Earlier this week, the college had its formal exit meeting with the Washington State Auditor’s Office for its annual financial statement audit for fiscal year 2021-22. This is the 8th year in a row that Clark College has achieved no findings in these state audits, demonstrating that financial reporting and internal controls are in compliance with state laws.
“Thank you to everyone for their part in helping us get through this process successfully,’ said Vice President of Operations, Sabra Sand. “These audits required a tremendous amount of time for our Business Services staff, along with collaboration with other areas across campus including Student Life, Financial Aid, and the Bookstore.”
Oswald, Clark’s penguin mascot, lead a dancing executive cabinet into Opening Day while “Don’t Stop Belivin'” by Journey played.
On September 12, Clark College employees came together to celebrate the start of the 2022-23 academic year, with its first in-person Opening Day since 2019. President Edwards said that although she has been at Clark College for over 2 years, this was the first in-person opening day celebration, and she was loving it!
A video introducing executive cabinet members featured Chris Layfield driving each member around campus with Oswald (Clark College’s penguin mascot). They shared why they work at Clark College and even had a little fun sharing their favorite songs in a short sing-along with Chris and Oswald.
This was President Dr. Karin Edward’s first in-person Opening Day since her start in 2020.
Based on the institutional priorities and the equity-centered strategic plan, the president’s work plan will guide her efforts into 2023. President Edwards also gave an update on Boschma Farms.
“We are very close to having the design of the building, which will house 5 general purpose classrooms, student support spaces, offices, conference rooms, and of course our advanced manufacturing, high bay area. The facility is smaller than we planned, but we’re still able to accommodate the courses and programs,” she shared.
A new initiative at the college, Clark Cares, was unveiled with a video (https://youtu.be/iPbuvj3ZIVs). It featured some of the things staff can and currently do to show our students we care about them and their Clark experience.
Brad Avakian, vice president of human resources, presented the years of service awards to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years by reading their names. Employees with service over 25 years were invited to come to the front to receive their certificates. All years of service awards also come with monetary compensation based on the number of years served.
The 30 Year employees honored were: Tina Barsotti, George Cole, Tracy Nehnevaj, Kristeen Nichols, and at 35 Years: Mark Owsley.
Paul Wickline, vice president of instruction, left, honoring Mark Owsley, for 35 years of service.
Exceptional Faculty Awards
The award honorees were announced at Commencement in June and were honored at Opening Day.
Kathrine Anastasi, libraries, was honored for her work at Larch Corrections to research, develop, and supply the best materials for their library.
Dr. Amy Castellano, phlebotomy, was honored for her work in the classroom supporting and respecting students, her attention to the wellbeing of her students, and her commitment to students understanding the subjects she was teaching.
Steven Clark, biology, was honored for his work in the classroom, creating deep interest in biology, openness to learn from his students, and acknowledging their work in meaningful ways.
Erielle Lamb, surveying & geomatics, was honored for her work in the classroom, letting students make mistakes, making complicated calculations fun and interesting, and sharing stories so that students could relate the schoolwork to their planned career.
Luanne Lundberg, career & academic prep, honored for her work making math understandable even for students with learning disabilities, instilling confidence in her students that would break them out of poverty. She also developed a pathway from CAP to MTH in 2016. She was a co-leader in the collaboration with the math department to develop outcomes and curriculum and kept us student-focused.
Gail Robinson, English, was honored for the extra help she offers her students in and out of the classroom, building their confidence in writing and offering specific, concrete feedback so that her student’s writing skills can grow.
Annual Exceptional Classified Staff Awards
Chris Layfield receiving his award.
Chris Layfield, Admin Services Manager in Security and Safety, was honored for his service to all those who pass through the doors of Gaiser Hall, often guiding them physically to where they need to go or contacting a department or person they need to talk to. Students often have come back to the desk to comment on how Chris’ help is what made them stay at Clark. He has served on hiring committees, the Security and Safety Committee, and the Social Equity Committee and is a WPEA steward,
Jessica Sanders, Program Support Supervisor in Transitional Studies was honored for her work in supporting students and faculty. Her extensive knowledge of Transitional Studies, and providing supplies to students, and finding new ways to do this during the pandemic has been instrumental to students and colleagues. Her exemplary service to students who often speak English as a second language is done with respect and care. She supplies faculty with valuable recruitment and inclusion data to help them better serve their students.
