[Coffee with the CEO Featuring Dr. May ]
[00:00:06]
ALWAYS ENJOY COFFEE WITH THE CEO.
SO I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF TODAY'S PROGRAM.
>> OH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING AND FOR BEING A GREAT PARTNER.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS AND OUR PARTNERS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE BEGINNING WITH DALLAS COLLEGE, TOYOTA, GROUP O, ESTRADA AND THE REGI CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND THE SOUTHEAST DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS INFORMING OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT SAID, DR. MAY, GOOD MORNING.
FOR ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T KNOW ME, I'M RICK ORTIZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER VIRTUAL COFFEE WITH THE CEOS.
OUR GREAT GUEST IS OUR PARTNER DR. JOE MAY, WHO HAS DONE GREAT THINGS AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE HAVING AND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS HAVING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND WORKING THROUGH THAT.
AND OBVIOUSLY, WORKING TOWARDS A BETTER TOMORROW.
SO DR. MAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
I KNOW YOU RECENTLY TOOK ON A MAJOR REORGANIZATION EFFORT AND NAME CHANGE FROM DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DISTRICT TO DALLAS COLLEGE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE MOTIVATING FACTORS AND EFFECTS THIS WILL HAVE ON THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY?
I HAVE TO SAY WE DIDN'T UNDERTAKE THE CHANGE LIGHTLY.
WE ALSO DIDN'T PLAN ON A PANDEMIC OCCURRING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AS WE BEGAN TO WORK ON THE TRANSITION.
I THINK WE SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK ON THE CHANGE ONE DAY AFTER WE HELD A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING BACK IN MARCH TO GO REMOTELY AND TO WORK -- FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SERVE STUDENTS AND KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE SERVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 54 YEARS NOW.
AND THE SCHEME OF -- YOU KNOW, SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME.
IN THE SCHEME OF HIGHER EDUCATION, THAT'S STILL RELATIVELY YOUNG.
AND THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS IN DALLAS COUNTY THAT HAVE A LONGER HISTORY THAN US.
BUT YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOKED AT HOW WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT STUDENTS AND THOSE OF THE FUTURE, WE REALIZED IT WAS REALLY A TIME FOR THE CHANGE.
THAT THE -- YOU KNOW, SOME FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES.
WHEN WE WERE STARTED, ONLY 25% OF THE POPULATION NEEDED A POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL.
TODAY OVER 65% OF THE POPULATION OF DALLAS COUNTY NEEDS SOME TYPE OF POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL.
WHETHER IT BE A CERTIFICATE, ASSOCIATE DEGREE, BACHELOR'S DEGREE, MASTER'S, POST-GRADUATE, WHATEVER THAT IS, YOU CANNOT GET A JOB TODAY IN SO MANY AREAS WITHOUT THOSE CREDENTIALS.
AND THAT'S A BIG SHIFT AND A BIG CHANGE.
SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AS THAT NEED HAS GROWN, WE HAVE SEVEN COLLEGES.
EACH OF THEM FOLLOWING THEIR OWN AGENDA.
EACH OF THEM WORKING SEPARATELY WITH THEIR ACREDITOR AND EACH WITH A SEPARATE PLAN.
IT TURNS OUT OUR STUDENTS STOPPED VIEWING THEM AS SEPARATE.
AND IN FACT, WE HAD LITERALLY THOUSANDS -- TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR GOING TO MULTIPLE OF OUR COLLEGES AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THAT'S A GOOD THING, RICK.
THAT MEANS THE FOLKS ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
BUT YET WE WE DISCOVERED REALLY BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2019, THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAD COMPLETED ALL THEIR WORK AND DONE EVERYTHING NEEDED TO EARN THEIR DEGREE, BUT COULDN'T GRADUATE BECAUSE OF AN ACREDITOR'S TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT THEY HAVE AT LEAST 25% OF CLASSES FROM A SINGLE INSTITUTION.
YOU CAN IMAGINE, RICK, THAT YOU PAY FOR YOUR CLASSES.
YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING, AND NOW, YOU GET READY TO APPLY,S AND SOMEBODY SAYS OOPS, YOU CAN'T GRADUATE.
AND GUESS WHAT? IF YOU WANT WITH US YOU HAVE TO TAKE MORE CLASSES.
[00:05:02]
WELL, IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.WE SAW IT THAT WAY AS A REAL BARRIER TO STUDENTS AND STUDENT SUCCESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IMAGINE LIKE BUYING A CAR AND GETTING READY AND SAYING, YEAH, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU HAVE THE TITLE BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T MEET ONE OF THE CRITERIAS HERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE PAID FOR IT AND DONE EVERYTHING.
WELL, BY THE WAY, I APPRECIATE TRUSTEE AND CHAIR DEANNA FLORES, WHO OF COURSE IS PART OF THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER AND WENT TO THE BOARD AND EXPLAINED WHY WE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS MOVE.
AS OF JUNE 12TH, THE ACREDITOR AGREED WITH THE MOVE, AND WE'RE NOW DALLAS COLLEGE.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT AT LEAST FOR ME THAT THE -- YOU KNOW, AFTER -- AND NOT JUST MY TIME AT -- HERE AT DALLAS.
MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER I'VE REFERRED TO THE INSTITUTIONS HERE AT THE DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE HARD TO CHANGE.
IT TURNED OUT IT'S EASIER THAN I THOUGHT FOR ME.
SO HOPEFULLY, IT'S EASY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND FOLKS WILL, EVEN WITH THE NEW NAME, WILL REMEMBER WHO WE ARE, AND THE GREAT SERVICES WE'VE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> SO JUST -- THAT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT ABOUT THE STUDENTS.
