MARICOPA News from the Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees’ Association
Issue Highlights: 2 Chancellor Retires 3 Interim Chancellor Named 4 Faculty Receive Emeritus Status 4 Eight Colleges Awarded Prize 6 Where Are They Now? 8 Tuition Break for Seniors
Spring 2016
Mark Your Calendar
Retirement information and updates on legislation relative to changes in pension funds will be provided. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with experts from the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), United Healthcare, and MCCCD Human Resources.
MCCRA Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar Thursday, April 21, 2016 A planning for retirement meeting hosted by MCCRA is set for Thursday, April 21 at the Rio Salado Conference Center located at 2323 W. 14th Street in Tempe, adjacent to the District Office. A continental breakfast will be served starting at 8 am, where Q & A with retirement and health care representatives will begin and will continue immediately following the meeting. The formal meeting is scheduled from 9 am – 12 noon.
Retirees – come on out and share your expertise with former colleagues who may be thinking about their retirement plans. Please RSVP to Jim Hogan: jhoganaz@msn.com.
A Financially Healthy Retirement System From the Arizona State Retirement System The Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) has not been immune to the ups and downs of the market over the past several months. The closing prices of several market indexes as compared to the daily value of the ASRS trust fund can attest to that. But the strategic asset allocation model the ASRS uses mitigates severe market movements. At the close of the most recent fiscal year (June 30, 2015), the ASRS trust fund had an investment gain of 3.2%. This return allowed the ASRS to be in the top 32nd percentile of returns across its peer universe.
The retirement benefit you receive will be for your lifetime. Such returns are an impressive accomplishment by the ASRS Investment Management Division considering the market’s volatility over the most recent 3, 5, and 10 year periods. The ASRS average annualized return for the fund since inception is 9.9%. The funded status of the ASRS stands at 77.5%, which has been increasing over the past five years. Retirement systems with a funded status of at least 80% are deemed to be financially healthy. The trend and the current funded status indicate your retirement system is in good financial health.
A note about contribution rates. The current ASRS pension contribution rate is 11.35%. Beginning next fiscal year (July 1, 2016), it will drop to 11.34%. The contribution rate is in a declining trend based on several factors: investment gains; increase in membership which generates an increase in the dollar amount of contributions; declining number of retirements; and, retirements beginning later, to name a few. Unfortunately, the level of contribution is such that not only is a member paying for his or her future retirement benefit, but they are also paying down the deficit in the funded status which is amortized over 30 years. In the absence of the amortization, the normal cost, or the cost to fund only your retirement benefit, would average approximately 6.5% (over the past 20 years the normal cost has fluctuated between about 5.5% and 6.8% per year). On a most positive note, the retirement benefit you receive will be for your lifetime no matter which option you elect. And, you may elect to provide continued ASRS retirement benefits to your beneficiary. The ASRS provides retirement income that, coupled with Social Security benefits and income generated from your personal savings, should provide a standard of living that is sustainable, beneficial, and worry-free.
Chancellor Rufus Glasper Retires from Maricopa to Accept Role in International Organization After nearly 13 years as Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges, Rufus Glasper, Ph.D. announced his retirement to accept a position as President and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College (League). His retirement date was February 29. Dr. Glasper made the formal announcement to the Governing Board of the MCCD in December. Dr. Glasper served the college district for more than 29 years in a variety of roles from Director of Finance, CFO and Vice Chancellor. He was named Chancellor in 2003. The opportunity with the League occurred when its current president and CEO for the last 17 years, Gerado de los Santos announced he would be leaving his post effective February 1, 2016 because of family health issues. The League, based in Chandler, Arizona, is an international nonprofit organization that provides strategic insights and undertakes policy work for the more than 800 institutions holding memberships in its League Alliance. The Maricopa Community Colleges is a member of the League. “This decision was not an easy one,” Dr. Glasper wrote in a memo to the Maricopa community. “I believe that the many
Whereas,
organizational and academic initiatives that are now in motion throughout the Maricopa Community Colleges are Chancellor Rufus Glasper and well on their way MCCRA President Ann Oehmke to enhancing the District’s position as a leader among community colleges nationally.” “As I have had the privilege to provide vision for initiatives impacting student success and innovation for our colleges, I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to now provide leadership in the community college arena on a national scale,” Dr. Glasper added. “Dr. Glasper is a long-standing member of the League board and we are grateful that he will be able to step in and provide experience with the organization and veteran leadership immediately upon his assuming the role as CEO,” said Jill Wakefield, Ph.D., Chancellor of Seattle Colleges and chair of the board of directors of the League, which has 800 member colleges worldwide.
