Community Connection | July 2013 | Maricopa Community Colleges by The Maricopa Community Colleges

Maricopa Community Colleges • Office of the Chancellor • Community Advisory Committees • Vol. 5 • July 2013

Chancellor Update |

GateWay Presidential Search

Dr. Rufus Glasper

I am pleased to announce that I have recommended, and the Governing Board approved, the appointment of Dr. Steven R. Gonzales as the next president of GateWay Community College. He will take office July 1, 2013.

Dr. Gonzales previously served as the chief academic officer for Central Arizona College (CAC), which serves more than 15,000 students across five campuses and five centers throughout Pinal County. Prior to that position, he held a succession of teaching and administrative positions at the college, beginning with the period 2000-2006, when he was a professor of mathematics. In his administration positions at CAC, he provided leadership to the college’s centers in Maricopa and Casa Grande and its Cooperative Learning Center. Dr. Gonzales holds a bachelor of science in secondary education/ mathematics and a master of arts in teaching-mathematics from Northern Arizona University. In 2007 he earned a Dr. Steven R. Gonzales doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin’s College Leadership Program, where his research focused on the improvement of developmental education as a tool to help retain college students. I am confident that Dr. Gonzales will be able to advance the mission of GateWay, as well support our ONE Maricopa initiatives.

Chancellor Update 1 Healthiest Employer 3 Civic Participation 1 News Briefs 3 SSE Initiative 2 Governing Board Highlights 4 Student Success Latino Advocacy Champion 4 Campaign 2

Chancellor’s Civic Participation Medallions Civic participation – active involvement in public campus and community life – is a cornerstone of Maricopa Community Colleges’ mission. Each year, many Maricopa students exemplify what it means to be highly engaged in the leadership and change processes. In order to recognize these outstanding citizens, and encourage others to follow their example, Chancellor Rufus Glasper has created the Civic Leadership Medallion award. The award highlights and promotes student accomplishments related to effective civic participation and leadership as a central goal and function of higher education. With this inaugural round of awards, the District Office’s Center for Civic Participation is recognizing five honorees:

• • • • •

Lucero Curiel, Phoenix College Linda Howard, South Mountain Community College Manuela Mikesell, Scottsdale Community College Robert Elias Moreno III, Glendale Community College Tessa Otero, Phoenix College

To be considered for the award, students must demonstrate broad general and educational contribution to the campus and community, and increase students and community involvement in governmental processes (i.e., public policy). They must help grow awareness about critical community and political issues, or ones that expand students’ and community members’ capacity for leadership and political efficacy. For more information about Maricopa Community Colleges’ Civic Participation efforts, please contact Director Alberto Olivas at 480-731-8156 or civic.participation@domail.maricopa.edu.

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.

The Impact of the Seamless Student Experience (SSE) Initiative The expected impact of SSE on Maricopa is astounding, particularly with respect to eliminating registration and financial aid barriers so students can focus on learning. Here are a few numbers to consider as well.

250,347

373,533

79,352

$135 million

25,133

Average number of students impacted per year (with approximately 10% of those attending more than one Maricopa college in a year) Average number of financial aid applications and corrections received in a year Average number of financial aid applications selected for verification Amount of financial aid disbursed per semester Enrollment cancellation calls made

700,000

Approximate number of hits to my.maricopa.edu

120,000

Number of transcripts that go out in a year —with over 31,000 of these students having attended more than one Maricopa college

25,000

Military Veterans featured in Maricopa’s Student Success Campaign As part of Maricopa Community Colleges’ 50th anniversary celebration, the new advertising campaign highlights the success of current and past students, and the breadth of the colleges’ reach in the community. In its most recent iteration, the campaign features a series of military veterans who recently retired from their post. In search of additional education and training, they landed at Maricopa Community Colleges. You’ll meet:

David Livingston, a father of five who is completing a degree at Estrella Mountain Community College while also helping other veterans adjust to enrolling in classes. Myron Worthon, a student at Mesa Community College who will soon transfer to ASU to pursue a degree in business and is on his way to launching a new business venture. Amy Hansen, a mother of five who completed her Elementary Education degree at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in two years. Ray Cole, who spent more than 20 years in the military and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at Northern Arizona through Chandler-Gilbert Community College. See the campaign online at http://celebrate.maricopa.edu/ meetingsuccess

Meet Myron Worthon U.S. Army Veteran, Future Business Leader and student at the Maricopa Community Colleges Which Maricopa Community College do you attend? I have two classes left at Mesa Community College before completing my associate’s degree, and then through the MAPP program, I’ll be transferring to ASU’s school of business. How have the services at MCCCD helped you? I’ve really liked the MAPP program because it makes transferring classes easy. Why business? Business is the cornerstone of how everything operates. I just started my own little photography/videography company.