SEE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THAT.
BASICALLY BECAUSE EACH OF THE COLLEGES WAS INDIVIDUAL -- THEY WERE ACCREDITED EACH INDIVIDUALLY, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PART OF THE DISTRICT, IT MEANT ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO GET A DEGREE HAD TO GET IT FROM ONE COLLEGE ONLY? OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL CLASSES IF THEY MIXED IT AROUND WITH THE OTHER ONES?
AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, SOME STUDENTS THAT WORKED JUST FINE FOR THEM.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH MANY OF OUR CAMPUSES THAT THEY OFFER DIFFERENT DEGREES.
EL CENTRO HAS DIFFERENT FROM CEDAR VALLEY, DIFFERENT FROM RICHMOND.
IF YOU LIVE IN ONE PART OF THE CITY OR COUNTY, BUT THE DEGREE THAT YOU WANT IS ONLY OFFERED AT CEDAR VALLEY OR RICHLAND OR EL CENTRO, YOU HAVE TO GO THERE FOR SOME OF YOUR CLASSES.
BUT IF YOU'RE CLOSER, SAY, TO NORTHLAKE, THEN, WHY AM I DRIVING OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERY COURSE? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I'M GOING TO PICK UP WHAT I CAN HERE AT THIS OTHER COLLEGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN IRONIC IN SOME WAYS THAT IT WAS OUR OWN FLEXIBILITY ON ONE HAND MARR INFLEXIBILITY OF AN ACREDITOR ON THE OTHER THAT THAT CREATED THE PROBLEM FOR STUDENTS.
>> WELL, I APPLAUD YOU FOR PRIORITIZING THAT.
AND SPEAKING OF THE STUDENTS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO INFORM THEM? AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MOVE TO ONE COLLEGE, ONE MISSION? AND HOW HAS EVERYBODY REACTED? HAS IT BEEN GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE? IF
>> YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, IF THERE'S BEEN ANY NEGATIVE REACTION, I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD IT.
I THINK FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, THEY WERE GOING, WELL, WE KIND OF ALREADY THOUGHT IT WAS THAT WAY.
WHICH WAS WHY THAT WAS A PROBLEM FOR STUDENTS, BECAUSE I MEAN, WE LITERALLY HAD OUT OF OUR 82 THOUSAND CREDIT STUDENTS, 24 THOUSAND OF THEM TREATING THIS ALREADY LIKE WE WERE A SINGLE COLLEGE EACH TERM.
SO FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW, MANY OF THEM WERE JUST SURPRISED THAT IT WASN'T ALREADY THE CASE.
THAT THINGS -- YOU COULD TAKE EVERYWHERE AND MOVE SEAMLESSLY, WHICH OF COURSE WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS OUT THERE.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, FOLKS HAVE BEEN GREAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO ASK YOU THAT QUESTION, RICK.
HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT NEW NAME EVEN THOUGH WE'RE THE SAME GREAT PLACE THAT WE'VE PREVIOUSLY BEEN?
>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT IT AT ALL.
I REMEMBER WHEN IT STARTED WHEN YOU DID THE TRANSITION, I THINK WE WERE DOING AN EVENT WITH YOU GUYS.
I THINK THE ONLY CHALLENGE WAS MAKING SURE WE HAD THE RIGHT LOGO AT THE RIGHT TIME.
[00:10:01]
TERMS OF INFORMING US.I DON'T THINK WE HEARD ANYTHING NEGATIVE, YOU KNOW.
SO THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THE GREAT WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AND THAT BEING SAID, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OTHER CHALLENGE -- WELL, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY YOU'VE TAKEN ON.
LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IT CAME AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSE? WHAT HAVE YOU ALL BEEN DOING -- WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC? AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE STUDENTS? AND HOW HAS DALLAS COLLEGE WORKED TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE?
>> YEAH, AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST, MODIFY, RE-THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
IN THAT SENSE, WE'RE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WHERE YOU NOW, THIS IS REMOTE.
YOU SAID IN THE PAST, THIS WAS HELD OFTEN AT THE CENTER WITH THE CEO WITH COFFEE.
LIKE YOU, WE'VE QUICKLY PIVOTED TO A DIGITAL LEARNING MODEL FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.
THE GOOD NEWS FOR US IS THAT WE WERE ALREADY ALMOST 30% ONLINE, LEARNING WITH OUR STUDENTS.
ABOUT 40% WERE TAKING ONLINE COURSES IN PURSUIT OF THEIR DEGREE.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT WASN'T NEW.
BUT THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT IT'S JUST EASIER TO DO ONLINE THAN OTHERS.
I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT, HISTORY IS A LOT EASIER THAN WELDING TO DO REMOTELY AND ONLINE.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY BACK IN MARCH.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET 99.6 OF OUR CLASSES REMOVED TO REMOTE.
AND WE KNEW THAT THAT WASN'T GOING TO WORK LONG-TERM BECAUSE PARTICULAR CAREER PROGRAMS. SO WE DID BRING BACK A NUMBER OF THEM IN-PERSON THIS FALL.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE RESURGENCE, WE'RE BACK IN A REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND THE -- YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE REALLY SAW THAT FROM, THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE SURPRISING TO YOU, RICK.
YOU ARE AWARE OF CERTAINLY MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THOSE COMING OUT OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THEY FACE BARRIERS EVERY DAY.
BARRIERS TO EDUCATION, BARRIERS TO A JOB, BARRIERS TO STARTING A NEW BUSINESS.
