Tomorrow I will be off to Albany to take part in meetings over the next three days. The first is an orientation session that SUNY is putting on for new presidents. I’m not exactly “new” but each time I find there is a lot new to learn, so I’m looking forward to all ten presentations between noon Wednesday and mid-day Thursday. The presenters include SUNY’s best minds on topics such as legal issues, finance, academic program review and approval, and student life issues along with presentations by the Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges, Dennis Golladay and a dinner with System Leadership. The orientation program will conclude with visits to the State Capitol and meetings with Senate and Assembly higher education committee staff members.
At the conclusion of SUNY’s effort to orient us, I will be joining my presidential colleagues at the fall meeting of community college presidents. Like each of my colleagues, I’m looking forward to sharing some of the good news about Fall ’09 on this campus and hearing presentations on some of the key issues facing all of us. This meeting will also include a visit with Chancellor Zimpher where I’m confident we will hear more positive words about our favorite higher educational institutions, community colleges, and SUNY’s Strategic Plan.
As I head out for a couple of days, I also want to express my thanks to Chair Rossi and members of the College Council for the opportunity to share some thoughts yesterday about issues I feel are worthy of the Council’s attention and more importantly, to get from Council members some frank and valuable input regarding campus facilities’ issues important to our entire college community.
Please be on the lookout for an announcement from Kelli Ligeikis and team members who have agreed to take on a Fast Forward initiative designed to insure that this important partnership with area schools is the best that it can be – for BCC and the students we are serving!
And likewise, a thank you to Gregg Talley and his soon-to-be named team members for heading up a look at the Presidential Honors Program. Again, this is an effort to be sure another of Broome’s important programs is positioned to get a maximum return for students, the College and the BCC Foundation!
Lastly, I hope that as many of you as possible will help kick-off this year’s United Way campaign. Please stop by Wales 203B on Thursday, anytime between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Rhoda Neal is this year’s coordinator and she is enthusiastic and committed. Let’s give her lots of support, be as generous as possible to a great cause, and thank you Rhoda.
Sincerely, Dr. John Deans
