April is Community College Month
April 17, 2023
April is Community College Month, which represents an opportunity to lift the value of the nation’s community colleges. You may have seen posts like from Michelle Obama on social media, amplifying the promise of access and transformation. More importantly, the month is designed to increase awareness locally through outreach. It’s perfectly aligned with Day on a Hill!
My second week at 17³Ô¹Ï and the first week of the spring quarter have been filled with joy (and a lot of cake!). Two of the pictured cakes accompanied the Chancellor’s welcome.
I met so many wonderful lovers of 17³Ô¹Ï at Tuesday’s medal ceremony and welcome lunch. Students, staff, community members, local governmental officials, and educational partners all voiced their admiration for the college.
My family in attendance described the college and its community as warm, generous, gracious, and of course . . . sweet!
I enjoyed my visit to the Academic Senate at the KCI.
The body was deliberating on important topics, briefly interrupted for empanadas. The hospitality continued through the division meet and greets. I started with the STEM division. The network of support offered to students astounds–the STEM Center, Pass the Torch, SLI, and initiatives like Possible Self, where I met the incomparable Karl!
Thanks to Mario, Konstantin, Sharon, and Zach for taking me through the tutoring centers near the division office and the labs and classrooms in the PSEC complex. I enjoyed a lunch filled with fellowship and passionate attention to student learning and success.
Next, I had tea and wonderful lemon cookies with Lené, Allison, and others supporting Online Learning. Among many topics, I loved hearing from faculty coordinators and instructional designers, who joined me via Zoom (of course!) on the push to ensure that the best practices for humanizing the online classroom are resourced and shared broadly.
My last stop on last week’s tour was the lower
campus–a progressive lunch at the student services building. This Giants-themed extravaganza hit all the right notes. Three floors of food, fun, and rich conversation on equity-driven practices for serving students. As an aside: I deeply appreciate the many A’s fans adopting the orange and black for the occasion.
By the end of this week, I will have a similar opportunity to meet with faculty and staff from many more divisions. Powerful authenticity is greeting our students, both online and in person, daily. I’ve seen that on full display.
Remember, if you are on social media, use the #CCMonth hashtag and tell your CC story. And while you are there, be sure to follow me as I continue my month of welcome (and beyond).
Yours in service,
Kristina