AND WE KNEW THAT GOING IN, BUT WHAT REALLY HAS HAPPENED WITH THE PANDEMIC AND OUR STUDENTS IS THAT IT'S REALLY SHONE A BIG SPOTLIGHT ON THE BARRIERS, THE PROBLEMS, THE CHALLENGES SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY FACE EVERY DAY.
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS FOR SOME, IT'S PROVEN INSURMOUNTABLE IN THE SHORT RUN.
SO WE HAD TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND LOOK AT HOW WE TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS, KNOWING THAT IN SOME CASES, THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST WITH FACE-TO-FACE, PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT -- I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE FOR ME TRYING TO TIE WITH ONE HAND BEHIND MY BACK, AND DO IT BUT IT'S HARDER.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WHERE WE'VE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS PROCESS.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT I REALIZE IS THAT THE NEW MODEL THAT WE WERE PROPOSING FOR DALLAS COLLEGE WAS ACTUALLY MUCH BETT PANDEMIC-TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT THAN OUR OLD MODEL OF SEVEN COLLEGES.
SO VERY QUICKLY AFTER LITERALLY ONLY FOUR DAYS OF WATCHING HOW CHAOTIC THINGS WERE IN TERMS OF SERVING STUDENTS, THAT I IMMEDIATELY MOVED TO PUT IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT WE REALLY WEREN'T GOING TO DO UNTIL MUCH, MUCH LATER IN THE YEAR.
WE PROBABLY MOVED THIS UP SIX MONTHS WITH THE PANDEMIC, SO THAT WE HAD ONE PERSON LOOKING AFTER OUR PROGRAMS AND THE STRUCTURE.
ONE PERSON OVERSEEING AND ENSURING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY NOW IS ROLLED OUT TO BE THE PROVOSE AND VICE
[00:15:05]
CHANCELLOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS.WE REALIZE WE HAD TO BE MORE COORDINATED.
ONE PLACE WAS ANNOUNCING THEY WERE CANCELLING CLASSES AND GOING REMOTELY.
AND ANOTHER PLACE SAYING, NOPE.
AND OUR STUDENTS GOING TO BOTH PLACES.
HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? SO, RICK, I DO WANT TO MAYBE DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER, BECAUSE WE REALLY COULD USE YOUR HELP HERE AS WELL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS.
AND WE -- FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO -- UNFORTUNATELY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID THEY HAD TO BE TITLE IV ELIGIBLE, WHICH MEANS THEY'VE COMPLETED A FAST ROUTE.
THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID.
WE'VE GOT RESOURCES THAT COULD HELP THEM FIX THEIR CARS.
IF THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT OR KEEP THEIR ELECTRICITY ON, WE CAN HELP WITH THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST ASSUME THAT AS A COLLEGE, YES, WE CARE ABOUT TEXTBOOKS AND LEARNING MATERIALS, AND WE CARE ABOUT TUITION AND THOSE THINGS.
BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE RECOURSES TO HELP WHAT WE CALL THE OVERALL WRAP-AROUND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.
THOSE THINGS THAT CROP UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
AS PART OF THE FEDERAL C.A.R.E.S.
ACT, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND YOU WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESS PART WORSE IN THE PPP PROGRAM AS WELL, THERE WAS A BLOCK OF MONEY THAT GAVE US ABOUT $9 MILLION JUST TO HELP STUDENTS WITH THESE SORTS OF EMERGENCY THINGS THERE.
AND WE COMBINED THAT WITH OUR OWN EMERGENCY AID THAT WE ALREADY RAISED PRIVATE DOLLARS FOR AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS.
BUT WE'VE SEEN SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS OCCUR WITH STUD POPULATIONS SURGING IN ENROLLMENT, ACTUALLY GROWING.
WHILE OTHERS DRAMATIC DECLINES.
AND PARTICULARLY STUDENTS THAT HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT WERE IMPACTED BY WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE SCHOOLS.
BUT MORE DISTURBING, RICK, AND I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
MINORITY MALES, FRANKLY, WHITE MALES, HISPANIC, AFRICAN AMERICAN, ALL WERE IMPACTED.
BUT CERTAINLY HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN TO AN EVEN GREATER EXTENT THAN OTHER MALE POPULATIONS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO THIS OUTREACH ALONE.
WE'RE ENLISTING CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, OTHERS TO HELP WITH THIS.
BUT KNOW THAT YOU GUYS CARE A LOT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP ON THE OUTREACH.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.
THESE COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR YOU MENTIONED, AND TALKED ABOUT.
I KNOW IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WE'VE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE AFFECTS OF COVID ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
THAT BEING SAID, YOU ALSO MENTIONED CHILDREN AND YOU MENTIONED THE SCHOOLS.
YOU HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH DALLAS ISD.
YOU WORK ON THEM WITH MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS IN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
HOW HAS THAT COVID-19 RESPONSE BEEN GOING? HOW DOES THAT WORK AS FAR AS THAT RELATIONSHIP? BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'VE HAD TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS, CAN TOO, RIGHT?
AND A LOT OF FOLKS AREN'T AWARE OF THE -- THEY KNOW WE HAVE THESE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS.
THEY'VE PAIRED OF PATHWAYS AND TECHNOLOGY.
OUR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH AGAIN JUST HAD SEVERAL OF THEM NAMED NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS THIS PAST YEAR.
BUT THIS FALL, RIGHT NOW, AS WE'RE SPEAKING WE HAVE OVER 30 THOUSAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE CLASSES WITH THE DALLAS COLLEGE.
SO THAT -- THAT'S 82 THOUSAND STUDENTS OVERALL.