Exceptional Administrative-Exempt Award
Ayssa Voyles, center, being cheered on by her colleagues.
Alyssa Voyles, Associate Director of Employee Equity, Outreach, and Engagement in the Office of Diversity and Equity, was honored for her work in coordinating events, stepping in to help the ODEI team, adding new workshops, supporting others through co-facilitating of workshops, and her dedication to equity. She also has been instrumental in working beyond her team by stepping in as interim director of communications in Communications and Marketing, serving on the Boschma Farms team, and helping staff form Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to help build a stronger community and sense of belonging to Clark College
Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award
Left to right: Christina Smith, Dr. Karin Edwards, and Cydney Topping
Christina Smith and Cydney Topping worked together to create and co-lead the Anti-Racism Faculty Learning Community (FLC) in the English Department. This FLC is based on cutting-edge research on anti-racism and culturally responsive teaching. Their research, conducted in the Fall term and implemented in Winter and Spring, is at the highest levels of data-informed education.
While faculty are the intended recipients of this service they provide, students will be the true beneficiaries. In following their leads, implementing the strategies they are sharing, and continuing our own growth as faculty, the field of English Studies, including rhetoric and composition, will overcome centuries of implicit bias and colonial mindset that faculty in English have felt duty bound to uphold in the service of other programs, despite our qualms about the inequities of “Standard Written English” as a marker of academic achievement.
Opening Day at Clark
The new 2022 Student Ambassadors serve lunch to employees on Opening Day.
The event included refreshments provided by iQ Credit Union, Welcome Week shirts, Clark Cares buttons, and information from the “O Squad.” Additionally, there was an opportunity to have employee photos taken and visit with colleagues. The Clark College Foundation also provided lunch from Big Town Hero and Kona Ice at the Anderson Fountain.
Opening Day is part of a multi-day orientation and training for faculty organized by the Clark College Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). The Keynote address was given on Tuesday, September 13, by Melissa Williams, Policy Associate/ Interim Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Clark College alumnus.
Professor Olga Lyubar, center, earned tenure in March 2022. Clark College/Jenny Shadley.
Four outstanding educators are the newest members of the tenured faculty at Clark College. Darcy Kennedy (chemistry), Nick Luisi (nursing), Olga Lyubar (health information management), and Richa Sharma (communication studies) were all granted tenure during the Clark College Board of Trustees meeting on March 9. They will be honored at a college reception later in the spring.
Tenure is awarded by the college’s Board of Trustees based on professional excellence and outstanding abilities in their disciplines. The granting of tenure is based on the recommendations of tenure review committees to the vice president of instruction, which are then forwarded to the president, who presents a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Recommendations are based on self-evaluations, tenure review committee evaluations, student evaluations, supervisory evaluations, and peer evaluations. The final decision to award or withhold tenure rests with the Board of Trustees.
About the faculty members
Darcy Kennedy, chemistry
Darcy Kennedy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California) and her Master of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Washington. Before entering the teaching profession, she worked as a chemist and research technician at companies like Coffey Laboratories, TCI America, and Xerox. She has experience teaching at both Portland Community College and Clark College.
Kennedy began teaching at Clark College in 2012 as an adjunct, moving into a full-time position in 2014. She currently serves as representative for the college’s faculty union and on the college’s Social Equity Advisory Committee. Additionally, she was part of the first cohort of the college’s BUILD program, a yearlong employee development program providing intensive training in power, privilege, and inequity.
Kennedy described her teaching philosophy in the following terms: “Each student brings a different level of ability to the classroom community. Each student must then be provided with the level of support they require to be successful and accountable to themselves and the community.”
Nick Luisi, nursing
Nick Luisi earned his Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing from Raritan Valley College in North Branch, New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and his Master of Science in Nursing online from Capella University; both these degrees were focused on nursing leadership. He achieved the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, from which he retired in 2015. Additionally, he has more than 15 years of work experience as a nurse in private hospital settings.
Luisi has teaching experience at Raritan Valley Community College and at Clark College. Since coming to Clark in 2018, he has participated in the Instructional Planning Team, the Nursing Scholarship Committee, the Outcomes Assessment Committee, and the college’s Queer Employee Resource Group.
