we are doing.
Great things continue to happen every day here at Penguin Nation. Thanks to our wonderful Grounds Crew (and some sunshine) the crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and the campus looks beautiful!
Thank you for all you do to make Clark College a great place to work and to learn.
