CtcLink: It’s here!

ctcLink went successfully live at 7:30am this morning. Yahooo!

Kudos to the entire ctcLink team for making this a success. I especially want to acknowledge myClark ctcLink Steering Team members who have led this extraordinary effort over the past five years:

• Susan Maxwell, myClark ctcLink Project Director
• Sabra Sand, Director of Business Services and Financial Management Pillar Lead
• Mirranda Saari, Associate Dean of Enrollment Services and Registrar and Campus Solution Pillar Lead
• Guisela Eberle, Human Resources Assistant Director and Human Capital Management Pillar Lead
• Genevieve Howard, Associate Vice President of Instruction and Instructional Lead
• Andy Barsotti, Director of Data Services and ITS Lead
• Tanya Kerr, ctcLink Internal Controls and Business Analyst (Campus Solutions and Financial Management)
• Jennifer Ward, Program Manager for myClark ctcLink
• Shanda Haluapo, Associate Vice President of Planning and Effectiveness and myClark ctcLink Executive Sponsor

In addition to over 30 staff and managers who spent this weekend validating data to assure the transition was successful. Thank you ALL!

I’m so proud to be part of the Clark team. We’ve got this!!!

I am grateful to the entire ctcLink team who have been walking us through this major undertaking along with SBCTC team. I want to affirm something that Shanda Haluapo said last week in her email to you. She acknowledged that this week will be full of rewards and challenges as we learn to do our work differently. She reminded us to have compassion and patience with ourselves and those around us, because we all do the best we can do.

We’ll have access to the PeopleSoft system starting tomorrow, October 29. You will get an email with the link and instructions on how to log into the system. People from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) will be here to help support us in the transition. We have resources to support your transition. Please review the employee resources.

We also have student resources you can help share with students. 

Penguin Pantry Growing

I enjoyed attended the second anniversary open house at the Clark College Penguin Pantry.

It provides students with a safe, comfortable place to get something to eat, pick up a necessity, and connect with additional resources and services such as counseling, public benefits, community food banks and other resources. There’s a great article in the Indy this month about the pantry and its growth on the campus. Thanks to student reporter Sandra Fachiol for the story: “Clark’s food pantry strives to reduce student hunger.”

Also a very special thank you to the Penguin Pantry program assistant, Estancia Cota. As the Penguin Pantry founding staff member, she is passionate about holistically meeting students’ needs and understands the larger role that the Penguin Pantry plays in success, retention and completion. Her work and commitment to the Penguin Pantry makes a positive difference in the lives of our students. Here’s the link to find out more about how you can help and how you can help connect our students with the Penguin Pantry. Estancia and student/volunteer Megaera Jarvis presented at the Board of Trustees meeting that evening on the impact the pantry has made on our students who are experiencing food insecurity. 

Enrollment Update

From the first day of fall quarter to census day, 281 students left the college, representing more than 100 FTES. A quarter (25%) of these students were dropped for nonpayment. The students who left were more likely to be low income, employed, first generation, and students of color. How can we, as a college, work together to support these students before they silently leave? 

Employee Giving Campaign

There are many ways to support students with your time, effort and resources. Just a reminder the Foundation has launched its annual Employee Giving Campaign. You can choose where your donation goes and you can help make sure we get a $5,000 corporate match for Penguin Pantry.

Visit the foundation’s Employee Giving website for more details and to make your secure online donation: www.clarkcollegefoundation.org/campaign/ways-to-give/employee-giving

As an added incentive, the department with the highest giving participation will win a catered meal from Clark College Foundation.

You also have an opportunity to give to the Phi Theta Kappa Thanksgiving Basket Fundraiser. Each year the Penguin community is asked to make cash donations to help buy items for a Thanksgiving dinner for our students in need. The dinner includes a 10-14 pound turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and a pie. Cash and check donations can be accepted at the Cashier’s Office until Friday, November 22. This year’s goal is to raise $3,000 to provide 100 Thanksgiving dinners, with your help.

Reflections from this past week

This past week was filled with inspiring presentations and learning about Clark. At the Students with Disabilities Luncheon, Alyssa Voyles shared her personal journey and inspired us all with her courage.

At the Board of Trustees work session we heard four students who were nominated to represent Clark College for the Washington Transforming Lives Award. Jorge Maravilla was selected by the Board to represent Clark College. His journey as a student began 2015 in the High School 21+ program and he earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Supervisory Management. He shared a very moving story of how his life has been transformed by attending Clark College.

In addition, the Board of Trustees heard from two amazing faculty about their recent sabbaticals at their work session. Jill Darley-Vanis and Erin Staples each shared their sabbatical experience and the projects that were a result of having time to dive deep into a subject. I was inspired to hear the impact of their projects on teaching and learning at Clark. And, Samuel May-Varas was the Faculty Speaker with welding/machining student, Gloria Razinski, at this month’s Board of Trustees meeting, presenting on the Welding I-BEST Program.

I wrapped up the week continuing my “Listening Tour” at the CLASS Unit meeting. I appreciated hearing their passion for serving students in the Library, Tutoring, and TLC, and everyone’s candor in sharing the challenges they are facing.

I was honored speak at the Foundation Scholarship Reception. The O’Connell Sports Center was filled with donors, event sponsors, scholarship recipients and their support team, families and loved ones celebrating our students who are on promising pathways. Talented Clark musicians (Colin Hunt, Ian Engelsman and Riley Lyons) entertained the group and ASCC President Evans Kaame shared his extraordinary journey to Clark College.

Finally, I’ve walked 120,971 steps this Walktober around the college and on the weekends in my neighborhood. Keep on walking, Penguin Nation!