Maricopa Community Colleges • Office of the Chancellor • Community Advisory Committees • Vol. 7 • December 2013
Chancellor’s Update Greetings, Advisory Council members. The column I originally wrote for this issue follows, but as you’ve no doubt heard by now, Maricopa Community Colleges suffered a sudden loss when firstterm Governing Board member Ben Miranda passed away on Friday, November 15. While he only joined our Board in Dr. Rufus Glasper January, he proved to be a passionate advocate for his causes. He was fully engaged in and committed to educational access for all and to the mission of our community colleges. His service here was just the most recent example of his dedication to the community. He will be missed.
As 2013 draws to a close, I want to share some important information about our progress. Last month, we shared our annual monitoring report with the Governing Board. I’m pleased to tell you that the number of Maricopa Community Colleges students earning degrees and certificates has increased by almost a third (31%) since the 2009-10 academic year. In the 2012-13 academic year, 15,726 Maricopa students earned awards, compared to 11,978 in 2009-10, indicating that progress is on target to meet the goal of a 50% increase in the overall number of students earning degrees and certificates by 2020. I encourage you to read the annual monitoring report, online at http://www.maricopa.edu/ academic/ir/monitoring_reports.php. Below are some other selected findings. • The total number of occupational degrees and certificates issued in 2012-13 increased by 36% since the 2009-10 (11,665 vs. 8,606). See Chancellor Update— page 2
First American Indian Astronaut Commander Speaks at Mesa Community College On September 26, MCC’s American Indian Center and the Maricopa Office of American Indian Outreach Programs proudly hosted Commander John Herrington – the first American Indian Astronaut Commander. During his day-long visit, he spoke with students and community members about John Herrington his education, life, and professional experiences that led him to be the first Native American astronaut to walk in space. In 1996 he was selected
to report to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for two years of training, evaluation, and finally qualification as a mission specialist in the space shuttle program. In 2002, Space Shuttle Endeavor launched to work on the International Space Station and Herrington served as Mission Specialist for STS-113, the sixteenth space shuttle mission to the space station. As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, he also serves as a motivational and inspirational speaker to students and young people, encouraging them to explore and pursue education outside their comfort zones. Maricopa Community Colleges celebrated Native American Heritage throughout November.
Read CommunityConnection online: http://www.maricopa.edu/chancellor/cac.php Community Connection provides news and information about the Maricopa Community Colleges and the Chancellor’s Community Advisory Committees to the community. Community Connection is published and distributed quarterly.
District Office Honors Veterans On Thursday, November 6, the District Office held its first annual Veterans celebration, which featured a flag raising and presentation of colors by the Marco De Niza JROTC. The District also announced the creation of a Veterans’ Education task force. Dr. Ernie Lara, President of Estrella Mountain Community College and veteran of the U.S. Air Force, gave the morning’s keynote event.
Mesa Community College (MCC) Opens New Resource Center for Veterans The ribbon was cut at a celebration honoring veterans on Friday, November 8, on MCC’s Kirk Student Center. The event was one of several such activities across all campuses in celebration of Veterans. For information on other events and veterans’ student services available at Maricopa Community Colleges, visit www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/veterans.
Meet Veterans Amy, Myron and David
Read their stories and the stories of other successful students at celebrate.maricopa.edu/meetingsuccess. “The transferrable skills veterans bring to the Maricopa Community Colleges strengthens and emboldens our mission to help students succeed in academics, career and life. The goals and tasks before us are attainable when we collaborate and utilize the talents cultivated during your years of military service. Thank you for your service in the military and within the Maricopa Community College system.” Chancellor Update Continued—front page
• Maricopa Community Colleges offer credit programs in 95% of the highest-demand occupations, and in 75% of the fastest-growing occupations in the greater Phoenix area. • Students younger than age 25 had higher success rates in collegelevel courses (71% vs. 62%) and developmental courses (64% vs. 62%) than students 25 and older. MCCCD Veterans
• The number of transfer awards increased from 15,286 in the 2011-12 fiscal year to 15,778 in the 2012-13 fiscal year. • The success rate for students completing a college-level math course after taking developmental math rose from 65% to 70% between the Fall 2010 cohort and the Fall 2011 cohort. • The success rate for a college-level English course completed after developmental English rose from 71% to 75% between the Fall 2010 cohort and the Fall 2011 cohort.
JROTC Students
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I wish you the happiest of holidays, and thank you for your continued dedication to our students’ success.
News Briefs Career Refresh: Returning to School has Become a Popular Course at Midlife, Arizona Republic (Oct. 7, 2013). Feature article on people over the age of 50 who are returning to school – often a community college – to update their skills. Several Maricopa Community Colleges are featured.
Community Colleges Grow, streamline nursing major, Arizona Republic (Oct. 20, 2013). The Maricopa Community Colleges have reduced the wait for students who want to enroll in their popular nursing programs from about three semesters down from a peak of five to seven semesters in 2009-10. This improvement is due in large part to the completion of building projects and renovations at Scottsdale, Phoenix, and GateWay Community Colleges.
