Dear colleagues,
Welcome to fall term! Thank you for helping to make Chemeketa Community College a vibrant and engaging place to be. Your commitment to student success inspires me to seek ways that I can grow professionally and serve our community more meaningfully. Likewise, I am committed to finding additional ways to support and encourage the work you do, as well.
Each of us is undoubtedly processing, in our own way, the events of the past year. From the uncertainty and sense of angst associated with budgetary decisions that affected friends and colleagues, to changes in executive level leadership – we have been through trying times. During these moments, however, I am strengthened by the knowledge that, as a collective, we all share similar goals and values when it comes to the students we serve. While there will always be philosophical differences of opinion on how best to support our students, I truly believe that the shared spirit of creating an environment that fosters academic excellence at every level of the institution is indeed the very essence of who we are as a college. Thank you for your dedication and contributions in this regard.
During her kick-off speech yesterday, President Howard shared an eye-opening reminder of the incredible work we’ve all accomplished since the start of the pandemic. On an individual and institutional level, we have many reasons to be proud. Though we may feel a bit weary at times, we also have so much to look forward to in relation to our work, and I believe there is a sense of optimism that is shared in our collective psyche. We know the importance of our work and the impact it has on our students and community. This alone, serves to lift us beyond current circumstances and fuels our creative minds to architect a shared, desired state of excellence and achievement.
President Howard also mentioned the work of the College Council, which draws from the collective wisdom and expertise of Chemeketa faculty, staff and students to work on institution-wide strategic planning. The Council developed 5 strategic themes that will guide us over the next 6 years, serving to inform our work, and helping us achieve our mission. These tenets include:
- Creating an inclusive and welcoming culture
- Providing holistic student support
- Ensuring academic quality
- Supporting community and workforce engagement
- Striving to achieve organizational excellence
As mentioned yesterday, College Council also identified strategic priorities for each of the 5 themes. These priorities, and the associated actions and metrics will allow us to engage in our collective work, using data to inform us along the way.
As a custodian of the role that has been entrusted to me, I am committed to learn, to serve, and to advocate for our students so they have the appropriate tools and support systems in place in order to be successful. As your colleague, who happens to be in a leadership position, I am also keenly aware of the fact that I do not have all of the answers to the complex issues we face as an institution. However, I can and will continue to foster the creation of an environment that enables each one of us to flourish in our work, fully engaged and excited to serve our students, each other and our communities.
Thank you again for your commitment and dedication to excellence. I look forward to seeing you, to learning from you, and to working for you as the new year commences. Please reach out to me directly if you have any thoughts or questions you would like to share with me. Even in this busy, sometimes uncertain world of ours, there is always time for conversation. With a sincere heart and an open mind, I am listening. Wishing you well!
Yours,
David
David Hallett, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs (Interim)