Student Success Stars Shine at Convocation

Colleagues, staff and faculty have been sharing with me such positive responses to Convocation held on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. One staff member said in 24 years, it was one of the most uplifting and fun. A member of our faculty said it made her feel special and respected. Many mentioned that the Gaucho Globe awards were a wonderful acknowledgement of members of the GCC family who work diligently toward our goal of student success.  

I hope that the excitement of our recent Convocation will guide you as you help students find their paths to success. Those first few days on campus can set an important tone that is welcoming and encouraging. Something as simple as a warm smile and directions to a classroom can reassure new or returning students that they’ve taken the right steps into their futures.  

As we begin our new semester, there are many programs and activities that will fill our calendars and I want to note a few here for you.  

In February, we will host the annual forensics tournament, which brings hundreds of students from colleges and universities around the country to our campus. January and February mark the final men’s and women’s intercollegiate basketball games – take a moment to see our Gauchos in action.The visit by the Higher Learning Commission team is slated for April 16, 17 and 18. And, graduation, the culmination and celebration of the hard work of our students is Friday, May 11.  

We launched this semester with an event that illustrated and honored that there are many unsung heroes among us who deserve to be recognized. We are a learning organization and we will continue to be better and better at excelling. My best wishes for an excellent Spring 2012!