Letter to Faculty and Staff from Richard Zollinger
December 2008

The continued cold temperatures that we have been experiencing tell us that winter has arrived, although astronomically speaking winter doesn’t begin yet for another few weeks with the Winter Solstice. For those of us whose lives are regulated by semesters, it is nearing time to bring this fall term to a close.

Students are busy finishing projects, completing lab and clinical assignments, conferring with their advisors, and preparing for exams. They are doing all of this and more--juggling work, family, and the busyness of the approaching holidays.

Faculty are trying to complete those last few lesson plans while already thinking about next term and how they might do something differently: something that will help students learn more; something that will make the material easier to understand; something that will challenge the academically exceptional students and create an ”a ha” moment for those who are struggling.

Deans, directors and other administrators are poring over budgets trying to determine how to do more with less; how to work more efficiently; how to implement procedures that will help the College run more smoothly and prevent important things from falling through the cracks; trying to provide good leadership for new programs on the drawing board, generate innovative ideas to help with those affected by the economic downturn, and oversee building projects that will impact students for years to come.

It is indeed a busy time.

During a retreat in early fall, the deans and associate deans in the Learning Unit identified several areas that needed our attention and suggested three task forces to study the issues and make recommendations for addressing them. This is proving to be effective and we are looking at other task forces that might be appointed. The task forces have recommended ways to coordinate all of the College’s energy initiatives; suggested ways that ITS can provide additional support for faculty and staff; and reviewed procedures concerning students who attempt to register after classes have begun.

Since my last letter, we have welcomed the following individuals to the Learning Unit:

Kimberly Amory - Instructional Office Assistant, Behavioral & Social Sciences
Samantha T. Banks - Customer Service Representative, CCE
Fedora Cooman - Project Specialist, Office of Associate Dean Project Manager
Elvira Johnson - Coordinator, Learning Communities
Gloria Kelley - Dean, Library Services
Emma Lugar - Customer Service Representative, CCE
Brenda Murray - Program Assistant, CCE, Real Estate/Banking
Cheryl Richards - Dean, Cato Campus
Matthew Riffle - Customer Service Representative, CCE
Karen Riley - Records Management Specialist, CCE
Beverly Smith - Director of Records Management, Customer Service, CCE
Sheila Tzerman - Program Assistant, Construction Institute
Danielle White - Customer Service Representative, CCE
Darlene White - Library Technical Assistant, Library Services

I want to thank each of you for the support you have given me during my first term in the VP’s chair. It has given me an opportunity to meet many of you whom I did not know and to understand more fully what a really outstanding faculty and staff we have. I wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season.

NOTE: Any documents that need to be posted on the Learning website should be sent to Patricia.Williams@cpcc.edu (unless otherwise noted on the website and/or document).