AND IT REALLY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING EQUITY AND MEETING THOSE NEEDS.
I WANT TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE WHY THE PARTNERSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT AND WHY WE NEED TO PAY ATHENS TO THEM.
THIS PAST MAY, AFTER THE PANDEMIC STARTED, WE HAD 2
[00:20:05]
THOUSAND 66 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN DALLAS COUNTY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE AT THE SAME TIME.OF THAT POPULATION, USING THE STANDARD DATA AND STATISTICS THAT WE SEE, ONLY 23 OF THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN PREDICTED TO GO ON AND EARN A POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL.
2 THOUSAND 066 VERSUS ONLY 23 WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION.
THAT'S WHY GETTING ENGAGED EARLY IN HIGH SCHOOL MATTERS BECAUSE WE CAN'T PROVIDE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THE STUDENTS NEED ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
WE CAN HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION.
BUT WE CAN'T PROVIDE THREE MEALS A DAY.
WE CAN'T PROVIDE DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION.
AND THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING ALL THAT IN MANY CASES FOR THESE STUDENTS.
SO THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PTEC THAT'S NOT JUST SOME PROGRAM OVER THERE.
THIS IS LIFE CHANGING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THOSE IS THAT THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE SERVING IN THOSE PROGRAMS PERFECTLY MIRROR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
MEANING, THAT WHATEVER THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE IN THAT COMMUNITY ARE REFLECTED IN THE GRADUATES AND THE STUDENTS ENROLLED.
MEANING, WE'RE PREPARING A WHOLE NEW GENERATION.
AND THE PACT THAT WE'RE PRODUCING, TURNING NON-HIGH SCHOOL, IN MANY CASE GRADUATES INTO GRADUATES AND INTO COLLEGE GRADUATES AT THE SAME TIME, IS A GAME CHANGER FOR NOT ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS BUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO THANKS FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT.
AND WHICH IS WHY WE -- AS I'VE TOLD THE DOCTOR, YOU TELL US HOW WE NEED TO ALIGN WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU GUYS WITH OVER 100 THOUSAND STUDENTS, ARE THE 800-POUND GORILLA.
AND WE WANT TO ALIGN TO SUPPORT THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE LITERALLY LOCKED TOGETHER IN THIS COLLABORATIVE.
AND ONE OTHER THING THAT WE WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY IT'S ANOTHER BIG UNDERTAKING DALLAS COLLEGE HAS TAKEN ON.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 2019.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SORT OF NOT BEEN VERY MUCH IN THE HEADLINES.
THAT'S BECAUSE -- WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE $1.1 BILLION BOND PACKAGE FOR DALLAS COLLEGE FROM 2019.
AND IT HASN'T BEEN -- IT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED VERY MUCH.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THAT IS.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A LEGAL CHALLENGE SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION.
AND BOY, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR ME NOT TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF ANGER AS WELL AS FRUSTRATION OVER THAT.
YOU KNOW, HERE WE SPENT YEARS WORKING WITH OUR BOARD.
FLORES WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THIS PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN THAT WAS RESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR DALLAS COLLEGE AND THE DALLAS COUNTY FOR NOT ONLY NOW BUT WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
I MEAN, WE'RE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS HERE BY INVESTING IN FACILITIES.
IT'S NOT JUST THE $1.1 BILLION BOND PACKAGE THAT WAS THERE.
THAT WAS LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES, INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE THAT WEREN'T EVEN PART OF THE BOND PACKAGE.
AS WELL AS INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, 71% OF THE VOTERS ENDORSED THAT, VOTED FOR IT, APPROVED IT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, A GROUP WANTED TO CIRCUMVENT THE VOTERS, UNDERMINE THE INTENT OF THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS COUNTY.
AND FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ELECTION.
[00:25:04]
NOT AGAINST THE BOND.AND CLAIMING SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD NATIONALLY.
YOU KNOW, THEIR PRIMARY CLAIM IS VOTER FRAUD.
THAT SOMEHOW THAT 53 THOUSAND VOTERS, WHICH IS THE NUMBER THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE OVERTURNED, DIDN'T REALLY VOTE AND SUPPORT THE BOND PACKAGE.
THAT WAS WHOM HOW, WHETHER IT BE RUSSIANS, WHETHER IT BE SOMEBODY ELSE, HIJACKED THE ELECTION.
THAT THE CASE IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN JUDGE STOKES COURT.
AND I'M DISMAYED AT QUITE HONESTLY, RICK, THAT IT'S GETTING -- THE HEARING THAT IT IS, GIVEN THAT THERE'S NOT YET BEEN ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE PRODUCED OF EVEN A SINGLE VOTE HAVING BEEN FRAUDULENTLY CAST.
AND WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ON IT, I'LL JUST SHARE PART OF MY FRUSTRATION.
IS NORMALLY -- AND SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE NATIONAL THINGS AS WELL THAT WE SEE TAKING PLACE.
THERE THEY AT LEAST ASK FOR A RECOUNT AND ASK TO AUDIT THE VOTING MACHINES.
NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS WERE DONE HERE, WHICH IS NORMALLY WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTION.
LET'S GO BACK AND RECOUNT THE VOTES.
SO WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THAT.
AND OBVIOUSLY, I'M A LITTLE MORE THAN BIAS IN TERMS OF MY OPINION OF IT.
>> WITH 71% OF THE VOTES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE COME UP, OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TO EVEN GET A LEGITIMATE HEARING TO TURN THIS OVER.
AND WE'RE ALREADY 18 MONTHS DELAYED.
