http://www.redwoods.edu/district/board/documents/May72013Packet.pdf
REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING May 7, 2013
Agenda Item #4.6.1
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT/SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
For information only.
BACKGROUND
Emergency Preparedness
The debriefing session and subsequent discussions following the bomb threat which closed
the Eureka campus on April 18, 2013 have highlighted our strengths and uncovered our
weaknesses in responding to emergencies. We received amazing support from the Humboldt
County Sheriff’s Department and other local agencies in conducting a search of all buildings
on campus, and from HSU, Eureka City Schools and Humboldt Transit Authority in
providing services and food for our residence hall students. We have initiated several
follow-up procedures and actions as a result of this experience and are planning another
functional exercise to better prepare us for the next emergency.
Accreditation Update
As the academic year comes to a close and many faculty prepare to leave for the summer,
much work is being accomplished regarding assessment of course and program student
learning outcomes, dialogue sessions regarding such things as institutional learning
outcomes, basic skills assessment and assessment of the First Year Experience program.
Additionally, the Institutional Effectiveness Committee has been reviewing the goals and
objectives in CR’s Strategic and Education Master Plans and the action items in our Annual
Institutional Plan to determine what has been accomplished and what needs to be
accomplished in order to meet all accreditation standards. The February action letter from
the ACCJC has been dissected and each topic that needs to be addressed in our October
report has been assigned to a Cabinet member for continual oversight and follow-up.
Commencement
Plans are being finalized for the commencement ceremonies at each of CR’s four locations.
This is an exciting time of year as we send our graduates off to work or to further their
education. In light of the dangers highlighted by recent national and local events, additional
security precautions are being taken for these ceremonies.
Marketing/Outreach Update
Much discussion has taken place this spring about our declining enrollment and the possible
reasons for it. A Marketing Task Force has been established that gives faculty and staff the
opportunity to meet with Paul DeMark and brainstorm activities that might help build back
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that enrollment. One of those efforts included participation in the Humboldt Math Festival at
the Bayshore Mall on Saturday, April 27. While faculty have participated in this event
previously, this year Paul and other staff members also attended, showed marketing videos
and distributed information about CR admission and enrollment. Additionally, I have
participated in some of the outreach visits to high schools within our district to speak with
counselors, administrators and students. Our emphasis is on what is positive about CR, to
counteract the negative publicity that we have received this past year regarding accreditation
and budget difficulties.
Redistricting Update
Dylan Kolstad of Kolstad Land Surveyors has been engaged to write the legal descriptions of
our trustee area boundaries. In his work to write the descriptions for HCOE, he has met with
county officials to gain a full understanding of their expectations. He is on track to complete
this work by the 180 day deadline set by County Elections.
Small Group Meetings
To become better acquainted with CR faculty members, I have held several small group
meetings with four or five faculty at a time. The topics have ranged from budget and
accreditation concerns to the philosophy of education and best practices in the classroom. I
also have held two open forum style meetings specifically for associate faculty members.
After the spring semester is over, I will be setting up similar meetings with classified staff
and managers.
Statewide Board Meetings
On Friday, April 19, I traveled to Sacramento to attend meetings of both the CEOCCC (Chief
Executive Officers of California Community Colleges) board and the CCLC (Community
College League of California) board. Chancellor Brice Harris was in attendance and topics
included the budget for both 2012-13 and 2013-14, analysis of proposed legislation affecting
community colleges, the report from TICAS (the Institute for College Access and Success)
regarding increasing Cal Grant awards, and the new trustee professional development
program. I also informed the boards that I would be resigning at the end of this term due to
the demands requiring my time at CR and the difficulty of traveling to monthly meetings in
Sacramento. Another representative from northern California will be elected within the next
two months. While I no longer will be participating in these boards, I am retaining my seat
on the Commission on the Future, which is reconvening this summer after a two-year hiatus.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
None
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