We the Retirees of the Maricopa Community College District
Therefore, Whereas, Whereas,
Therefore,
Whereas, Whereas,
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Attest:
Interim Chancellor Named Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick, the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost since 2010, was named Interim Chancellor during the Governing Board’s regular January meeting. She previously served as Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, and continued as the District’s chief academic officer when appointed Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. In 2015, she was selected as the Woman of the Year by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; was featured in Diverse Issues in Higher Education as one of 25 women who have made a difference in the world by tackling some of higher education’s toughest challenges and exhibiting extraordinary leadership skills; and was selected to join the 2015 class of the Aspen Institute’s Ascend Fellows. A native of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Harper-Marinick came to Arizona State University as a Fulbright Scholar in 1982. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Media from Arizona State University and a Licentiate in School Administration and Pedagogy from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Glasper Is Now Chancellor Emeritus The Governing Board voted at their February 23 meeting to grant Dr. Rufus Glasper emeritus status “for his meritorious contribution to students and employees of the Maricopa County Community College District, as well the larger community it serves.”
ASU President, Maricopa Faculty President to Lead the Chancellor Search Committee ASU President Michael Crow and Maricopa Faculty Association President Salina Bednarek will chair the committee charged with conducting the search for a new Chancellor for the Maricopa Community Colleges. Governing Board President Alfredo Gutierrez announced the names of the chairpersons. The Search Committee should “be reflective of the community and the interests of this institution.” He also said he had commitments from Roc Arnett, former President of the East Valley Partnership; Chris Camacho, President of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council; President Rita Cheng of Northern Arizona University; Art Hamilton, a former state legislative leader and founder of The Art Hamilton Group; and Shannon Ridgeway-Monaco, a Mesa Community College employee representing the Professional Services Association. The names of other committee members will be announced once their participation has been confirmed. The Governing Board, during a special meeting on January 25, chose Cizek and Associates to aid in the search process for a new Maricopa Chancellor.
MCCCD Governing Board 2016 The Governing Board, on a 4–3 vote, elected Alfredo Gutierrez to be its President for 2016. Johanna Haver was re-elected Board Secretary by a unanimous vote.
Board President Alfredo Gutierrez said that Maricopa has remained strong “because of the extraordinary leadership of Rufus Glasper.” In brief remarks, the Chancellor recalled the troubled financial times the District had to endure. “We would have not made it through the recession if we did not come together as one system,” he said. He encouraged District leaders to continue the practice of disruptive innovation. “Go to the edge,” he said, “look over that precipice, and make a choice.”
Maricopa County Community Colleges Governing Board Members: (back row) Tracy Livingston, John Heep, Alfredo Gutierrez, Dana Saar (front row) Doyle Burke, Jean McGrath, Johanna Haver
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Emeritus Duo
Emeritus Status
It is not unusual that a husband and wife team work for MCCD, but for both to retire and receive Faculty Emeritus status together may be a first.
The Governing Board grants Emeritus status at its monthly meetings based on nominations of recently retired faculty and executive staff. October 2015 Dr. Oscar Hardin, Psychology, South Mountain Community College November 2015 Richard Felnagle, English, Mesa Community College December 2015 Nancy Kolakowski, Math; and Dr. Hank Mancini, Chemistry,
At the January 26 meeting, the Governing Board awarded Emeritus status to two Chandler-Gilbert Community College Performing Arts faculty members and power couple, Gordon and Sally Jesse, for their distinguished service to the college. Having served CGCC for a combined 58 years, the Jesses’ accomplishments both individually and together make them most deserving of this distinction. Gordon began his career at CGCC in 1986 and began working toward his first milestone, founding the Performing Arts department. He was instrumental in developing four performance spaces on campus, including the Arnette Scott Ward Performing Arts Center. Sally joined CGCC as the first residential dance faculty in 1988. And if Gordon founded the PAC, Sally certainly filled it with performances - directing and choreographing over 40 musical theater productions and directing more than 50 dance concerts in her 27-year career at CGCC.