AND THIS SHOULD BE -- SO I APPRECIATE THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS JUMPING ON THIS EARLY.
WE'VE HAD FOLKS REACH OUT AS RECENTLY AS LATE LAST NIGHT TO ME WITH SOME PHONE CALLS.
HOW CAN WE HELP? CAN WE WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, ENCOURAGING THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS? WHAT DO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON? AND I SAID OF COURSE.
WE NEED TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.
THANK YOU FORGIVING US THOSE UPDATES.
AND SO REALLY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE IS BECAUSE THE BOND PACKAGE, 1.1 BILLION DOLLAR BOND PACKAGE WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE BALLOT, AND THAT'S THE BALLOT BEING CONTESTED, IT'S PRETTY MUCH PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD.
UNLESS THIS THING IS RESOLVED IN COURT, WHICH I THINK IT'S IN FEDERAL COURT, CORRECT? IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY -- YOU'RE NOT DIRECTLY THE ONES BEING SUED, BUT YOU'RE DIRECTLY BEING IMPACTED AS A RESULT OF THIS LAWSUIT.
I MEAN, THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT THE PEOPLE ELECTED NEEDED TO BE OVERTURNED.
THAT THEY NEEDED TO GO BACK AND DO THE ELECTION FOR THOSE FOLKS.
ONLY THE BOND DID THEY MAKE THIS CLAIM ON IS INVALID.
AGAIN, POINTING TO THE FRIVOLOUS NATURE.
HOW CAN EVERYTHING ELSE THAT OCCURRED IN THAT ELECTION SOMEHOW BE OKAY? BUT THE ONLY FRAUD THAT OCCURRED IN THE ELECTION WAS WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY BOND.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T EVEN PASS A REASONABLE TEST THERE OF JUDGMENT.
BUT IT IS IN THE, YOU KNOW, THE COURT OF APPEALS.
THE COURT OF APPEALS DID RULE AGAINST THEM ON SOME EMERGENCY THINGS THAT THEY TRIED TO DO WITH THAT.
AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE RESOLVED BY MONDAY.
WE LEARNED YESTERDAY THAT THE JUDGE HAS SAID IT WILL NOW BE EXTENDED UNTIL DECEMBER 23RD, WHICH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN -- I UNDERSTAND PART OF THAT IS THEY'RE DOING IT THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW REMOTELY.
THIS IS NOT AN IN-PERSON HEARING.
SO THEY'RE APPARENTLY STRUGGLING WITH TECHNICAL CHALLENGES WITH THAT.
BUT STILL THAT'S JUST ALREADY GONE ON WAY TOO LONG AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.
HOW HAS THAT DELAY AFFECTED DALLAS COLLEGE'S PLANS FOR THE BOND PACKAGE THAT WERE LAID OUT? AND ALSO, HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED AS FAR AS THE FACILITIES? AND WILL THERE NEED TO BE ANY RETHINKING ON SOME OF THAT? COULD YOU? ARE YOU ABLE TO?
>> YEAH, LET ME -- BOTH OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
THE BOND DID NOT DELAY MOST OF OUR EARLY WORK THAT WE WERE DOING.
THE BOARD AGREED TO ALLOW US TO TAP INTO SOME OF OUR RESERVES.
[00:30:02]
WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SHORT-TERM BORROWING.WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY -- WE FELT IN THE WINGS, READY THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
ONCE THE BOND ISSUE IS SETTLED, WE'LL PAY OURSELVES BACK AND USE THAT MONEY FOR OUR DALLAS COLLEGE INITIATIVES GOING FORWARD.
SO WE ARE BUILDING OUT AT THE NORTHLAKE CAMPUS, THE CONSTRUCTION SITES.
BUILDING, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 100,000-SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.
THE WORK IS AT OUR EL CENTRO WEST LOCATION IS ALSO THERE.
AS WELL AS WORK AT CEDAR VALLEY RELATED TO THE HVAC PROGRAM AND THE WORK THERE.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING WITH THAT.
THOUGH, NOT OUR THINKING ON THIS.
AND AS IT RELATES TO THE NEW EL CENTRO COLLEGE AND THE INNOVATION HUB, WHICH IS NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, RICK, THAT WE PUT IN PLACE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO MEET AND PLAN AND THINK ABOUT THESE FACILITIES.
BUT WE ARE -- BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSIVE NATURE OF THE DESIGN OF THAT, THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A YEAR TO 18-MONTH DESIGN PROCESS FOR AT LEAST FOR THE EL CENTRO CAMPUS.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPR 750,000-SQUARE FOOT FACILITIES AND CAMPUS AT A NEW LOCATION DOWNTOWN.
WHICH MEANS THAT WE REALLY CAN'T GET THAT UNDER WAY UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE.
AND WE CAN'T -- DON'T KNOW WHERE UNTIL WE CAN ISSUE AN AUDIT TO FOR A DEVELOPER.
AND WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO HIRE THE DEVELOPER AND KNOW WE'VE GOT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT GOING FORWARD.
SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S REALLY, REALLY DISAPPOINTING AT THIS POINT THAT IT'S ALREADY COST US 18 MONTHS.
WE SHOULD BE RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE AWARDING SOME OF THE INITIAL CONTRACTS ON THE DOWNTOWN DALLAS WORK RIGHT NOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOOKING TO ALMOST 2023 NOW BEFORE WE CAN MAKE THOSE AWARDS AND GET THEM DONE.
