Fire Lanes
July 1 has been set as our target date for construction of the new fire lanes that will allow fire and emergency vehicles to reach the central parts of campus. On May 30th, I visited with Arlen Solochek and John Sazama from Maricopa's Facilities Planning and Development Department to discuss the construction schedule and its impact on GCC. While there will be some impact on our normal pedestrian and traffic flow, I can report that Facilities and Planning will be going to great lengths to minimize disruption.

Construction Update
On June 6th, Governing Board Member Linda Rosenthal, Kelly Bauer and Steve Kennedy of Richard & Bauer Architects, and John Sazama from Maricopa Facilities Planning, participated in a "walk through" of the new Enrollment Center and the Testing and Disabilities Services building. Items for correction were identified for the punch list. We are scheduled to begin moving furniture in the week of June 17th, and moving people in that weekend.

NCA Report
Last month, GCC received a draft report of the HLC/NCA team's findings from Dr. Charles Guengerich, the team chair. The college was asked to review the report for misstatements of any facts. Edits were sent back, and the final report has now been received. A review by a Reader's Panel will be the final step in the review process for continued accreditation. The final team report stipulates the following requirements:

• A progress report on the College Climate, due 6/1/2005

• A progress report on a Five Year Strategic Plan, due 6/1/04

• A monitoring report on Student Outcomes Assessment on documenting how assessment data are being used to improve student academic achievement, due 12/1/2005. If the College cannot document that the results of student outcomes assessment have been used to improve student academic achievement, a focused visit on assessment should be conducted in academic year 2006-07.

The College will develop action plans to respond to each of these reporting requirements. Copies of the final report will be available at the west desk of the Library Media Center next week.

"The Big Scoop" Ice Cream Social
I was glad to see such a great turnout for the Ice Cream Social last week. This was the 5th annual social, and a cool opportunity for everyone to take a break from the Summer heat. Special thanks to our team of wonderful scoopers: Sally Hervey, Esmerelda Acosta, Lindy Afek, and Martha Gail Richmond.

New Employees
Please welcome the following new employees to GCC: Rosemarie D'Arcy, DSR; Rodel Mariano, Fiscal Office and Roger Siggs, Innovation Center. Also welcome our new faculty: Janet Brooks, CIS and Microsoft; Julia Johnson, Geology; Susan Mayer, Nursing; Lynn Newman, Geography; Trinidad Sandoval, Counseling; Scott Stroher, Accounting; James Tuohy, Biology; Jeremy Venema, English; and Laura Watkins, Math. Welcome to GCC!

Milestones
Please join me in congratulating Charlotte Trujillo on her August graduation from Ottawa University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, summa cum laude, with a concentration in history. Charlotte has been with the district for eight years, and is currently a Graduation Technician II at GCC. Congratulations Charlotte!

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Glendale Chamber of Commerce
On May 28th, I attended a meeting of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Of particular interest was the presentation of the City of Glendale's "2025: The Next Step General Plan Implementation Plan." This Plan was driven by citizen input to guide the private and public physical development of Glendale in the years to come, and is a response to the Growing Smarter Act passed by the legislature in 1998 mandating cities to adopt action plans. Glendale's 2025 Plan includes 20 + year goals for transportation, neighborhoods, natural resources, public facilities, buildings and services and land use. The plan also emphasizes the importance of a balance between the public and private land use and development.

I am looking forward to even greater involvement with the Glendale Chamber.

Sahuaro Ranch
On May 29th, GCC hosted a meeting with Carol DeCosmo, Executive Director of the Sahuaro Ranch Foundation. As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, GCC is involved in the development of a college Master Plan, and there are exciting possibilities for cooperative projects and landscaping features with Sahuaro Ranch. Stay tuned!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETING

Arming of Certified Safety Officers
At the May 28th Governing Board Meeting, the Board considered an action item related to the arming of certified Safety officers in the Maricopa District. Debra Palok, Glendale's Director of College Safety was one of the officers who provided the Board with perspective and information about this issue. The Board is requesting further information, and the item has been tabled for further study.

Emeritus Distinction
Also at the May 28, 2002, Governing Board Meeting, the Board discussed a modification to the current policy of awarding "Emeritus Distinction," and the following was presented to the Governing Board for first reading.

Proposed Governing Board Policy Awarding of Emeritus Distinction

A. Upon recommendation by the Chancellor, the Governing Board may award emeritus distinction to any full-time residential faculty, chancellor, vice chancellor, college president, or full dean who retires from the Maricopa Community College District.

B. The Chancellor may recommend, and the Governing Board may award, emeritus distinction to a candidate only following a determination that the candidate has:

1. at least twenty years of full-time service in the Maricopa District;
2. demonstrated satisfactory performance;
3. not been the object of an adverse personnel decision; and
4. fulfilled all terms and conditions of employment.

Candidates for faculty emeritus must have at least twenty years of full-time uninterrupted service as residential faculty. For emeritus distinctions other than faculty, candidates may combine full-time experience in the positions identified in this policy. The combination of experience must equal at least twenty years with no less than ten years of consecutive service in the position for which emeritus distinction is recommended.

C. The awarding of emeritus distinction will mean that the candidate's name and title, followed by emeritus distinction, will be placed in the appropriate college catalog. Awarding of emeritus distinction shall not entitle the holder to a remuneration or other benefit in addition to any provided under this policy.

D. The Chancellor shall consider, for recommendation to the Governing Board, every employee eligible for emeritus distinction following the employee's retirement. This policy shall be applied retroactively to any eligible employee who has retired prior to the effective date of this policy provided that a written petition for emeritus distinction is submitted on the employee's behalf to the Chancellor and the Chancellor is provided sufficient written documentation to justify the awarding of emeritus distinction. Emeritus distinction may be awarded posthumously.

A vote will be taken for this definition at the June 25, 2002 board meeting. If the board adopts this "Emeritus" definition, we will move forward with recommendations of individuals who qualify for this recognition.

Dr. Phillip Randolph
Interim President
Glendale Community College