“My teaching philosophy is to offer a challenging and inclusive classroom setting to support the values, beliefs, and individual differences of our students to become compassionate and progressive advocates within nursing,” Luisi said. “I strive to appreciate and embrace the experiences, talent, and gifts of each student as they are guided along their journey to enter the field of nursing, through creating a safe environment free from judgment while helping them explore different views and beliefs to support personal and professional growth.”
Olga Lyubar, health information management
Olga Lyubar is a Clark College alumna who attended the college as a Running Start student. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Informatics and Health Information Management (HIHIM) from the University of Washington. After graduating, she worked for a company focused on sharing health information online. Later, she worked in multiple roles in a skilled nursing facility, serving as manager of the medical records department, responsible for staff development, and responsible for the podiatry and dental clinic, as well as the outpatient clinic.
In 2016, Lyubar returned to Vancouver and to Clark College, where she began teaching in what was then called the Business Medical program (now called Allied Health). She also has teaching experience at Portland Community College. At Clark, she currently serves as the director of the Health Information Management (HIM) program. She also serves on Evergreen Public Schools’ Medical Services Advisory Committee and on Washougal School District’s Health Sciences Advisory Committee.
Lyubar describes her teaching style as learner-centered and teaching-focused. “In my classroom, both the instructor and students are constantly learning from each other,” she said. “I believe that the best way to learn is by active learning.”
Richa Sharma, communication studies
Richa Sharma earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in New Delhi, India. She earned her master’s degree in communication studies from Portland State University. She has teaching experience at both Portland State University and Clark College and has worked as a senior associate intercultural trainer for the Portland-based consultant agency TsaiComms.
Since joining Clark College in 2008, Sharma has worked to develop intercultural competence both within the Communication Studies Department and in the college. This work included a yearlong Intercultural Capacity Building Program that collaborated with speakers from across Clark College to support her department’s faculty, as well as work to build culturally responsive teaching models as part of the college’s move to a Guided Pathways model of higher education.
Sharma said that she strives to “provide all my students with a learning environment that not only opens their minds to new knowledge and skills in a particular field of study for economic vitality, but also encompasses a broader worldview to raise their awareness toward responsible global citizenship.”
Clark College in remote operations March 21-25
As part of its commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable practices, Clark College will be closed to the public March 21-25.
One of the ways this commitment is fulfilled is by a “soft closure” of most buildings and services for two separate weeks per year. A soft closure means some programs close entirely, some work remotely, and some remain on campus.
The first soft closure was the week of December 20-24, 2021, and the second is March 21-25, 2022.
Below please find a summary of college services during the March 2022 closure period.
Athletics
Surveillance testing appointments only. Closed to the public.
Bookstore
March 21-25: Closed to the public, no appointments will be scheduled.
March 21-23: Limited staff will be on site processing student online orders only.
Business Services
Will remotely maintain normal operating hours
Cashiering
Limited services will be available remotely. Student payments can be made online in CTCLink.
Central Services
Open normal operating hours.
Child and Family Services
Open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Communications and Marketing
Will remotely maintain normal operating hours
Community and Continuing Education
Test Center is closed and employees will work remotely.
Counseling and Health Center
Closed
Emergency Management
Normal operations
Environmental Health and Safety
Normal operations
Events Services
Will remotely maintain normal operating hours.
Facilities Services
Normal operations
Food Service
Closed
Human Resources
Will remotely maintain normal operating hours.
Information Technology Services
Phone support will be remote
SHL open computer labs will be available by request
TecHub will be remote
Limited staff will cover in-person tasks at SHL
All critical services teams will be remote, but will be on campus if there is an incident
Library Services
Closed, working remotely
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity Center will be closed to the public.
ODEI will remotely maintain normal operating hours.
Office of Instruction
Will remotely maintain normal operating hours
President’s Office
Will remotely maintain normal operating hours
Production Printing
Closed
PUB/GHL Offices
Advising, Care & Conduct, Career Services, Enrollment Services, Disability Support Services, Welcome Center, Financial Aid, Financial Wellness, International Programs, One Stop, Penguin Pantry, Student Life, Veterans Resource Center, VPSA, Workforce Education Services
Closed to the public, working remotely
Security
Main Campus: Remains staffed 24/7/365.
