New Employees

Please welcome the following new GCC employees approved by the MCCD Governing Board on Nov. 25, 2003: Georgeta Candea, Chemistry; Jessica Dickison, Counseling; and Donald Mayerhofer, Maintenance & Operations. The following employees were approved at the Dec. 9, 2003 Board meeting: Penelope Bienek, Enrollment Services; Erin Cavanaugh, College Employee Services; and Michael Sollano, Network Services.

Gene Eastin Memories and Memorial Service

It is with sadness that we heard of the death of MCCD Governing Board Member Gene Eastin on Jan. 8. Many of us at GCC knew Gene well. He served on the GCC Foreign Languages faculty for 25 years, teaching French and advising the chess club, among other activities. As a Board member representing District Four for more than seven years, Gene held strong opinions, spoke his mind, and cared deeply about the welfare of students and the colleges. He will be missed.

It is our privilege that GCC has been asked to host and coordinate a District-wide memorial/celebration of Gene's life, to be held, tentatively, during the week of Feb. 2. The date and many details are being worked out now with the Eastin family. All Maricopa faculty, staff and students will be invited, plus emeritus faculty and others. Donations in his memory may be made to the new Gene Eastin Memorial Scholarship, established through the Maricopa Foundation, with all funds benefiting GCC students. Gene is survived by two sons, Gene Eastin, Jr. and John Eastin, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Maricopa County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sandra Dowling (GCC's Commencement keynote speaker in May 2003) is expected to fill the vacancy on the Board within a few weeks, as required by state law.

Spring Enrollment Snapshot

Spring 2004 enrollment appears to be on target for steady growth. As of Jan. 13, overall headcount enrollment (for GCC Main, GCC North and the University-College Center combined) was 16,619, a 2.2 percent increase compared to the same time just prior to the start of Spring 2003; overall FTSE stands at 8,500, which is a 4.5 percent increase. I will have additional enrollment updates for you as we begin the semester.

New Dean of Admin. Services, Pending Board Approval

Connie Sherman has been selected to fill the position of Dean of Administrative Services at GCC. I have forwarded her name to the Governing Board for action at its next regular meeting on Jan. 27. Connie started meeting people on campus and touring facilities on Jan. 12. She was one of more than 90 applicants for this important leadership role. Connie is no stranger to Maricopa County, having worked for several years at ASU as a Budget Systems Analyst in the 1980s. She brings to us many impressive skills and experiences in both public and private higher education. Connie served most recently as Vice Chancellor of Systems Administration for the Community Colleges of Spokane, where she managed many diverse areas parallel to those at GCC. Her educational background is equally impressive, with two MBAs in areas central to our operations. Pending Governing Board approval, please join me and the 15-member search committee in welcoming Connie to the GCC team. My thanks again to the search committee and College Employee Services for their work in the lengthy and thorough hiring process.

News from GCC North

For the first time this semester, GCC Main and GCC North will be on the same academic calendar. Also new at North are nine non-credit special interest classes offered in direct response to community demand (thank you to Suzanne Smelser in Community Education/Advancement for making this possible); and an extension of the Main Campus Mentoring Program. It is exciting to see GCC North evolve and adapt to students' needs. All of these good things are made possible through the efforts of GCC North Coordinator DeeDee Denslow and Dean Alberto Sanchez. Thanks.

Campus Conversation Dates Set: 2/13 and 3/30

As promised, we are proceeding with our "Campus Conversation" series of open forums that I hope will enhance two-way communication about some of the most important issues GCC faces. Our inaugural Campus Conversation was held in November, featuring Chancellor Rufus Glasper. Dates for these events in Spring 2004 will be: Fri., Feb. 13, noon - 2 p.m.; and Tues., March 30, 2 - 4 p.m. Each session will be held in the Student Union Lounge. When determined, specific topics and meeting formats will be communicated via this newsletter and in several other ways.

MLK Week Activities at GCC, Jan. 20-22

This year GCC will host events commemorating civil rights and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. immediately following the state holiday in his honor. I hope many of you can make time during your lunch breaks to attend one or more of the following video screenings, to be preceded by an introduction and followed by group discussion as time permits: "I Have a Dream" - the historic and moving speech of Dr. King, Tues., Jan. 20, 12:30 p.m.; "Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Legacy," Wed., Jan. 21, 11:00 a.m.; and "Awakenings," from the mini-series "Eyes on the Prize," Thurs., Jan. 22, 11:00 a.m. Attendees are asked to bring canned food to donate to the Westside Food Bank as a community service. Also, books about Dr. King and civil rights will be on display in the John F. Prince Library. My thanks go to the informal planning group that coordinated these related activities: Paul Brown, Suzanne Higgins, George Martinez, Suzanne Smelser, Bruce Thomas, Spring Turner and Donna White.

MLK Breakfast Presentation

It was a huge honor for me to deliver the keynote address at the Ninth Annual Northwest Black History Committee Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last Wednesday. I was privileged to have the opportunity to express many of my thoughts about civil rights and human rights, in the context of Dr. King's achievements and those of other courageous leaders in U.S. history. My primary theme was that we must remember the men and women who struggled to open doors of opportunity for all people --teach this history to the young, and build on this collective legacy. The Martin Luther King holiday is a time to reflect about how we can indeed have a shared dream for a better society.

Communication Supporting the New Student System

The District-wide New Student System (Student Information System) is projected to launch in early 2005. The implications for this change are extremely far-reaching and will affect grading, student records, admissions and recruitment, and much more. Please be looking for a series of monthly updates--information you will need to know--in the monthly online Gaucho Gazette newsletter, in this newsletter, and via other communication tools. The following link provides more information about ongoing development of the NSS/SIS: http://www.maricopa.edu/nss/

News and Fun Facts

• The GCC Men's Basketball Team has been ranked seventh in the nation by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). A major point of pride.
• The Desert Schools Federal Credit Union Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) has been moved to just east of the Music Building.
• Members of the GCC Percussion Ensemble performed for Maricopa's Convocation on Jan. 9, to what I have heard are rave reviews. Congratulations to Music Faculty Doug Nottingham and students.

Dr. Phillip Randolph
President
Glendale Community College