ALSO, PART OF YOUR QUESTION, HAS THE PANDEMIC CAUSED US TO RE-THINK? WELL, YES! [LAUGHTER]
AND YOU KNOW, WE KNEW -- WE REALLY DIDN'T ANNOUNCE A LOT OF DETAILS OF PHASE 2 AND PHASE 3.
WE DID A PHASE 1, WHICH WAS $297 MILLION OUT OF THE $1.1 BILLION.
BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
THAT THE NEEDS OF THE WORK FORCE ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THINGS LIKE THE PANDEMIC WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE WE NEED FOR STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS. WE WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT A LONG-TERM SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN WE WERE PLANNING FOR THESE FACILITIES.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE WITH US AWHILE.
I DON'T THINK STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE JAMMED UP IN AN AUDITORIUM NEXT TO EACH OTHER FOR AWHILE.
THEY'RE GOING TO WANT A COUPLE OF SEATS AND SPACE BETWEEN THEM IN THAT PROCESS.
AND WHILE WE WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO SEE MORE REMOTE LEARNING, ONLINE LEARNING, WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS THAT HAVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T LIKE ONLINE LEARNING.
THEY REALLY WANT FACE-TO-FACE.
AND SOME OF THEM SAID WE'RE NOT COMING BACK UNTIL WE CAN SIT IN THE CLASSROOM AND ENGAGE.
SO NOW, WE'VE GOT TO BUILD THOSE CLASSROOMS. BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING WE WANT TO COME BACK, BUT NOT THE WAY IT USED TO BE.
>> NOT JAMMED TOGETHER IN A CLASS.
SO IT ABSOLUTELY HAS IMPACTED THAT.
IT CREATES MORE OPTIONS AND OPPO PARTNERSHIPS THERE.
AND SOME OF IT IS FRANKLY A HEAD-SCRATCHER FOR SOME OF OUR EXISTING FACILITIES THAT WERE BUILT A TIME WHEN WE WEREN'T
[00:35:04]
THINKING ABOUT ANY OF THIS.AND SO YOU KNOW, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE DRIVER IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOS UPDATES.
AND NOW, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT OBVIOUSLY SOME OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE SENT US.
AND REALLY, SORT OF FOLLOWS UP ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, WHICH IS THE BOND PROGRAM.
AND YOU MENTIONED THE AWARDS AND HOW THOSE ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
AND EARLIER, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19.
SO NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE BUSINESSES THAT WE REPRESENT, THAT WE SERVE, THAT WE SUPPORT ARE ASKING AND WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THE MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PARTICIPATION LOOK LIKE GOING INTO THE AWARDS? AND AS FAR AS, IS THAT GOING TO BE A PRIORITY? ONE OF THE MEMBERS -- THE QUESTION, THERE'S THE SENSE YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THIS.
AND YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT MANY, MANY TIMES, I KNOW.
THEY'RE ASKING WHAT IS BEING DONE SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE NUMBERS TO IMPROVE AND AT LEAST BE CONSISTENT?
>> WELL, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO ASK THAT QUESTION TO MAKE SURE AT ALL LEVELS OF OUR ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A PRIORITY OF THE BOARD.
HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW, WE HAD 71% VOTER APPROVAL, AND I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THAT.
IT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SERVE ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, RACE, COLOR, BACKGROUND, SO FORTH THAT'S THERE.
BUT WE ALSO REALIZE WE HAVE BOTH I THINK AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY BUT ALSO MORE OF A MISSION RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ENABLING, SUPPORTING, ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION FROM ALL AREAS.
RICK, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
THERE'S REALLY, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO DALLAS COLLEGE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP SUPPORT AND GROW AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SUCCESSFUL.
THAT MEANS ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL.
AND THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS TO GROW GDP, WHICH MEANS MORE FOLKS GET TO PARTICIPATE.
WE INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE WORK FORCE, OR WE INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE WORK FORCE.
PART OF THE BOND CAN OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO BOTH IN SOME WAYS.
THE SECOND RESPONSIBILITY FOR DALLAS COLLEGE IS TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES PROSPER.
I MEAN, BY THAT, ARE WE HELPING THEM GROW AND CREATE WEALTH? BECAUSE IT'S ONLY BY CREATING MORE WEALTH AMONG OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE CREATE MORE JOBS AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE BUSINESSES WANTING TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY THEY WANT TO DO IT.
IT'S REALLY TO NOT ONLY HELP THEMSELVES, BUT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE A GREATER IMPACT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE THAT WE BROUGHT IN THE BURRELL GROUP TO HELP US TAKE A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE'RE DOING BUSINESS.
AND THEY CAME BACK WITH A REAL REALITY CHECK ON US.
AND SAY WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER.
WE NEED TO DO SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST.
AND IT'S NOT JUST, THOUGH, RICK, A DESIRE TO MEET THE NEEDS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
AND AGAIN, YOU'VE BEEN GREAT AT COMMUNICATING WITH ME DIRECTLY ON THIS.
SAYING, HEY, JOE, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW PEOPLE ARE PERCEIVING THIS.
MENT HOW PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THIS.
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, BUT HERE'S HOW IT'S BEING LOOKED AT AND UNDERSTOOD OVER HERE.
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST NEED THAT FROM YOU AND YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERS AND OTHER PARTNERS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE.
THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING THE BARRIERS.
AND SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS WE KNOW.
YOU KNOW, BEING CERTIFIED AS A MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS.
AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SUPPORT AND HELP WITH THAT.
SOMETIMES OUR OWN BIDDING AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS CAN
[00:40:01]
GET IN THE WAY, AND WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THOSE BARRIERS THAT ARE THERE.BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ALIGN AND WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THOSE NEEDS.