Columbia Tech Center: Monday, March 21, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. only. CTC will be closed the rest of the week.
Lost and Found: Closed
Tutoring Centers
Closed
Other Clark College locations
The Clark Center at WSU (CCW): Closed
Clark College at Columbia Tech Center (CTC): CTC security onsite; other staff work remotely. Testing center is closed.
New Trustee
Governor Jay Inslee has appointed Denise Gideon to the Clark College Board of Trustees. Gideon is a seasoned healthcare leader with an extensive record of service to communities. She is currently the System Vice President of Operations & Program Integration at PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Washington, where she also serves as the executive sponsor for the Black and Allies Network Group.
“I have an affinity for community colleges and would not be where I am today if it hadn’t been for getting my first degree from Berkeley City College,” said Gideon.
Gideon’s service to the community includes participation as a board member of Educational Opportunities for Children & Families of Southwest Washington, an officer of the Joyce Finley Foundation, a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and as a volunteer coordinator for Rebuild Together Portland.
Previously, Gideon’s professional career spanned leadership roles at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland and at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland, as well as at the Alameda Alliance for Health. She is the former co-chair of the Board of Directors of St. Martin De Porres Catholic School and is active in faith communities wherever she lives and works.
Gideon served as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm and received her undergraduate degree in Organizational Management from Patten University in Oakland, California. She subsequently received an M.B.A. in Business Administration, emphasizing strategy, from John F. Kennedy University in California.
Gideon began her term on November 19 and is filling the position left vacant by the death of Jane Jacobsen in May. Her term runs until September 30, 2024.
“Denise is an exceptional addition to the Clark College Board,” said Rekah Strong, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Her executive experience of mergers, acquisitions, and workforce, as well as her background in the medical field, will bring a much-needed form of acumen to our board.”
The Board of Trustees consists of five members appointed by the Governor of Washington. Members serve five-year terms and must live in the college’s service district. The Board is responsible for strategic planning; development and approval of college policies; and approval and oversight of the operating budget.
Nursing professor receives tenure
Professor Dianne Lucia
Nursing professor Dianne Lucia was granted tenure during the Clark College Board of Trustees meeting on December 8.
Tenure is awarded by the college’s Board of Trustees to faculty based on professional excellence and outstanding abilities in their disciplines. The granting of tenure is based on the recommendations of tenure review committees to the vice president of instruction, which are then forwarded to the president, who presents a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Recommendations are based on self-evaluations, tenure review committee evaluations, student evaluations, supervisory evaluations, and peer evaluations. The final decision to award or withhold tenure rests with the Board of Trustees.
Lucia will be honored at the 2022 tenure reception on May 25.
About Dianne Lucia
Dianne Lucia earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Portland State University and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Western Governors University. Additionally, she earned a Certification in Healthcare simulation from Boise State University in 2021. She has work experience in orthopedics, pediatric, and labor and delivery nursing at many local healthcare facilities including Providence Medical Center, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Southwest Washington Medical Center, PeaceHealth Southwest Washington, and Legacy Salmon Creek.
A resident of Vancouver, Lucia first joined the faculty of Clark College as an adjunct professor in 2005. She began teaching full-time in 2015. At the college, she oversees the program’s state-of-the-art simulation lab, a teaching tool that has had even greater importance during the COVID-19 pandemic when students had difficulty getting hands-on practice in clinical settings.
“I believe the most important role I have as a teacher is to promote a safe learning environment,” said Lucia. “I believe that experiential active learning is the most effective teaching approach. Simulation remains one of my favorite teaching strategies because it improves critical thinking through reflective learning.”
New VPs named
Vice President of Student Affairs Michele Cruse and Vice President of Instruction Paul Wickline
After a nationwide search, Clark College has announced the hiring of two new members of its Executive Cabinet. Dr. Michele Cruse was named Vice President of Student Affairs and Paul Wickline was named Vice President of Instruction. Dr. Cruse is starting in the position in November and Paul Wickline will begin on January 3, 2022.
“These are two crucial roles at the college, overseeing the two units with the most direct contact with our students—either in class settings or through student services,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “Michele and Paul are both highly qualified professionals who will be able to provide leadership and stability to the college.”