Approximate number of transcripts evaluated per year

What advice do you have for people in your situation? I would definitely encourage them to take advantage of their G.I. Bill and not to feel overwhelmed at the thought of getting a college education. Do you have a mentor? Definitely my parents, and also my Sergeant in the military, I still keep in contact with him. Words to live by? No one should believe in your dreams more than you do.

celebrate.maricopa.edu/ meetingsuccess maricopa.edu @mcccd

Maricopa Community Colleges: One of the Valley’s Healthiest Employers

WELLNESS MARICOPA Maricopa Community Colleges have been named one of the Valley’s healthiest employers by the Phoenix Business Journal at their annual event on March 27. Research shows that healthier employees are happier and work better. Highlights of Maricopa Community Colleges’ culture of wellness include: • All Maricopa Community Colleges’ properties are 100% tobacco-free. • Employees who complete a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and who are tobacco-free can receive $600 in wellness incentive dollars, which can be used towards health care premiums. • Employees have access to on-site tobacco quit assistance, resources, and can participate in a “buddy” program, which offers support to those who want to quit. • In 2012, more than 400 employees received a comprehensive set of cardiovascular and abdominal screenings; the tests were offered to all benefit-eligible employees. Maricopa Community Colleges also offers healthy food options in dining services, a flexible work schedule policy, wellness programs during work hours, access to well-lit, well-marked stairwells and fitness trails, bicycle storage racks, shower/change facilities, and a 24/7 nurse hotline.

News Briefs New Skill Center Location Coming July 1. Maricopa Community Colleges will soon cut the ribbon on its latest satellite location: the Maricopa Skill Center’s Northwest Campus. It is located in the West Valley (Bell Road and 27th Ave). In response to continued demand, the new location will begin offering classes in cosmetology on July 1, 2013. Classes in other programs will begin to be offered later in the year.

Maricopa Community Colleges a Top Contributor to United Way. In May 2013, the Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW) issued a report detailing the results of their annual campaign, during which they raised $48 million The Maricopa Community College District was among the frontrunners in leadership and employee contributions for large employers (those with 7,500 – 9,999 employees).

Dual Enrollment Program featured in AZ Republic. In a set of news stories in May 2013, the Arizona Republic reported on the growing popularity of dual enrollment among high school students. Dual enrollment allows students to gain college-level credit for classes taken while they’re in high school. Read the story online here: http://www.azcentral.

com/community/ahwatukee/articles/20130522more-valley-studentsopting-dual-enrollment.html.

Maricopa leaders recognized for excellence. In this past quarter, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick was recognized by both the Phoenix Business Journal and AZ Business Magazine as one of the most influential and admired leaders in Arizona. Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation President and CEO Dr. Steven Helfgot was named a “Champion of Education” by the Victoria Foundation. He was recognized for his commitment to campaigning for resources in support of the advancement of education and the creation of educational opportunities for youth, and especially for minority youth.

More at www.wellness.maricopa.edu.

Maricopa Community Colleges Again Receive Triple-A Bond Ratings. Having once again received the trifecta of AAA ratings from the three major bond rating agencies, the Maricopa Community Colleges are readying to sell $151 million in General Obligation Bonds to finance a variety of construction projects throughout the county. The sale will mark the fifth time the District has gone to the bond market to borrow new funds for construction projects since 2004, when voters passed a $951.4 million bond referendum.

Governing Board Meeting Highlights Spring 2013

Phoenix College President Receives “Latino Advocacy Champion” Award

Governing Board Approves 2013-14 Budget, 2% Tax Levy Increase

Phoenix College president Dr. Anna Solley has been named a recipient of Valle del Sol’s 2013 Profiles of Success Hispanic Leadership Awards. Solley, a passionate proponent of education for underrepresented student populations, will be honored at Valle del Sol’s annual “Profiles of Success” in early September. The Dr. Anna Solley event will kick off the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month in Arizona.

The Governing Board approved a 2% increase in the District’s tax levy on existing property, which will raise an additional $8 million in revenues. The tax levy vote, taken during the Board’s May meeting, was 4-1, with Members Ben Miranda, Randolph Lumm and Dana Saar joining President Doyle Burke in supporting the proposal, and Ms. Debra Pearson opposed.

The Board approved the District’s proposed 2013-14 budget by a vote of 5-0. The budget calls for General Fund spending to increase to $715 million, up $31.5 million from current spending. College officials said that roughly $9.5 million would be used for student success initiatives, including the Seamless Student Experience, the addition of 32 residential faculty, new scholarships, operating support for new facilities, and marketing and public outreach. In its March meeting, the Governing Board approved a proposal to increase tuition starting in the 2013-14 fiscal year by $5 per credit hour, bringing the in-county rate to $81 per credit hour. Students taking a full 30-credit course load over two semesters would pay $2,430, or $150 more than they paid in 2012-13.

Two Faculty Members Receive Emeritus Distinction The Governing Board granted emeritus distinction to two long-time faculty members: Sally Kroelinger, Department of Design, Family and Consumer Sciences (MCC), and Kimb Williamson, Theatre Arts Faculty (SCC).

GCC Student Honored with Academic Awards The Governing Board recognized Beau Grothendick, a Glendale Community College student who earned several accolades during this school year. As president of Phi Theta Kappa, Omicron Lambda chapter, he was on the top tier of the All-Arizona Academic Team, earning full tuition when he transfers to the University of Arizona. He was named the top scoring student in the state while representing Arizona as a New Century scholar and was chosen as one of only 20 All-USA Community College Academic Team members. 6

“Valle del Sol hosts this recognition event to highlight the values of service to community, leadership and advocacy,” said Kurt R. Sheppard, Valle del Sol’s CEO. “We’re honoring individuals and an organization that take Arizona to new heights with their deeds of service for others.”

Chancellor’s Community Advisory Committees (CAC)

Committee Objectives • Provide community inspired counsel and advice to the Chancellor; • 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)