Paradise Valley Community College
January 2016 Gay Garesche, Economics; and Eileen Johnson, Sociology, Glendale Community College
Dr. James Vicich, Math, Scottsdale Community College Gordon Jesse, Theater; and Sally Sugden Jesse, Dance, Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Scott C. Russell, Cultural Science, Mesa Community College February 2016 Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges
HELP WANTED
A retiree with computer experience in MS ACCESS databases to help with MCCRA lists. Pay = $0, Satisfaction = Priceless Contact Jim Hogan at: jhoganaz@msn.com
At the Colleges Eight Maricopa Community Colleges Among Nation’s Top 150 Community Colleges
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Eight Maricopa Community Colleges were named in January among the Aspen Institute’s top 150 community colleges in the United States from a pool of 1,000 public two-year colleges.
“Having 8 of our 10 colleges named to this prestigious list is a wonderful achievement,” said Maricopa Chancellor Rufus Glasper. “This is an indication of our colleges’ dedication to educational quality and student success.”
The Maricopa Community Colleges are Phoenix College and ChandlerGilbert, Estrella Mountain, Gateway, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and South Mountain community colleges. A full list of the selected colleges and details on the selection process are available at www.aspenprize.org.
The Aspen Prize, awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges and recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and access and success for minority
and lowincome students. These top 150 colleges are eligible to compete for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds. Ten finalists will be named in fall 2016. The Aspen Institute will conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data. A distinguished Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner and a few finalists with distinction in early 2017. continued on page 5
At the Colleges continued Nearly half of America’s college students attend community college, with more than 7 million students — youth and adult learners — working towards certificates and degrees. Maricopa colleges have been on the award list since it was first established in 2011. Estrella Mountain Community College is the only Arizona college to have been selected in all of the award’s four cycles.
Glendale Community College
“The Traveler” Best Two-Year College Literary Magazine The 50th Anniversary edition of GCC’s “The Traveler” literary magazine earned a Pinnacle Award for TwoYear College Best Literary Magazine from the College Media Association. CMA awarded its 2015 Pinnacle Awards at the Associated Collegiate Press/CMA National Fall College Media Convention in Austin, Texas, where 252 colleges and universities entered 416 individual submissions. An annual collaboration between the GCC English and Art departments, “The Traveler” features the work of students, from literary and visual arts content to the physical production design. Digital Media Arts students direct the design and Journalism students lay out the pages.
Mesa Community College
Scottsdale Community College
Chancellor’s Cup Awarded for Top United Way Donations
Community College Initiative Recognized by White House
MCC has been honored by the Maricopa Community Colleges for its efforts benefitting United Way. The 2016 Chancellor’s Cup was awarded to MCC by Chancellor Rufus Glasper. MCC achieved the award by having the largest percentage increase in donations in MCCD for the annual United Way campaign which ended Nov. 20, 2015.
President Obama recently recognized the Community College Initiative and other programs sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs at SCC.
MCC conducted a college foundation fundraiser for student scholarships in conjunction with the United Way campaign. It had 43 percent of its workforce donate $134,315.70. Mesa United Way received $43,679 of that total; the rest ($90,635.80) was earmarked for the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation for MCC student scholarships. “I am indebted to our United Way campaign director, Patrick J. Burkhart,” said MCC President Dr. Shouan Pan. “I also want to thank Jared Langkilde, who spearheaded our student scholarship portion of the 2015 campaign, and to all the MCC employees who stepped up their commitment to community and scholarships.” Donations to either campaign are still open at mesacc.edu/give
MARICOPA GOLD – Online edition only ? Currently, the quarterly Maricopa Gold newsletter is printed and mailed to over 1,600 retirees. It is also available online and on the Facebook page.