Both positions were filled after nationwide job searches and extensive interviews with hiring committees, college leadership, and open forums with the college community.
About Dr. Michele Cruse
Dr. Michele Cruse has been serving as Interim Vice President of Student Affairs at Clark College since October 2020. Prior to coming to Clark, she served as Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Experiential Education at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in Pennsylvania. A native Pittsburgher, Dr. Cruse earned her associate degree from the Community College of Allegheny County, her bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, her master’s degree in public administration and nonprofit management from Portland State University, and her doctorate in community college leadership from the Oregon State University.
Dr. Cruse’s work experience includes both faculty and staff positions at Portland Community College, including dean of student development. She has owned her own business and served as co-founder of an organization focused on workshops and education for community members, women, disenfranchised youth, and those in alternative education.
At Clark College, Dr. Cruse leads Student Affairs, a unit that includes a wide range of services and programs including enrollment services, athletics, career services, international programs, financial aid, disability support, the Veterans Resource Center, and the Counseling and Health Center, among others.
Dr. Cruse lives in Vancouver with her husband, Michael. They have three adult children.
“I am very excited and feel very honored to work alongside dedicated Clark College leaders as the Vice President of Student Affairs,” said Dr. Cruse. “It’s my ultimate goal to ensure that we provide students with a campus environment where every student feels valued, respected, and included while pursuing their academic goals.”
About Paul Wickline
Paul Wickline brings with him many years of experience in both teaching and leading in a variety of educational settings. He began his educational journey at Edmonds Community College studying vocal music. From there, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Education degree from Western Washington University and his Master of Education degree from Central Washington University. He is currently working on his doctoral dissertation in the Higher Education Leadership program at Portland State University.
Wickline began his teaching career as a high school English and drama teacher in Walla Walla, Washington. He then began teaching theatre at Walla Walla Community College. In 2008, he moved to the College of the Canyons in Southern California, where he served in a series of roles that brought increased leadership: faculty member, department chair, faculty outcomes and assessment coordinator, Academic Senate President, dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Assistant Vice President of Educational Pathways, and finally Associate Vice President of Instruction. He is a past faculty fellow of the Association of American Colleges and Universities Collaborative Project and a mentor in the Association of California Community Colleges Association mentorship program.
Wickline and his wife, Karol Matson, are relocating to the Vancouver area this winter.
“I am humbled and honored to serve alongside the exceptional faculty, staff, and administrators as the next Vice President of Instruction at Clark College,” Wickline said. “Clark College has an outstanding reputation for providing students with quality career and academic preparation to meet the evolving needs of community, business, and industry. I look forward to collaborating with Clark colleagues to best support our students.”
This article originally misidentified the institution where Dr. Cruse earned her doctorate. It was corrected on Nov. 22.
Dr. Edwards named Aspen Presidential Fellow
President Karin Edwards
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today announced that Dr. Karin Edwards, president of Clark College, is one of 25 leaders selected for the 2021-22 class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship. This program supports community college presidents in the early years of their tenure as they aim to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success. The Fellowship’s philanthropic partner is JPMorgan Chase.
The 25 Aspen Fellows, who lead colleges that collectively serve more than 280,000 students, were selected through a highly competitive process. Starting later this year, the Fellows will engage over nine months in residential sessions and virtual learning to develop strategies to meet their goals for student success and equity with data to assess challenges and progress.
“We continue to learn how the best community colleges improve outcomes for students and close persistent race- and income-based equity gaps,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “This year’s fellows have demonstrated their commitment to achieving excellent and equitable student outcomes, and we are eager to work with them as they join Aspen’s network of more than 100 fellows who serve as community college presidents.”
“I’m honored to join the 2021-2022 Aspen Institute New Presidents Fellowship, working with 24 other presidents nationwide to increase student success with a focus on equity and excellence here at Clark College and other campuses across the U.S.,” said Dr. Edwards. “This is a tremendous opportunity.”
As community colleges grapple with the impact of COVID and enrollment declines, turnover among presidents remains high. Aspen is committed to helping prepare the next generation of exceptionally capable and highly diverse leaders through its fellowship programs for new and rising presidents. This new class of Aspen Presidential Fellows is 48 percent female, and 64 percent are people of color. Located in 18 states, their institutions too are diverse, from a tribal college with fewer than 500 students to an urban college that educates more than 35,000 each year.
