New Employees

Please help me welcome new employees approved at the November 23 Governing Board Meeting: Ronald Farrar, M&O; Sage Grossi, Social Science; Dawna Kremin, Business and Information Technology; and Bonnie Saunders, Social Science.

All-College Convocation, January 10, 2005

As we begin GCC's 40th year, please join us on Mon., Jan. 10, for the All-Employee Convocation. From 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. there will be a continental breakfast in the Student Union Cafeteria, followed by the program from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Student Union Lounge. The theme of the Convocation is "Glendale Community College—Forward to the Future." We will focus on GCC's Master Plan and Prioritized Projects Lists, 2004-2014. Updates will be provided on the 59th Avenue Widening Project and on the Climate Study. Convocation will be repeated in the afternoon, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the Student Lounge, for those who cannot attend the morning session. Refreshments at 2:00 p.m. will precede the meeting at 2:30 p.m. This is an important time to gather information about major issues and challenges we face as a college. I hope to see you there.

NCA/HLC Update

As we have discussed before, the Higher Learning Commission requires us to do a follow-up campus climate study. A Climate Survey Instrument Selection Committee (CSISC) has been formed to survey options and recommend an instrument for our use by early 2005. Committee members are:

Matt Ashcraft (non-voting)

Tek Chung

Paula Davis

Anna Fives

Susan High

Chuck Jeffery (non-voting)

Robert Mendoza

Dr. Bruce Merrill (non-voting)

Chris Miller

Karen Minnihan

James Morris

Dr. Sue Oliver

Frank Rivera

Dr. Jack Rose (non-voting)

Paulette Schnyder

Sarah South

Merrill is Professor of Mass Communication and Director of the Media Research Program in the Walter Cronkite School at ASU. He was a consultant during our original climate survey and will be assisting with this follow-up climate survey process. Jack Rose, active retiree, also worked on the Climate Study Committee in Spring, 2002, and will participate again.

Heritage and Holiday Open House

I hope to see you all in the Administration Building on Thurs., Dec. 16, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., to celebrate the holidays and the end of a great year for GCC. We will celebrate the year's many successes, see old friends and enjoy refreshments.

Meeting with the Dorrances

I recently attended the Dorrance Family Foundation Reception and had a nice visit with Jacquie and Bennett Dorrance, two of our most generous and visionary scholarship benefactors. It gave me an opportunity to thank them again and discuss with them the wonderful changes in students' lives that their endowed scholarships have brought about--and will continue to bring about for future students.

Thanks from the MHAA

Counseling and Career Services Chair Susan High received a gracious letter from the Mental Health Association of Arizona, thanking GCC for volunteering space and counseling personnel for National Depression Screening Day held here on October 7. Many people were screened, and the MHAA estimated (conservatively) that our donated services would have cost at least $16,800. My thanks to all involved in that worthy community outreach event.

GCC Musical Holiday Shows

Earlier in the month, I had the pleasure of attending a performance of GCC's dance group, Physical Graffiti, and the GCC Jazz Concert; on December 7, I attended the GCC Winter Combined Bands Concert. I thoroughly enjoyed all three events and hope many of you were fortunate enough to see them as well. I encourage you to take advantage of three remaining fine arts events: the Choral Concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC, the Student Piano Recital on December 11 and 12 at 5:00 p.m. in MU2-151, and the Opera Workshop performances of "Games of Chance, held in the PAC at 7:30 p.m. December 11 and at 2:00 p.m. December 12. All three events are free of charge; the Opera Workshop does request a can of food for admission.

Glendale Glitters

I also invite you to enjoy the big holiday extravaganza put on by the City of Glendale. "Glendale Glitters" is a spectacular event, ongoing in downtown Glendale throughout the holidays. If you have enjoyed it before, I don't need to describe it; if you haven't, you must see it for yourself!

Congratulations…

…to Dr. Ladonna Lewis of Psychology, elected to serve a three-year term on the Psychology Teachers at Community Colleges (PT@CC) Executive Committee. PT@CC is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association.

…to Harry Kaino, his ceramics students, and the Office of Student Life for raising more than $3,500 for the Phoenix Rescue Mission with their annual "Empty Bowls" event. Thanks also to Marjon Ceramics for donating the clay used to make the bowls, and to Aramark for donating the soup.

Dr. Phillip Randolph
President
Glendale Community College