Greetings all,
Welcome to issue number nine of “What’s On My Mind?” It is hard to believe that Finals Week is already here – it seems like yesterday that we were welcoming new students to campus! My last note of 2008 will touch on a number of sights and sounds from around the College that are indicative of our continued commitment to student success, community building, bringing learning alive and positive social change.
First of all I’d be remiss if I did not comment on the positive participation of everyone as it relates to our ongoing discussions on the budget. I’ve received a number of e-mails from faculty and staff offering not only helpful feedback, but notes of personal willingness to do more, to take on additional responsibility and to be part of the solution. Thank you.
Over the last several weeks, I have been privileged to really see learning come alive…the fall Dance Concert was very well done and played to two SRO crowds…our men’s cross county NJCAA National Champions made an excellent presentation to the District Governing Board…last Wednesday night a number of the PVCC Jazz Ensembles delivered an outstanding holiday concert…the student art show currently up at the Center for Performing Arts is also amazing …the high level of support of the Adopt-A-Family program sponsored by Student Life and Leadership… and Phi Theta Kappa welcoming a large class of inductees. Spending time at each of these activities is a powerful reminder that all the budget deliberations are worth it – because learning is alive at PVCC!
My thanks to everyone who turned out at our reception last week to celebrate Linda Rosenthal’s twenty-nine years of service to MCCD. Marilyn Cristiano’s comments were especially well done. Linda will not be missed because she will always be a part of the PVCC family.
We will miss Jane Marks and J. David Williams who both will be retiring the end of the semester. Thank you Jane and J. David for a job well done.
As I said during my convocation remarks in August, PVCC will continue to be the very best because we focus on student learning, have extraordinary employees even with less than ordinary resources and are willing and able to learn from difficult and painful challenges. Our challenge when we return to campus in January will be to set aside our angst with budgets and shift our focus full force back to student success. It is refreshing to know that our core purpose for being – creating conditions that engage students in educationally purposeful activities – is the single biggest predictor of student success which in turn leads to increased student persistence to goal completion. It is student success that leads to a steady and predictable revenue stream.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you for all you do for students and the student learning experience at PVCC. May you and your family have a blessed holiday season.
Have a great holiday break.
A quick addendum – I was remiss by not including – Gene Rister’s retirement as well. Thank you Gene for your many years of service to students.
Regards,
Paul Dale, Ed.D.
Interim President