Spring 2013 Message from the President
Colleagues:
We begin Spring Semester 2013 on firmer budgetary ground than we have stood as a college and
community college system in some time. A number of us attended a budget debriefing in
Sacramento last Friday (an observation here: Chancellor Walters seems to know every mover and
shaker in the State) and heard much good news related to the apparent stability expected to be achieved
system-wide through Prop 30 and a slow-but-steady recovery of the California Economy.
I will be sending out a more detailed report on Prop 30 projections and new legislative mandates later
this week as we start to assess and plan for their potential impacts on Chabot.
Some other current events:
Dr. King's birthday was celebrated Monday January 21 in our PAC at an inspiring event sponsored by
the City of Hayward (and orchestrated with her usual elan by our own Kari McAllister). Mayor Mike
Sweeny presided over the event, which was attended by many community luminaries. Some highlights
included the Mt. Eden School Concert Choir and orchestra, Griot and fabulous story-teller Diane
Ferlatte (who took us back to the voting booth with Fanny Lou Hamer), the Hayward Senior Line
Dancers (wow!), and a moving rendition of Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech by Reverend Tommy E.
Smith, Jr. I gave a shout out to Chabot's programs which support Dr. King's vision of the "beloved
community" including Daraja/Umoja, Puente, EOPS/TRIO, Striving Black Brothers, the Child
Development Center, and our Law and Democracy Program.
We'll be doing more to publicize this event around the campus next year. You don't want to miss it.
Last Thursday Chabot administrative staff hosted a well-attended luncheon in honor of classified
professionals. A number of speakers, including classified and faculty leaders and admins, reflected on
the crucial work of classified staff, as well as the burdens they have faced over the years of the recession.
Naomi Parke served up a fabulous buffet (as always), supplemented by various admins "signature
dishes", and DJ "Doc" Shultz spun the vinyl (metaphorically speaking). It was pretty cool.
Our Promise Neighborhood Collaborative grant work proceeds with the selection from a number of
finalists of a Promise Neighborhood Coordinator this week funded through the grant. The Law and
Democracy Program received grant support for classes through a collaboration with the venerable Street
Law Project (which educates about civil rights and the constitution.) Congratulations to Profs William
Hanson and Sara Parker on their expanding political and social justice program!
Two meetings of note will occur this week: On Friday, January 25 at 8 AM the Chabot Planning,
Review, and Budget Committee (PRBC) is having a half-day planning retreat. This group of classified,
faculty, administrators, and students has really rolled up their collective sleeves during fall semester,
meeting for over 40 hours of "real talk" guided by their intrepid chair, the amazing Jan Novak. At 12:30
on Friday the District Budget Study Group will meet to consider a new allocation model for the District.
This should be a very important discussion.
The Faculty Senate is sponsoring a series of community presentations this semester by Chabot faculty on
areas of their expertise. Check out the line-up on posters around the campus, which includes Kathy Kelly
and Michelle Sherry on parenting, our own bones and stones expert Mireille Giovanola; Don Plondke
on Global Warming, Mark Stephens on the development of the Interstate Highway System, and the
cosmic guru Tim Dave on understanding the cosmos.
Finally, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the newly refurbished Building 1800; it will knock you out.
The design elements that have gone into this renovation are exemplary. Kudos to Dean Tram Vo
Kumamoto and faculty for thinking through a beautiful marriage here of form and function.
See you around the campus. Have a great first week!
Susan