New Employees

Please welcome the following new GCC employees, approved at the July 22 MCCD Governing Board meeting: Jeffrey Brown, Performing Arts; Paula Duncan, Biology; Mari Flynn, English; Julie Knapp, English/The Voice Adviser; Jennifer Lane, English; Rashmi Menon, English; Dayna Ozen, Technology; Betsy Wheeler, English/ESL.

Fall Enrollment Update

GCC closed the 2002-03 academic year with a 9.5 percent increase in FTSE and a 1.5 percent increase in unduplicated headcount, compared to 2001-02. Our overall student headcount enrollment for Fall 2003 is up by 4 percent as of August 11: 16,447, compared to 15,812 at the same time last year; FTSE growth is up by 4.8 percent. GCC North enrollment is running ahead slightly from last year, with University-College Center (UCC) enrollment down. We're anticipating healthy overall enrollment growth as we approach the new academic year and will keep you apprised.

FTSE Incentive and Budget Transfers

Any e-mail titled "Christmas in July" will get my attention--especially when it's from College Business Services Director Regis Della-Calce. She informed me and the deans that on July 29 GCC received an additional FTSE incentive allocation of $538,200 from the District. These funds stem from our FTSE being higher than what was estimated, and translates into a rollover (or, carry forward) of about 2.3 percent. We're looking at these funds as a buffer against any further state budget cuts and for some greater flexibility for OYO faculty/staff and for special projects.

Facilities Master Planning on Schedule

Many opportunities remain for review and refinement of the College's ongoing Facilities Master Plan. On July 29, department chairs and administrators jointly prioritized 20 needed projects within the College's Master Plan, ranging from new construction to building remodeling/renovation, technology infrastructure, parking, campus access/identity, and even storage, among others. On July 31, the consensus of this group was submitted to the District Office. Given a successful bond election in 2004, now being considered by the MCCD Board, GCC could expect to receive about $60 million, with GCC North receiving an additional $20 million. Obviously, the stakes are high and the implications for GCC's future are great. The facilities master planning overview at Convocation will include ways faculty and others may comment.

Tech Camp a Source of GCC Pride

Forty-six students representing about 20 high schools got a free, hands-on preview of engineering and electronics careers at GCC's annual Tech Camp (formerly known as "Chip Camp"), August 5-7. This program, sponsored by the Western Maricopa Tech Prep Consortium and the MCCD Workforce Development Office, is one of the best ways we reach out to high school students and recruit them to GCC and into high-demand careers. Students were immersed in basic computing, robotics and much more. On August 6, "Good Morning Arizona" came to campus to feature all Tech Camp students and faculty live on Channel 3 TV. Many thanks to faculty members Paula Cheslik, Ui Luu, and Carlos Nunez; Judy Blake and Dayna Ozen; Senior Associate Dean Randy Kimmens; and to the staff of College Advancement Services for making Tech Camp such a success.

Praise for High Achievement

Although summer may be considered "down time," it has been a season of major accomplishments at GCC. I would like to recognize and congratulate some of our faculty who have brought distinction to the College in the past several weeks: Ui Luu for receiving a patent for an amazing new blood sugar detection device; Manny Griego and others for managing funds from the National Science Foundation for electronics education; Charlotte Cohen for participating in a national literacy skills project; and Sue Oliver, Elizabeth Jacobs, Ladonna Lewis and Ann Brandt-Williams for helping GCC students beat out university-level competition in recent Psi Beta Psychology honor society activities. The list could continue of nationally ranked achievements and I regret that space allows only highlights. Congratulations all.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Recent Meetings with Community Leaders Our outreach to elected officials continues in high gear. In the past several weeks, I have met with Glendale City Councilman Phil Lieberman; City of Surprise Mayor Joan Shafer; City of Peoria Mayor John Keegan; Maricopa County Schools Superintendent Sandra Dowling; and with one of GCC's representatives in the Arizona Legislature, Rep. Doug Quelland of District 10. In each of these meetings, we continued to build rapport, listen to issues of concern, and of course I presented informal updates about changes at GCC. The meeting with Mayor Shafer focused largely on rapid growth of her city and how GCC can respond, while the meeting with Mayor Keegan pointed out a need to include Peoria much more in our college activities and planning. Meetings with Councilmember Lieberman and Rep. Quelland were productive as well. We are taking additional steps to follow up to these meetings in a variety of ways, for GCC's benefit, and will keep you posted on our progress.

Sahuaro Ranch Park Update

I always enjoy talking with Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park Executive Director Carole DeCosmo, and our recent bi-annual meeting was no exception. It is more important than ever to strengthen ties with our neighbor to the north. We discussed GCC's Facilities Master Plan and its implications for potential use of the north roadway. We also agreed to collaborate on joint events in the new academic year, most likely alumni receptions that would encompass both the campus and the park. It is significant that we share not only peacocks, but also a mutual problem: feral cats. Carole explained the trap/neuter/release approach that is working well for the Park, which could hold good potential for us as we strive to manage the same issue efficiently and always, humanely.

Dr. Phil D. Randolph
President
Glendale Community College