President's Report
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President’s Report Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven November 2019 • Issue No. 273 Transform the student experience Holocaust survivor gives gripping talk at CCA Holocaust survivor Sara Moses gave a powerful and moving talk to a standing-room- only crowd September 16 in the CentreTech campus’ Rotunda room. In her talk, Moses recounted her earliest memories of life in the Piotrkow ghetto and shared the story of her survival and ultimate liberation while at Nazi concentration camp Bergen Belsen. Widely known as “hell on earth,” Bergen Belsen’s horrific conditions were pivotal in shaping public policy and opinion after 1945. Ultimately, Moses lost over 100 of her family members to the Holocaust. To conclude her gripping talk, Moses said, “Imagine my dream — where different individuals, different countries, and different cultures all live by the very same standard and rule of behavior that they wish for themselves. I believe that only then will we have real hope for our world — a world free of genocide, wars, and violence, a world of compassion, respect for life, and peace.” (Photo caption: Holocaust survivor Sara Moses speaks to a standing-room-only crowd September 16 at the CentreTech campus). New apprenticeship program between CCA and HealthONE officially underway The new apprenticeship program made possible by a partnership between CCA and HealthONE officially kicked off October 21 with 17 apprentices. The program was created to increase the number of entry-level healthcare workers in regional hospitals. The apprentices will alternate between attending classes at CCA and working in a HealthONE hospital for each week of the 21-week program. At the end of the program, the apprentices will be hired by HealthONE as patient care technicians. The apprentices will also be guaranteed two pay increases as they progress through the program. CCA students hear lecture from Brandon Williams, Social Sciences Department Chair, on immigration policy On October 10, Social Sciences Department Chair Brandon Williams delivered a college-wide lecture titled “The Other Must Go: Race, Dehumanization, and the Making of Immigration Policy in America.” His presentation highlighted the role dehumanization and violence has played in shaping immigration policy. Williams’ presentation also addressed recent findings from Chinese, Japanese, and Latinx scholars that directly integrate immigrant perspectives into these narratives and show how immigrants weathered attacks against themselves and their citizenship by displaying an unwavering commitment to American ideals of democracy, liberty, and equality. Williams’ lecture was part of a yearlong, cross-curriculum reading initiative called Integrated Big Read. Career Services organizes employer panel and infosession for students Two career events — an employer panel and an infosession — were held in October in the Lowry campus’ Bergren Room for CCA students interested in careers in the healthcare and computer science/programming fields. On October 9, representatives from UCHealth, Children’s Hospital Colorado, PASCO (Personal Assistance Services of Colorado), Saint Paul Health Center, Visiting Angels Aurora, and the Anschutz Medical Campus’ Community-Campus Partnership participated on a panel to talk about the healthcare field and answer students’ questions. The following day, representatives from Lockheed Martin hosted an infosession to talk about the aerospace and defense company’s computer science/programming internships. Both events were organized by CCA’s Department of Career Services. Transform our own work experience Theatre Program Director Stacey D’Angelo collaborating on production that will tour Japan in February 2020 Theatre Program Director Stacey D’Angelo is working with a Japanese theatre foundation called The Nippon Foundation: Diversity in the Arts, which is exploring inclusive theatre practices for Japanese actors with disabilities, the majority being deaf actors who speak sign language, at a professional level. D’Angelo is collaborating with the Japanese actors and actors from the Phamaly Theatre Company, a Denver-based nonprofit whose performers have wide-ranging disabilities, to create a production that will show at the Aurora Fox Arts Center in January 2020 and in Japan the following month. CCA President Betsy Oudenhoven attends AACC meeting to discuss equity strategies On September 4, President Betsy Oudenhoven attended a meeting at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) offices in Washington, D.C., with AACC President Walter Bumphus, his staff, and a small group of college presidents from across the country. The conversation focused on how college leaders are addressing equity issues at their colleges as well as how they are addressing issues such as concurrent enrollment, developmental education reform, workforce training, and leadership through an equity lens. The meeting was part of a series of “Unfinished Business” gatherings organized by AACC to examine gaps in community colleges’ efforts to improve student success. CDHE rolls out new Equity Toolkit On September 25, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) unveiled its new Equity Toolkit, an online tool for faculty and instructors across Colorado to support their implementation of inclusive pedagogies and equity-minded practices in their classrooms. Colorado Governor Jared Polis welcomed the group and CDHE Executive Director Angie Paccione facilitated the program. College Equity Officer Quill Phillips and Angie Paccione, the former Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Colorado Denver and the Anschutz Medical Campus, worked together to develop the resource. Phillips also facilitated a panel discussion with students at the event. CDHE received a Talent, Innovation, and Equity (TIE) grant in 2017 and CCA was one of three institutional recipients — along with Pueblo Community College and Colorado State University-Pueblo — of TIE funding. In addition to the college grants, CDHE allocated resources to the development of the Equity Toolkit, which can be found here: http://masterplan.highered.colorado.gov/equitytoolkit/ CCA President Betsy Oudenhoven and Dean of Academic Affairs and Concurrent Enrollment Bobby Pace participate on panels On August 27, President Betsy Oudenhoven participated on a panel titled “How Colorado’s Higher Education Systems and Institutions are Responding to the Future of Work” with Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Rico Munn and CSU Global President Becky Takeda-Tinker at the CSU Global site in Aurora. Kim Poast, Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer, moderated the panel. The audience consisted of congressional staff from across the country as well as staff from CDHE and Jobs for the Future. The panel was part of a three-day congressional staff network site visit to Denver. Bobby Pace, Dean of Academic Affairs and Concurrent Enrollment, also participated on a panel titled “Seamless and Accelerated Pathways from Secondary to Postsecondary Education — Colorado’s Commitment to Early College High School,” which took place at North East Early College. HR Department hosts sessions on recruitment, retention, and turnover The Human Resources Department hosted a pair of interactive sessions on September 5 and 9 to share summary data relating to recruitment, retention, and turnover at the college and to seek employee input and feedback on the topics. National and CCA- specific retention data as well as patterns and trends in recruitment, retention, and turnover at CCA were shared during the sessions. The input gathered from the sessions is informing the college leadership team and will guide administrative decisions and opportunities moving forward. These include a recent training for all supervisors on the concept of “stay interviews,” which seek to know more about what factors draw employees to and keep them at CCA. Special luncheon pays tribute to CCA retirees CCA retirees and some longtime CCA friends were invited to a special luncheon in their honor October 9 at the CentreTech campus. The annual celebration was a time for CCA retirees, friends, and current staff, faculty, and instructors to share and hear stories of CCA through the years. Over 20 retirees were in attendance for the October 9 event, including some of CCA’s first employees. (Photo caption: CCA retirees and longtime friends of the college gather for a group picture at a special luncheon October 9 at the CentreTech campus). Redefine our value proposition through accessibility, affordability, quality, accountability, resource development, and operational excellence New Lore Isa Wiggins Advising and Career Center dedicated CCA honored a longtime educator and college supporter with the dedication of the Lore Isa Wiggins Advising and Career Center on October 8. About 50 people, including Aurora Mayor Bob LeGare and former CCA President Linda Bowman, attended the open house. Longtime CCA supporter Bill Wiggins donated $335,00 for the construction of the center, named after his late wife. Bill and Lore Wiggins supported CCA since its inception and Bill is an original member of the CCA Foundation Board. Lore taught French at Gateway High School for 20 years and served as a substitute teacher in the area for another 10 years after she retired. The center includes a waiting room for students, private meeting rooms for advisors and students, and additional space for student support departments. CCA receives nearly $3 million Title V grant to eliminate equity