AND PART OF THAT, ON OUR PART, ARE HIRING PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THIS TO BEGIN WITH AND ASSISTING.
IT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH JUST TO HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT CAN RELATE TO THE POPULATIONS.
IT'S HAVING PEOPLE THAT CAN RELATE AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
SO I DON'T SEE US BACKING OFF.
I SEE US DOUBLING DOWN WITH THE BOND.
YOU KNOW, AS WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THE VARIOUS PHASES, THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS EITHER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEN-YEAR OPPORTUNITY OR LONGER WITH A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE.
AND THEN, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING -- THEY JUST PASSED THE BIGGEST BOND IN STATE HISTORY TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND KUDOS TO THE VOTERS AND THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS FOR MAKING THAT.
SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF AREAS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE LEVERAGING EACH OTHER'S RESOURCES THERE FOR AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME REAL OPPORTUNITY COME.
SO, YOU KNOW, KEEP -- MAKE SURE -- YOU KNOW, PUT ME ON SPEED DIAL, RICK.
AND LET ME KNOW WHEN WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION AND SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT ARE GETTING IN THE WAY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, DR. MAY, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE OPEN MINDED AND LISTEN TO THE CHALLENGES.
YOU'VE DONE SO MANY TIMES WITH MYSELF AND OUR PARTNERS, REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION.
JOE MARTINEZ IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES TO THIS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE BOND PROJECTS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A LOT OF THAT PLAY OUT IN AN EQUITABLE FASHION, OBVIOUSLY.
AND THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN.
AND SPEAKING OF WHICH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, THE FOLLOWING ONE IS, AS IT RELATES TO BOND PROJECTS, I GUESS, YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS.
WHAT IS BEING SET UP SO THAT THERE IS A STRONG PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE BOARD CONSISTENTLY IN THOSE PROJECTS WHEN THEY START COMING UP DOWN THE ROAD IN HIGHER NUMBERS?
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REDESIGNING ALL OF OUR MWBE WORK TO REALLY DO A BETTER JOB.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO, AND WE WILL, IS A DISPARITY STUDY SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.
I MEAN, WE'RE GOING CONTINUE OUR WORK OF SUPPORTING BUSINESSES AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
SO NONE OF THAT IS GOING AWAY.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING TO THAT.
WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRUCTURING WITHIN DALLAS COLLEGE AROUND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
WE IN FACT, JUST THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS JUST PUT IN A NEW DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE TO HELP US ESTABLISH GOALS TO FOCUS ON THAT AREA.
WE'VE ALSO ANNOUNCED WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, OUR OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITH OUR FIRST-EVER CHIEF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER COMING ON BOARD AS WELL AS A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE POSITIONS, RICK, IN THE PAST.
AND WE AREN'T DOING THIS JUST TO PUT SOME NAMES AND TITLES OUT THERE.
WE'RE REALLY EMPOWERING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO HELP US BOTH INTERNALLY AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'RE RESTRUCTURING AND REDESIGNING WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MEET THE EXTERNAL NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOS UPDATES.
SPEAKING OF THE PANDEMIC, HAS THAT -- HAS COVID IMPACTED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR DALLAS COLLEGE? THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S IMPACT -- DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
I THINK THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF INVOLVED WITH IT A LITTLE MORE, A COUPLE OF PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE DOING, WE'RE OUT FORBID WITH A NEW STUDENT SYSTEM.
SO THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH -- AND LISTENING TO THE PROPOSALS OF VARIOUS VENDORS ON
[00:45:04]
THESE PROJECTS.AND, YOU KNOW, I AM A LITTLE BIT STRUCK, RICK, BY -- AND I UNDERSTAND.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN EQUAL CHANCE.
BUT SOMETIMES I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR RULES CAN BE A LITTLE BIT RIGID IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE AS WELL FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, PLAYING FAVORITES, DOING SOMETHING THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE ALONG THE WAY.
AND GIVING EVERYONE OPPORTUNITY.
BUT SOMETIMES THE VERY THINGS WE'RE DOING TO INCREASE FAIRNESS AND OFFER OPPORTUNITY THERE, CREATES A BARRIER THAT SOME FIRMS GO -- THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP ME OUT.
THEY BUILT A HURDLE THAT I CAN'T GET OVER.
SO I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE AND WHAT'S IN THE WAY AND HOW ON ONE HAND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAX-PAYOR DOLLARS.
WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING AWAY RESOURCES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, NOT PUTTING IN BARRIERS THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR A SMALL FIRM WITH LIMITED RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE AND COMPETE FOR OUR BUSINESS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS HAPPENING.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET.
I THINK WE STILL HAVE WORK TO BE THERE.
>> AND JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO HELP FROM OUR END AS ALWAYS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO OUR MEMBERS AND ANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT COME UP IN THE PROCESS THAT THEY LET US KNOW, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS WE HAVE FROM ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AS WE'RE COMING UP ON THE END HERE, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS LEFT.
WE HAVE -- WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AS FAR AS THE FACILITIES AND BOND PROGRAM.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE QUESTION IS: WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE COLLEGE SEE FOR 2021 AS IT RELATES TO TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATIVE PROJECTS ET CETERA AND SUSTAINABILITY?
>> YEAH, GREAT QUESTIONS THERE.
SOME OF THOSE ARE REALLY INTERRELATED.
AND I MEAN, YOU DON'T THINK OFTEN ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITAL LEARNING GOING TOGETHER, BUT THEY REALLY DO.
EVERY TIME WE ELIMINATE A HARD COPY, I USUALLY HAVE ONE LYING AROUND HERE, TEXTBOOK IS BEHIND ME.
