Sharon Blackman, Ed.D.
This week marks the half-way point for the fall semester and thus far it has been busy! Faculty members continue to demonstrate their skills and talents in performances and exhibitions, students are engaged in discussions with presenters in the Student Leadership Institute and the Women in Politics programs, our championship Lady Bears volleyball team is striving for a three-peat and basketball season is just around the corner. The new student government representatives have been elected and students have made commitments to participate in student organizations, such as the Rotaract and Phi Theta Kappa.
Student learning is taking place not only inside the classroom, but outside too. We continue to work toward fulfilling our mission - dedication to student success. The work from September’s AI Summit has been compiled and our next step is to craft our vision. This beginning work will be done by a 15-member vision team that will be responsible for drafting the Brookhaven College vision statement from the work that we did at the summit. Each member will be chosen from the more than 60 employees who volunteered to participate in the next step.
The draft version of the vision statement will then be presented to the college community before it is adopted by the college. Next, we will focus on crafting our college goals, which also will be done by members of the college, many of whom volunteered at the summit. After that is completed, then we will set forth to develop our strategic objectives to reach our college goals. It will take all of us working together to accomplish this work. I have no doubt that you are up to the challenge and willing to participate in this charge.
There were two issues that came through loudly and clearly from the work that we did at the summit. First, there is interest in recreating the experience of arena registration. Therefore, I’m asking for volunteers to serve on a task force that will develop arena registration with a 21st century twist. The second issue is to revive the college’s feeling of community. Again, I’m looking for those who might be interested in being on a team to develop activities that will help build the sense of community through socialization and fun. This team might look at something such as on-campus happy hours (without the booze) or picnics or other such activities. It will be up to the team to be creative and plan some fun things for the college. So, if you think you would like to participate in either one of these teams, just send me an e-mail or contact Carrie Schweitzer.
You are very aware that our focus this year is on student retention. We need everyone to participate in the upcoming “Take Care of Business Week” scheduled for Oct. 23-27. Please encourage students to talk with their instructors, see an advisor, take the classes needed to graduate, get a certificate, complete the Core, or transfer and so forth. It all begins with each of us encouraging students to set goals and take the necessary steps to reach their goals. If you need TCoB fliers for your office or division area, contact the Marketing and Public Information Office. Information is also available on the front page of our Internet site.
I would like to close with a reminder and a request - one for SECC and the other about student success stories. We have only a couple of weeks before our annual SECC campaign ends and I want to thank those of you who already have donated. The SECC team continues to do a fantastic job with the campaign, and I want to thank them for their work too. Brookhaven College was the fourth largest contributor to the Dallas area campaign and I know we will be in the top five this year because of your generosity. If you have not donated yet, please make your contribution now. I would also like to ask every employee to pass along to me at least one student success story so that I can share your good news as a source of inspiration for others. We can use your years of experience with determined students who overcame the odds against them in their educational pursuits to lift current students who may be struggling. Tell me about those students and what they did to achieve success, so that others might learn from their lessons.
Keep up the good work - tell me about it - and let's continue on the path to success as we help students “Achieve Their Dreams.”