Retirees – we need your input. Would you be in favor of the Maricopa Gold newsletter being available only in its online format? q YES, to online version only q NO, I prefer to receive a printed copy Send email to aoehmke@cox.net with your vote. Or call her at (602) 265-9497
The White House letter noted “These initiatives reflect the extraordinary potential public diplomacy, not only to cultivate personal relationships across borders, but also to help shape a more peaceful and prosperous future – one in which we, as citizens of the world, see ourselves through the lens of what unites us rather than what divides us.” The CCI program is a U.S. Dept. of State funded exchange program administered through Northern Virginia Community College. Since 2010, the CCI program has brought 89 students from diverse underserved regions and groups to study at SCC for 10 months in Business, Communications, Journalism and Film Studies. Last fall, the achievements of the15 grant students included over 1,300 volunteer hours completed in Arizona, 14 professional internships obtained and 2 successfully completed and more than $130,000 in tuition and fees to the college. If you are interested in getting involved or supporting as a shortterm home host or American friend to new students, please contact Megan Young at SCC at (480) 432-6000. 5
Where are they now? Coach Jeff Mason Founding athletic director at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Jeff Mason was inducted to the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2015) on January 27. As athletic director, Mason was integral in establishing the athletics programs at CGCC. He involved the community to determine which sports to offer, found and negotiated facility agreements for off-campus competition and oversaw the design and construction of facilities on campus. As the program got off the ground, Mason ensured CGCC was part of the Arizona College Athletic Conference and National Junior College Athletic Association and that coaches and student athletes conformed to the necessary high standards. He also spearheaded fundraising efforts and assisted in recruiting athletes for various teams. Mason began his athletic career in 1967 as a professional baseball player, playing for the Yankees, Cardinals and Giants. After leaving baseball in 1974, he taught and coached football, basketball and baseball at Apache Junction High school, where he later served as athletic director. Mason retired from CGCC in 2011 after 37 years in athletics.
Wilma Patterson After retiring from South Mountain Community College in 2006, Wilma Patterson began volunteering at an assisted living center and later enrolled in tai chi, line dance and pastel painting classes. In 2007, she and her husband, Cecil, purchased a highrise condominium where they continue to enjoy a panoramic view of north Atlanta. They travel frequently inside and outside the U.S. and have visited eight countries on three continents. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on a cruise ship in the China Sea. Their time is spent between Tempe and Atlanta enjoying their children and grandchildren.
What are you doing in your retirement? Send us a paragraph about your adventures or activities and we will share it with other Maricopa retirees. Email: patti.n.johnson@cgc.edu.
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Bonsai
as a Hobby
By Ken Roberts, Academic Vice President Emeritus, South Mountain Community College
Bonsai is believed to have originated hundreds of years ago in Asia. Bonsai is the art of growing small trees in pots. A Bonsai can be as small as three inches tall to about 36 inches tall. Bonsai trees are not unique genetic trees but rather the same trees as grow in your yard or in a forest. A wide range of trees can be grown as bonsai here in the Sonoran desert. Maple, elm, juniper, olive, bougainvillea, black pine, liquid amber, etc., all grow well in our climate. A bonsai olive or elm tree are the same species of tree that you have in your yard and if taken out of a small bonsai pot and planted in the yard they would with time be indistinguishable from any other landscape tree. When I was approaching retirement I recognized I needed a hobby to help fill my days. When I was competing my M.S. degree in San Francisco I spent time in China Town and enjoyed looking at the bonsai trees. Bonsai seemed to be a good hobby as it combined horticultural elements and art. Bonsai (pronounced bone sigh) are kept small by restricting the roots in pot and continual pruning and trimming. The goal is to design a tree so that it appears to be old and weathered, surviving in a harsh environment. To achieve an old look, some branches may be selectively killed and the bark scared in selected locations. The tree is shaped by using different gages of copper wire to control the direction of each branch and trunk. A wired tree is called a bonsai in training. After a number of years all of the wire can be removed and the tree will retain its desired shape and design. There are formal rules for different styles of tree and various rules regarding branch placement, Trees can also be styled to be of a general masculine style, rough bark, broken branches, and sharp angles. A tree styled to be a feminine style would generally have smoother bark, and smoother curves in the overall style of the tree. This design element also applies to the pots to be used. For example a square pot with sharp corners and thick feet is a masculine pot, a feminine pot would have rounded corners and smaller pot feet. Since bonsai trees appear to be smaller versions of very large trees, most people believe they need to be kept indoors. The low humidity, lack of air movement, and lack of sunlight will cause an indoor kept bonsai to die fairly quickly. All bonsai trees are kept outdoors all year long. Some actually thrive in
full sun year round, other more tropical trees need some partial shade. When evenings are below 35 degrees we do place our tropical plants in the garage for frost protection. My wife Carol, in addition to growing and caring for bonsai trees, also is involved with related Japanese art form called kusamono which is a delicate arrangement of wild grasses, flowers and ferns. These are grown in shallow trays or pots. She also grows plants in small pots which are called accent plants and are displayed next to bonsai trees. We have over the years developed a pergola to provide sun protection for many of our trees. In addition we have some
stands with backdrops to display our larger sun loving trees. Bonsai trees have a great price range. A well styled and health young bonsai would likely have a price between of $100-$200. However, if a person wanted to do the styling and wiring, a young, small tree could be purchased at a nursery, and an inexpensive pot purchased for under $100. Very old, artistically styled trees are often sold for over $10,000 to over one million dollars. Bonsai has provided us with an excellent retirement hobby and we have met other bonsai enthusiasts from all over the country who are now friends. The Phoenix Bonsai Society (phoenixbonsai.com) is a local organization that helps people to learn about the art of bonsai.
Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees’ Association • 2016–17 Dues Renewal Name_________________________________________________________________________________Check if any info is new _____ Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip
Phone: Home (
) ______________________________________ Other (
) ______________________________________
Email address____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Membership Dues are $25/year valid from July 2016 through June 2017.
Dues $_______________
Make check payable to: MCC Retirees’ Association Make check payable to: Margaret Hogan, Treasurer • MCC Retirees’ Association (MCCRA) 2411 W. 14th Street • Tempe, AZ 85281-6942 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees’ Association • MCCRA Endowed Scholarship Fund Name___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street City State Zip
Phone: Home (
) ______________________________________ Other (
) ______________________________________
Email address____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Retired from which college ________________________ Check if any info is new _____ Contributions You can contribute in several ways to the MCCRA Endowed Scholarship Fund. You may write a check payable to the: Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Mail to: 2419 West 14th Street Tempe, AZ 85281 Or you can donate on line at www.mcccdf.org. Either way, please indicate you are supporting the MCCRA Endowed Scholarship. A receipt will be sent to you.
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT NO. 449
2411 W. 14th Street Tempe, Arizona 85281
Save the Date Thursday, April 21 Retirement Planning 9 am – 12 noon Rio Salado CC
Tuesday, October 11 Retirees Annual Meeting 10 am District Office Governing Board Room
American Association of Retired Persons Check out the “Real Possibilites” for retired folks in our local area at: aarp.org/Phoenix
Read Weekly
If you haven’t read it before, meet The Maricopan, a weekly communiqué to share important news and information about the college district. It contains important announcements about human resources, events information, and student success stories, among many other topics. If you want to keep up with what’s going on at the community colleges, log on to the online newsletter, The Maricopan at: https://administration.maricopa.edu/the-maricopan
The Governing Board approved a $2 per credit hour increase in tuition for 2016-17, raising tuition from $84 to $86 per credit hour. The tuition increase means that students taking 30 credit hours in a year would pay tuition of $2,580 annually, an increase of $60 more per year. A new feature of the District’s tuition schedule will be a 50% discount on tuition for people 65 and older. The proposal, which originated with Board member Johanna Haver, would allow students 65 and over to fill out classes the day after enrollment closes for regular students. Classes would have to reach their minimum capacity with full-paying students before those 65 and over would be able to enroll at a discount. Haver said the District had calculated that for the current number of 65-plus enrolled students, it would lose about $300,000 a year, but that because the senior students would be filling unoccupied seats, “it could become a moneymaker” for the District as more students take advantage of it.
Join The Retirees’ Board
MARICOPA GOLD Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees’ Association (MCCRA) 2411 W. 14th Street • Tempe, AZ 85281
MCCRA needs YOU!
Ann Oehmke, President • aoehmke@cox.net • 602.265.9497 Patti N. Johnson, Newsletter Editor, patti.n.johnson@cgc.edu MCCCD Marketing, Newsletter Production laura.carr@domail.maricopa.edu
We need your ideas for how MCCRA can serve the 1,600 retirees from the college district. Nominations are open for the MCCRA Executive Board for 2016–19. Nominate someone or volunteer yourself. Send email to: aoehmke@cox.net 8
Board Approves $2 Tuition Hike, Special Rate for Seniors
Send your email address to jhoganaz@msn.com Join us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/maricopa.edu.retirees