New Employees

Please welcome the following new GCC employees, approved at the June 17 MCCD Governing Board meeting: Karen Higgs-White, Admissions & Records; Charles Hulihan, Music; and Susan Karpinski, Psychology.

Summer/Fall Enrollment Update

Our summer offerings are more popular than ever. In fact, 8,170 students enrolled in our First Summer Session (Summer I)--up from the total of 7,984 in last year's first summer session. Fall 2003 enrollment stands at 11,946 headcount as of July 16. Interestingly, fall FTSE is running ahead of what it was at this same time last year. I'll keep you posted about enrollment as we begin the new semester.

News From GCC North

Under the leadership of Alberto Sanchez and DeeDee Denslow, GCC North is busier than ever with a variety of activities: cross-training in registration with Deer Valley Unified School District staff; recent visits from employment recruiters from Wells Fargo and UPS; new non-credit programming in high-demand topics such as money management, in partnership with the GCC Institute; new classes in Anthem; and the training and orientation of new staff. Significantly, comprehensive facilities master planning is underway for GCC North, led by Dean Sanchez.

State Budget Summary

The battle for the 03-04 state budget is over and we and other Maricopa colleges are sifting through what it all means. For GCC, the financial situation remains tight but is by no means "doom and gloom." After giving back about $500,000 from our budget to the state via the District Office this spring, our new $48 million operating budget as approved is not expected to face any additional cuts. However, state financial support for community colleges continues to decline, with no funding allocated for new enrollment growth. These realities will challenge us further this year to be good stewards of our funding, and to identify and cultivate new revenue streams.

Department Name Changes

On July 16, the GCC Administrative Group took action to clarify the functions and responsibilities of two GCC departments. The AG endorsed my recommendation to change "Community and Public Relations" to "College Advancement Services"; and "Institutional Effectiveness" to "College Research Services." It had become clear to me and others that the previous titles no longer accurately reflected the expanding range of actual responsibilities of these departments. In most references (signage, business cards, etc.), both departments will list their primary areas of responsibility as part of an effort to communicate the core of what they do. For College Advancement Services, those areas are marketing/publications, media/community relations, and resource development, now integrated with Community Education. For College Research Services, those areas are planning, assessment, and data analysis/decision support. It is important to note that these changes reflect the service-oriented nature of both areas, and make the departments parallel in nomenclature with College Business Services.

July 4 Fireworks Bring Thousands to GCC

On Independence Day, GCC was the place to be for fireworks and family fun. Many thousands of people came to campus to enjoy the Annual Glendale Hometown Fourth of July, presented by APS. This is a signature annual event for our campus, made possible by the coordination of multiple details by GCC staff and City staff. My thanks to all who helped create this very impressive event. I hope many of you were able to attend.

Celebrating GCC's Heritage

As the second-oldest college in the Maricopa District, GCC enjoys great depth in its traditions and heritage. To literally showcase these concepts--and leaders who have helped shape the college--I have asked Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator Judy Blake to collaborate with others on campus to gather some of the best historical photographs we can find and display them artistically throughout the new Administration Building main corridors. Faculty members Darlene Goto and Larry Backs have been instrumental in advising and helping make this happen. So far, the team has identified a range of images that expresses much of what makes GCC special. The collection of photos soon to appear is not intended be any kind of a shrine, but rather a focal point for college pride and history. In the future, similar efforts could extend to other areas on campus.

The Lost is Found

As reported in previous newsletters, my office (Roxie Helbert) has worked hard to contact former GCC faculty members so that we could present them and/or their family members with special Faculty Emeritus certificates. While we are still trying to contact the family members of Frank Bietto, Dorothy Clayton, C. Eugene Harris, and Ethel Martin, we have succeeded in contacting former GCC Dean of Instruction Dr. Jean Staten (now Jean Staten Mathis). She is now living in Texas, owning and operating a "beachwear boutique."

Master Planning, Budget and More at Convocation

Please note that our annual All-Employee Convocation will be held Mon., Aug. 18, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. and repeated, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. in the Student Union Lounge. At this year's Convocation, I and others will present important updates about Facilities Master Planning, the college's budget process and the new President's Budget Advisory Committee, among other items. There has been progress on all these fronts this summer and we want you to know about that. Information to be presented will then serve as a platform for further group deliberations to be scheduled this fall. I'm looking forward to seeing our faculty and staff at Convocation and hearing about your summer adventures. Another event of note: Adjunct Faculty Orientations (two sessions) will be held Mon., Aug. 18, 5:00 - 7:15 p.m. and Fri., Aug. 22, 3:00 - 5:15 p.m.

"Best of the West" Awards

It's that time of year again when WESTMARC, a coalition of West Valley business, economic and educational interests, calls for nominations for its "Best of the West" awards. GCC has fared well in this increasingly competitive program, and we hope to continue that trend. Please contact George Martinez no later than August 20 if you would like to suggest and possibly assist with nominations. Categories include education, community service, the arts, and various aspects of civic engagement. We are planning to submit nominations in several categories, but of course will consider other ideas.

Dr. Phil D. Randolph
President
Glendale Community College