WHICH YOU CAN'T SEE BY THE WAY.
I PUT THIS UP, SO EVERYBODY KNOWS DALLAS COLLEGE IS OUR NEW NAME.
>> THAT AS PART OF THAT, WE ACTUALLY REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
SO BECOMING -- HAVING MORE DIGITAL LEARNING MATERIALS IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
AND CERTAINLY, IT MEANS THAT WE'RE ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WANT TO USE DIGITAL DEVICES AND LEARNING THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT GROW.
AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE ALSO REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO DRAMATICALLY EXPAND OUR TEXT MESSAGING CAPABILITY.
FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS TODAY, THEY DON'T READ E-MAIL.
E-MAIL IS NOT A TOOL THEY USE.
SO WE PARTNERED WITH A COMPANY THAT IS -- YOU MENTIONED AI.
MUCH THAT IS USING -- ALLOWING US TO USE CHAT BOT TECHNOLOGY.
WHICH MEANS THAT SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENT IS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO EVALUATE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
WE'RE TALKING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TEXTS EVERY DAY.
ITS ALLOWED US TO MEET THESE NEEDS IN REALTIME.
IT'S ALLOWED US TO DO JUST A BETTER JOB OF SERVING.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A PERMANENT CHANGE FOR US AS WE USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO JUST EVALUATE HOW WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH CURRENT STUDENTS AND INCOMING STUDENTS THROUGH THE FUTURE.
AND FINAL QUESTION, DR. MAY, BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT HERE.
IT'S RELATED TO SMALL BUSINESS.
[00:50:03]
WORD OUT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS ALSO A BIG RESOURCE AS FAR AS SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES IN GENERAL.AND YOU HAVE SO MANY FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO 10 THOUSAND SMALL BUSINESSES GOLDMAN SACHS PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TOGETHER FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.
CRISTIN THOMAS HEADING THAT UP, AND DOING A GREAT JOB DOWN THERE.
IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING NEW GOING ON THERE.
AND JUST REALLY IN GENERAL, I'LL GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT THOSE RESOURCES LOOK LIKE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES WE'RE ALL WORKING WITH.
AND BOY, WE REALIZED DURING THE INITIAL PHASES OF THE PANDEMIC, SOME OF OUR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES -- ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES, IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD.
BUT WE KNEW GOING IN A LOT OF THEM WERE GOING TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.
MANY OF THEM ARE IN THE RESTAURANT AREA THAT WERE HIT HARD.
WE IMMEDIATELY PARTNERED WITH THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TO HELP SUPPORT THESE AREAS.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE DALLAS SYSTEMS COUNCIL TO GET PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OUT.
THEY SAID WE'RE TRYING TO RUN BUSINESSES.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO FIND A VENDOR FOR MASKS AND OTHER THINGS.
WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH DALLAS FORD, WHICH I KNOW THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER WAS ENGAGED WITH AS WELL TO PUT IN PLACE A CALL CENTER TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES ACCESS THE RESOURCES.
THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM REQUIRED FOR THAT.
WE'VE HELPED NOW OVER 200 BUSINESSES GET THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT -- ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
THE I MEAN, ACTUALLY GOT THEM MONEY TO HELP GET THROUGH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.
AND OF THOSE, 37% WERE HISPANIC-OWNED BUSINESSES.
36% WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
AND I MEAN, THAT JUST SPEAKS TO THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES THAT WE SAW HAPPEN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE OUR TEAM AS PART OF THAT.
WE'VE HAD TO LEARN -- YOU KNOW, WE LEARN OURSELVES HOW TO ENGAGE UNDER COVID.
WE'RE USED TO FOLKS COMING INTO THE CENTER.
LET'S TALK THROUGH WHAT YOU NEED.
AND MAKE THAT -- LET US GET THOSE SERVICES TOGETHER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST HATS OFF TO OUR TEAM THAT SAID WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK.
AND WE'RE STILL ACTUALLY CONTINUING TO EXPLORE NEW TECHNOLOGY NOW TO SERVE THAT BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT SOME NEW SERVICES, NEW PLATFORMS AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR TO EVEN BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESS.
AND WE'RE SEARCHING RIGHT NOW IN FACT FOR FOLKS WITH EXPERTISE IN SALES FORCE SO THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF ONGOING CONNECTION WITH BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES.
>> WELL, JUST IN TIME FOR THE END.
DR. MAY, WE'VE COME UP ON THE END.
I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S TIME.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME AND THANK DALLAS COLLEGE FOR THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
I THOUGHT YOU GAVE US GREAT INFORMATION TODAY.
FOR THAT WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.
MENT SO THANK YOU AGAIN, DR. MAY.
AND WE DEFINITELY WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IS SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.
AND HONESTLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALSO ONCE AGAIN TO THANK OUR SPONSOR, DALLAS COLLEGE, TOYOTA, GROUP O, ESTRADA, AND HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND SOUTHEAST DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
DR. MAY, ANY LAST WORDS BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT?
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREATER HISPANIC CHAMBER FOR THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU.
I MISS SEEING YOUR MEMBERS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I APPRECIATE THOSE THAT JOINED US THIS MORNING.
AND AS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT.
[00:55:01]
WITH THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER.MEANING, YOUR CONCERNS ARE OUR CONCERNS.
AND WE WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD PARTNER TO SUPPORT YOUR MISSION AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE.
SO THANKS FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, AND FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US TODAY.
AND WE WISH YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR FRIDAY.
>> TAKE CARE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.