“Community colleges play a critical role in helping to prepare young adults and incumbent workers for in-demand jobs of the future,” said Monique Baptiste, Vice President and Head of Jobs & Skills for Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase. “Ensuring that the leaders of these institutions are equipped with the support and training they need to develop equitable student success is an integral part of building capacity over the long-run. JPMorgan Chase is proud to partner with the Aspen Institute to build the next generation of exceptional college leaders as they work to advance the prosperity of the diverse communities and students they serve.”
JPMorgan Chase funds the Aspen Presidential Fellowship as part of New Skills at Work, a five-year, $350 million investment to prepare for the future of work and meet the growing demand for skilled workers, including support for community colleges and other pathways to great careers and economic mobility.
The 2021-22 Aspen New Presidents Fellows
Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State Community College (TN)
Seher Awan, Los Angeles Southwest College (CA)
Vincent Bowhay, Independence Community College (KS)
J.B. Buxton, Durham Technical Community College (NC)
Karin Edwards, Clark College (WA)
Angélica Garcia, Berkeley City College (CA)
Veronica Garcia, Northeast Lakeview College (TX)
Tracy Hartzler, Central New Mexico Community College (NM)
Greg Hodges, Patrick Henry Community College (VA)
Stephanie Kashima, West Valley College (CA)
Georgia Lorenz, Seminole State College of Florida (FL)
Kimberlee Messina, Spokane Falls Community College (WA)
Rachel Pokrandt, Umpqua Community College (OR)
Christy Ponce, Temple College (TX)
Omid Pourzanjani, San Joaquin Delta College (CA)
Monte Randall, College of the Muscogee Nation (OK)
Anton Reece, West Kentucky Community and Technical College (KY)
Ángel Reyna, Madera Community College (CA)
Claudia Schrader, CUNY Kingsborough Community College (NY)
Ricky Shabazz, San Diego City College (CA)
Ron Slinger, Miles Community College (MT)
Willie E. Smith, Baton Rouge Community College (LA)
Russell Swagger, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College (WI)
Justina Wilhelm, Iḷisaġvik College (AK)
Jermaine Williams, Nassau Community College (NY)
Founded in 1933, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately three-quarters of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college. Learn more at www.clark.edu.
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices and leadership strategies that significantly improve student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges’ understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students, especially the growing population of low-income students and students of color on American campuses. For more information, visit highered.aspeninstitute.org and follow us on Twitter at @AspenHigherEd.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.
About JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $3.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
Most college offices offline Aug. 17-18
Most staff at Clark College will be largely unavailable to the public while they participate in a collegewide staff training on Tuesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 18.
Classes will continue as normally scheduled. Additionally, the following services will be available:
Students, classes, and services will return to Clark College’s main campus and other locations in fall 2021 as part of a gradual return to on-site operations. Photo: Clark College/Amy Tam
Clark College announced today its plans for fall term and the first phase of its return to on-site operations.
Earlier today, President Karin Edwards announced the following:
The college will strongly encourage students and employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but will not require vaccinations.
For the time being, everyone on campus must wear an appropriate face covering and observe social distancing requirements, which are now 3 feet in most circumstances. This policy (and the exact definition of safe social distancing) may change as fall term progresses, based on evolving guidance from the state.
Additionally, the college will continue with its plan for a gradually phased-in restoration of on-site activities and operations, with some employees, services, and events returning during fall term, and more employees, services, and events returning in the 2022 winter term.
The college’s decisions follow guidance from Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation covering higher education, which was issued on June 30 and revised on July 12. They also incorporate feedback from the college’s staff and faculty unions, student government, and interdepartmental planning groups focused on the college’s recovery and return to on-site operations.
“Our students and our employees need to know the college’s way forward in order to plan for the future,” said Dr. Edwards. “At the same time, we need to remain ready to adapt to the ever-evolving realities of this pandemic and its effects. We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and provide information about fall term as we further develop our plans–always with a focus on equity, access, and the safety of our whole community.”
Additional information about the college’s decisions for fall term can be found at www.clark.edu/covid-19.
