Sharon Blackman, Ed.D.
As the winter season seems to have finally arrived, so has the Spring ’07 semester. After an icy start and with the extension of the registration period, it seems that this was advantageous for our enrollment. Although the certified numbers are not yet in, it looks as though enrollment will be close to where we were last year or slightly higher. This is due to the hard work and dedication of our college employees, especially those working in Building S. Thanks to all of you who worked three Saturdays in a row to help our students begin and continue their education. Your willingness to sacrifice personal time is greatly appreciated.
Congratulations, once again, to all of our nominees and award winners. Special thanks to each of you who helped to celebrate the achievements of your co-workers in the Brookhaven Emerald Awards style. Good fun was had by all! It was great to see the talent I have heard about from so many of you; indeed, we do have a great many talented individuals on our campus. What a pleasant surprise to see the depth of talent that is hidden throughout our college. Each year we say it cannot be better and each year is better than the last. Make sure you support our Brookhaven winners at the District Conference Day, on Feb. 22.
I recently returned from attending the Achieve the Dream Strategy Institute with seven other colleagues from Brookhaven, where we met with 58 other community college teams and funding sponsors from across the country. The Institute is designed for teams to share information about what strategies are being developed and implemented to help colleges address student success. As one of the Round One colleges, Brookhaven was asked to share information about one of its strategies in the developmental area. Doris Rousey, dean of Mathematics and Science, and Kathleen Long, professor, presented a workshop with Mountain Empire Community College, Virginia, titled “Thinking Differently About Developmental Math.”
The Brookhaven Mathematics Department continues to strive to create a successful experience for students enrolled in developmental mathematics. This past fall students enrolled in a developmental math course also were enrolled in a linked human development class focused on educational success strategies. The creation of this learning community is one of several actions being implemented throughout our college. Speaking of ATD, you are invited to a special forum Feb. 15 at 4 p.m., in Room B304 with our ATD Coach Augie Gallego. The forum will be an informal discussion among college employees and our coach to answer questions, to gain insight and hear suggestions about the continuing implementation of college success strategies for our students.
The success of our programs also is receiving recognition from national organizations. The Community Colleges Futures Assembly annually recognizes innovative and outstanding programs in three categories: Instructional Services and Programs, Workforce Education, and Planning Governance and Finance. Brookhaven’s Geospatial Technology Program was one of five selected for consideration for the famed Bellwether Award in the Workforce Education category. Each applicant selected for consideration is required to do a presentation at the assembly. “From Road Kill to Spatial Data Visualization: A Journey of Community, College and Industry Engagement” was the title of the application and presentation made at the assembly. Although Brookhaven did not win, congratulations to team members Marilyn Kolesar-Lynch, associate vice president; Diane Brownlee, director of the EMGI; Doris Rousey, and Scott Sires, professor. The winner of the workforce category was Temple College, Temple, Texas, for their program called “The Central Texas Biotechnology Education-to-Employment Model: The Texas Bioscience Institute.” Once again, congratulations to the Brookhaven team on a job well done!
The District is in the process of conducting what can be described as a “mini self-study” as it seeks reaffirmation of it member status with the League of Innovation. Anytime the CEO of a college/district changes with a member institution, it is required to re-apply for membership status. This mini self-study report is an opportunity for the district to examine and showcase (a) the wide range of innovative and experimental programs and (b) the commitment to innovation. Chancellor’s Cabinet is in the process of gathering information from all colleges and sites based on 10 topic areas. These topic areas are as folllows:
If you have suggestions on additional topics or activities that could be listed under any of the 10 topics, please send them to me. Any activities should have two or three sentences describing the activity for each example. I am requesting that you send this information to me no later than Thursday, Feb. 8. Many activities are being conducted throughout the college and this is a good time for us to highlight some of Brookhaven’s innovations. Please take a few minutes to submit your events today.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this lengthy column. There was much to share and acknowledge as we move into the beginning of a new semester.
