As mentioned in previous newsletters, it is increasingly important that GCC employees park in designated employee parking spaces. The growth in our enrollment--but not necessarily in parking--is driving this concern. Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 17, employees parking in student spaces will be ticketed by Campus Safety, just as students are who park in employee spaces. We continue to encourage students to park in the north lots through enhanced signage and other steps. Also, we have reserved two parking spaces west of the Enrollment Center: one for Governing Board members, and one for "Official Use Only." This second space will help accommodate Glendale Police and Fire personnel as well as dignitaries or special guests who need quick access to the campus, especially the Student Union. Anyone may reserve this parking space for official guests--such as a guest speaker in a class--by contacting Campus Safety at 5-3535. You may see a variety of vehicles in these two spaces.
Changes in College Research Services
The departure of Linda Hawbaker as Director of College Research Services has resulted in some personnel changes I want to mention. Nancy Osborne, who worked in this department several years ago, is now with us in a temporary capacity as Director of Institutional Research. She will work with Chuck Jeffery who will provide oversight for forthcoming HLC/NCA reports and other supervisory functions. Ladonna Lewis, psychology faculty, will be working part-time with Deans Abel, Jeffery, and Kimmens this semester, assisting with some of the projects that Chuck Jeffery was working on before his shift in responsibilities. This arrangement will be in place as we begin the search for Linda Hawbaker's replacement later this spring.
Gene Eastin Memorial Highlights
About 100 people gathered to remember late Governing Board Member Gene Eastin and honor his 40-year legacy of service to GCC and the District at a memorial service in the Student Union Lounge on Feb. 6. I was pleased to see in attendance so many emeritus faculty, including President Emeritus Dr. John Waltrip, along with all Board members, presidents of other colleges, our own GCC faculty and members of the Eastin family. In addition to memories and stories shared by many, a GCC choral group and soloist Carino Haro sang in French, under the very capable direction of David Topping. It was our privilege to host this memorable event that meant a great deal to the Eastin family. The event culminated in the presentation of a memorial plaque that will be placed on the Administration Building's Governing Board wall. Donations in Gene's memory may be made to the new Gene Eastin Memorial Scholarship, established through the Maricopa Foundation, with all funds benefiting GCC students.
Enrollment Update
As of Feb. 2, our enrollment increases are holding up at a consistent pace as previously reported. Overall headcount enrollment (for GCC Main, GCC North and the University-College Center combined) was 19,752, a 2.5 percent increase compared to the same time just prior to the start of Spring 2003; overall FTSE stands at 9,279, a healthy 3.4 percent increase.
Feb. 13 Campus Conversation to be Rescheduled
We did not anticipate the President's Day holiday (Mon., Feb. 16) when we scheduled the second in our series of Campus Conversations for Fri., Feb. 13. A new date will be set and communicated to you soon. You can be thinking now, however, about topics and issues of interest or concern that could be discussed at this event. The President's Advisory Committee (PAC) has been very helpful with this initiative. An informal planning group of PAC members (Joseph Bednorz, George Martinez, Ibrahim Naim, Nancy Siefer, and Sally Hervey) will meet soon to coordinate the gathering of broad-based comments to guide content at the next Campus Conversation. Please stay tuned for updates and to learn how your voice can be heard in this process.
Bellwether Honors
It was a great pleasure to represent GCC as part of a team of finalists competing for the prestigious Bellwether award at the 2004 Community College Futures Assembly, sponsored by the University of Florida, in Orlando, Jan. 31-Feb. 3. While the team led by Dr. René Díaz-Lefebvre did not win the top prize, I want everyone to realize what a high honor it is to even be a finalist. This highly competitive awards program selects the best of the best in community colleges, and we can be reassured that the team's efforts with Multiple Intelligences/Learning for Understanding (MI/LfU) is better known now than ever before. It was significant, I thought, that many first-place winners have a history of submitting nominations for many years before being selected. My thanks and congratulations to the MI/LfU team who worked so hard to get us to this point: René Díaz-Lefebvre, Ernesto Escobedo, Darlene Goto, Ann Brandt-Williams, Kam Majer, Angela Mick, Marilyn Schiedat, Don Smith, Steve Williams, Joy Wingersky, Fernando Camou, Frank Rivera and Sally Johnson. Also a thank-you to Dean of Instruction Jean Ann Abel who attended with us, and to the staff of College Advancement Services, especially the stellar writing services of Suzanne Higgins. Clearly, the MI/LfU initiative has evolved into a signature educational innovation for our college and an ongoing point of pride.
Casey Furlong Honored
Warm kudos to Casey Furlong, English faculty and advisor for GCC's creative student arts magazine, The Traveler. In recognition of her role in producing this award-winning magazine, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) recently invited her to speak at its 80th annual convention in New York City in March. CSPA Director Edmund J. Sullivan began his invitational letter to Furlong by stating, "You are a model of excellence as a teacher, publication advisor, and speaker." Due to a prior commitment, Casey was unable to accept the invitation, but what an honor to be asked, nonetheless. Congratulations, Casey.
Dr. Phillip Randolph
President
Glendale Community College
