Network and Palette Difficulties

Most of the college's technical support staff are currently focused on correcting recent problems with the Instructional Palette. I am aware of the serious inconvenience experienced by faculty over the past week. I am told that multiple issues are involved and that GCC's computing professionals are literally working around the clock to solve the problems. As the demand for technology in the classroom continues to increase, our technical staff is constantly planning to keep our network resources ahead of that demand. The complexity of the instructional network and the desire for always-available systems makes it difficult to deploy solutions ahead of the surging demand. Many thanks to KC Hundere, Jim Daugherty, Theresa Hilding, Steve Smith, Roger Siggs and the rest of the hard-working IT professionals for their outstanding effort and extremely long hours. I also applaud and am grateful to the many GCC faculty who have borne this significant inconvenience with great patience. I ask for your continued cooperation and patience.

Compliance Assistance for the New Technology Resources Standards

If you need help making sure that your web site meets the new administrative regulations for compliance with the Maricopa Technology Resource Standards, be aware that Training and Employee Development (TED) still has four training sessions remaining: March 14 at 2:00 p.m., March 28 at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and March 30 at 10:00 a.m. All are half an hour and all are in HT2-149. Compliance is not difficult but is very important. Call Don Jensen-Bobadilla at 623.845.3485 to register. Those who wish may walk themselves through the process by visiting http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/webdev/gccguide.html for instructions. For those who cannot make one of the training sessions, a call to "TED2U" at 623.845.3485 will bring a technician to your office to help you. Thanks to Deb Krumtinger for her management of this training.

ACE-Plus Wins National Award

I was thrilled that the National Council on Student Development selected GCC's ACE-Plus Program for an Exemplary Practice Award. Only 12 student service programs were selected for this prestigious national award. I am extremely impressed with the great job Dr. Ibrahim Naim has done as Director of this outstanding program, which truly deserves this eminent award! Programs from GateWay Community College and Scottsdale Community College also won--MCCCD swept 25% of the Exemplary Practice awards!

Trip Reduction Program Grows

After spring break, GCC will implement activities to promote and expand MCCCD's Trip Reduction Program at GCC. Employees and students may register online for carpooling and other strategies which can earn them incentive gifts such as mugs, free coffee, lunch passes and movie passes. Additional reserved, premium carpool parking spaces will be created for those who register for carpools. More information will be forthcoming soon and I encourage you to participate. My thanks to Connie Sherman, Maria Izabel Zavala and Karen Minnihan for coordinating this program. For more details about this program, visit http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/trp. This site even has a link to a calculation page that can show you how much money you'll save by biking, carpooling or taking public transportation to work.

GCC's Innovation of the Year

I know GCC's Innovation of the Year will compete well in the district-wide competition for MCCCD Innovation of the Year. The "Gaucho Mentoring Program in Support of Nursing Students" grew from the hard work of Gaucho Mentoring Program Coordinator Trini Sandoval and others who implemented this cross-collaborative approach to student retention in support of GCC nursing students. Thanks also to Deborah Krumtinger for coordinating the competition and facilitating the selection process.

Congratulations to MCC and PVCC!

Congratulations to Dr. Larry Christiansen of MCC, Dr. Mary Kay Kickels of PVCC and to their campus communities! Both colleges recently received ten-year re-accreditations from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Mission, Vision, and Values Conversation

My thanks to the approximately 70 employees who participated in the March 3 Campus Conversation to discuss proposed revisions to the MCCCD Mission, Vision and Values Statement. I appreciate your attendance and I enjoyed the lively discussion and thoughtful input you provided for this revision process.

Terrific Wellness Fair

Many thanks to Louise Keogh and the many others who produced GCC's Wellness Fair on March 9 that attracted more than 300 GCC employees and students. I'm glad this has become an annual event. Great job!

Women's Luncheon Highlights

I enjoyed the Women's History Month Luncheon on March 2. Sponsored by the GCC Women's Leadership Group and celebrating GCC's 40 years, the event included a slide show which highlighted 40 of GCC's longest-serving women employees. The guest speaker, award-winning entrepreneur and CEO Rochelle Balch, gave an energetic and entertaining presentation on "Lessons of Balance." It was a pleasure to celebrate with so many of GCC's outstanding women. My thanks to Kristin Bennes, Anna Fives, Christine Moore, Roxie Helbert and others who produced this event.

Netherlands Guests Tour GCC

Recently, I was pleased to host a contingent of 15 educators from Koning Willem I College in the Netherlands who toured our campus and attended a luncheon in their honor. This college is quite similar to U.S. community colleges. Its president, Dr. Coen Free, is a great admirer of the Maricopa Community Colleges and brings a large group of his faculty and staff to visit several campuses, get ideas and tour our state-of-the-art facilities.

Congratulations to…

…Mike Gillispie who received the 2004 Post-Secondary Agriculture Educator of the Year from the Arizona Agriculture Teachers Association.

…the GCC men's and women's track teams which performed very well at the NJCAA Indoor Championships. Clint Fields took a 1st place in men's triple jump and a 2nd place in 60-meter hurdles, Allen Rodriquez took a 4th place in men's 1000 meter run, and James Arollo took a 6th place in men's high jump. All were awarded All-American status.

…the GCC women's softball team which recently beat the defending national champions, Phoenix College. Congratulations also for their successful fundraiser to provide scholarships for their athletes.

Dr. Phil D. Randolph
President
Glendale Community College