CtcLink: It’s here!

ctcLink went successfully live at 7:30amthis morning. Yahooo!

Kudos to the entire ctcLink team for makingthis a success. I especially want to acknowledge myClark ctcLink Steering Team members whohave led this extraordinary effort over the past five years:

• Susan Maxwell, myClark ctcLink ProjectDirector
• Sabra Sand, Director of Business Servicesand Financial Management Pillar Lead
• Mirranda Saari, Associate Dean ofEnrollment Services and Registrar and Campus Solution Pillar Lead
• Guisela Eberle, Human Resources AssistantDirector and Human Capital Management Pillar Lead
• Genevieve Howard, Associate Vice Presidentof Instruction and Instructional Lead
• Andy Barsotti, Director of Data Servicesand ITS Lead
• Tanya Kerr, ctcLink Internal Controls andBusiness Analyst (Campus Solutions and Financial Management)
• Jennifer Ward, Program Manager for myClarkctcLink
• Shanda Haluapo, Associate Vice President ofPlanning and Effectiveness and myClark ctcLink Executive Sponsor

In addition to over 30 staff and managerswho spent this weekend validating data to assure the transition was successful.Thank you ALL!

I’mso proud to be part of the Clark team. We’ve got this!!!

Iam grateful to the entire ctcLink team who have been walking us through thismajor undertaking along with SBCTC team. I want to affirm something that ShandaHaluapo said last week in her email to you. She acknowledged that this weekwill be full of rewards and challenges as we learn to do our work differently.She reminded us to have compassion and patience with ourselves and those aroundus, because we all do the best we can do.

We’ll have access to the PeopleSoft systemstarting tomorrow, October 29. You will get an email with the link andinstructions on how to log into the system. People from the State Board forCommunity and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) will be here to help support us in thetransition. We have resources to support your transition. Please review the employee resources.

We also have student resources you can help share withstudents. 

Penguin Pantry Growing

I enjoyed attended the second anniversaryopen house at the Clark College Penguin Pantry.

It provides students with a safe,comfortable place to get something to eat, pick up a necessity, and connectwith additional resources and services such as counseling, public benefits,community food banks and other resources. There’s a great article in the Indythis month about the pantry and its growth on the campus. Thanks to studentreporter Sandra Fachiol for the story: “Clark’s food pantry strives to reduce student hunger.”

Alsoa very special thank you to the Penguin Pantry program assistant, EstanciaCota. As the Penguin Pantry founding staff member, she is passionate aboutholistically meeting students’ needs and understands the larger role that thePenguin Pantry plays in success, retention and completion. Her work andcommitment to the Penguin Pantry makes a positive difference in the lives ofour students. Here’s the link to find out more abouthow you can help and how you can help connect our students with the PenguinPantry. Estanciaand student/volunteer Megaera Jarvis presented at the Board of Trustees meetingthat evening on the impact the pantry has made on our students who areexperiencing food insecurity. 

Enrollment Update

Fromthe first day of fall quarter to census day, 281 students left the college,representing more than 100 FTES. A quarter (25%) of these students were droppedfor nonpayment. The students who left were more likely to be low income,employed, first generation, and students of color. How can we, as acollege, work together to support these students before they silently leave? 

Employee GivingCampaign

Thereare many ways to support students with your time, effort and resources. Just areminder the Foundation has launched its annual Employee Giving Campaign. Youcan choose where your donation goes and you can help make sure we get a $5,000corporate match for Penguin Pantry.

Visitthe foundation’s Employee Giving website for more details and to make yoursecure online donation: www.clarkcollegefoundation.org/campaign/ways-to-give/employee-giving

Asan added incentive, the department with the highest giving participation willwin a catered meal from Clark College Foundation.

Youalso have an opportunity to give to the Phi Theta Kappa Thanksgiving BasketFundraiser. Each year the Penguin community is asked to make cash donations tohelp buy items for a Thanksgiving dinner for our students in need. The dinnerincludes a 10-14 pound turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, greenbeans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and a pie. Cash and check donations canbe accepted at the Cashier’s Office until Friday, November 22. This year’s goalis to raise $3,000 to provide 100 Thanksgiving dinners, with your help.

Reflections fromthis past week

This past week was filled with inspiringpresentations and learning about Clark. At the Students with DisabilitiesLuncheon, Alyssa Voyles shared her personal journey and inspired us all withher courage.

At the Board of Trustees work session weheard four students who were nominated to represent Clark College for theWashington Transforming Lives Award. Jorge Maravilla was selected by the Boardto represent Clark College. His journey as a student began 2015 in the HighSchool 21+ program and he earned a Certificate of Proficiency in SupervisoryManagement. He shared a very moving story of how his life has been transformedby attending Clark College.

In addition, the Board of Trustees heardfrom two amazing faculty about their recent sabbaticals at their work session.Jill Darley-Vanis and Erin Staples each shared their sabbatical experience andthe projects that were a result of having time to dive deep into a subject. Iwas inspired to hear the impact of their projects on teaching and learning atClark. And, Samuel May-Varas was the Faculty Speaker with welding/machiningstudent, Gloria Razinski, at this month’s Board of Trustees meeting, presentingon the Welding I-BEST Program.

I wrapped up the week continuing my“Listening Tour” at the CLASS Unit meeting. I appreciated hearing their passionfor serving students in the Library, Tutoring, and TLC, and everyone’s candorin sharing the challenges they are facing.

I was honored speak at the FoundationScholarship Reception. The O’Connell Sports Center was filled with donors,event sponsors, scholarship recipients and their support team, families andloved ones celebrating our students who are on promising pathways. TalentedClark musicians (Colin Hunt, Ian Engelsman and Riley Lyons) entertained thegroup and ASCC President Evans Kaame shared his extraordinary journey to ClarkCollege.

Finally, I’ve walked 120,971 steps this Walktober around the college and on the weekends in my neighborhood. Keep on walking, Penguin Nation!