Walmart Foundation Awards $233K Grant to Maricopa Community Colleges, Phoenix Business Journal (Oct. 16, 2013). The funding is part of a $3.5 million grant given to 11 other community colleges and districts nationwide to help train 9,000 lower-income, lower-skill adults so they can transition to higher skill and better paying jobs over the next two-and-a-half years.
Political Adviser Vying for Colleges Board, Arizona Republic, (Oct. 16, 2013). Political consultant Mario Diaz has become the first person to announce his candidacy for one of the two new at-large seats on the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board. The five-member Board will expand to seven members with the 2014 election, after the Arizona Legislature passed a bill in 2010 making the change. The current five members represent districts that are the same as the Maricopa County supervisors’ districts. The two new members will be elected from the county at large.
Chancellor Glasper Welcomes Newest Community Advisory Committee Member The Maricopa Community Colleges are proud to welcome the newest member of our Community Advisory Committees (CACs). Sam Hogue, a member of the Navajo Nation, has joined the Native American Council. Hailing from a Burnham community in New Mexico, Mr. Hogue works for the Phoenix Union High Sam Hogue School District (PUHSD) as an advisor to Native American students and parents across five campuses; he has served in this role since 1998. Sam graduated from Albuquerque Indian School (high school) in 1970. He attended Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico and earned a certificate for Technical Illustration. He took a job with the Navajo Coal Mine where he worked his way up from a laborer, dragline oiler to dragline operator. After 8 years, he switched to the construction field as a Heavy Equipment operator. He and his wife came to Phoenix in the late 1980’s (his wife took classes at Phoenix College in Medical Records). Sam attended Maricopa Skill Center and GateWay Community College to study heating, ventilation and air conditioning before moving to PUHSD. The Chancellor’s CACs represent African Americans; Asian/ Pacific Islanders; Latinos, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender; Native Americans, and the disabled. CAC members are selected to provide counsel from a community perspective, identify issues of concern, strengthen community ties, and serve as a conduit for information between the community and the Colleges.
Community colleges see rise in 6-year graduation rate, Arizona Republic (Nov. 16, 2013). The Maricopa Community Colleges saw an eight percentage-point gain in its graduation rate, the biggest increase in several years and one that continues the district’s track to fulfill its commitment to produce more graduates.
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Four Maricopa Employees Receive Recognition at National Conference
Governing Board Meeting Highlights Fall 2013
Maricopa Community Colleges hosted the North American Council of Staff, Program and Organizational Development (NCSPOD) annual international conference from Oct. 23-25. Dr. Patricia Honzay, District Director for the Center of Employee and Organizational Development, and her department were the lead organizers for this event. Pat also served as NCSPOD’s Western Regional Vice President. Each year, NCSPOD recognizes model staff and this year four Maricopa Community Colleges employees received this honor.
Board Introduced to 28 Women’s Leadership Group Mentees
Maricopa Community Colleges Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick was given the College Chancellor’s Award for the development and advancement of faculty and staff through collaborative sharing of expertise and resources.
Longtime Governing Board member Dr. Don Campbell was named Pacific Regional Winner of the 2013 Association of Community College Trustees Trustee Leadership Award. The award was announced at the recent Leadership Congress of the ACCT. Dr. Campbell served 29 years on the Board, retiring in 2012. Chancellor Rufus Glasper pointed out that to date, Dr. Campbell was the only African-American Board member. He described the veteran Board member as someone who “spent a lifetime inspiring others to succeed.” Board President Doyle Burke praised Dr. Campbell as “reasonable voice and a strong supporter of the Maricopa Community Colleges.”
Michaelle Shadburne, Manager of Organizational Development at Paradise Valley Community College received the Roland Terrel Leadership Award given to strong supporters of developing faculty and staff so they can discover their strength, passion, and connection to Maricopa Community Colleges’ mission and vision. An award for sustainability integration and innovation was given to two faculty members: Roy Schiesser, a Geology faculty member and Paul Petrequin, a History faculty member, both from Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The award recognizes innovations and successes of the integration of sustainable development into education and learning.
The latest group of women being mentored as part of the Women’s Leadership Group was introduced to the Governing Board during the October meeting. Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, told the Board that more than 340 female employees have been mentored as part of the program since 2000, and that may of those have moved into leadership positions across the District.
Dr. Don Campbell Named Winner of Trustee Award
Chancellor’s Community Advisory Committees (CAC)
Committee Objectives • Provide community inspired counsel and advice to the Chancellor;
Chancellor Supports Wellness at Maricopa Community Colleges On November 9, 2013, Chancellor Glasper hosted his annual hike at South Mountain Park. The event attracted more than 140 employees, family members, friends, and pets.
• Work with the Colleges to strengthen their relationships with the community; • Serve as a conduit of information between the Colleges and the community; • Help the Colleges identify community issues and proactively address concerns; and • Work on projects that advance the Chancellor’s objectives.
Populations represented by the CACs: African-American, Asian Pacific Islander, GLBT, Latino, Native-American, and Voice (Disabled)
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