[State of the College Address - Chancellor Joe May]
[00:00:19]
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO DALLAS COLLEGE'S SPRING KICKOFF FOR 2021 2021.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP REPEATING THAT JUST TO GET USED TO SAYING IT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TIME THAT WE FORMALLY CALL RETURN WEEK.
OF COURSE, NOW IS WE'RE KICKING OFF THE NEW YEAR.
I REALLY AM EXCITED TO HAVE EVERY ONE BACK.
AND I JUST AS A REMINDER, I'M JOE MAY, CHANCELLOR OF DALLAS COLLEGE, AND IT REALLY IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU AS WE START THIS UNPRECEDENTED YEAR AS DALLAS COLLEGE.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
AND THIS OCCASION IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL, I THINK, AS WE'RE TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH THIS YEAR WE'RE TOGETHER IN A VIRTUAL SENSE, I STILL FEEL THE ENERGY THE SENSE OF EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON CAUSE, FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE CARE ABOUT TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HELP OUR EMPLOYERS MEET THEIR NEEDS.
YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE ARE DALLAS COLLEGE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD MANY INAUGURAL MILESTONES.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE.
THIS YEAR'S SPRING KICKOFF MARKS OUR FIRST SPRING SEMESTER AS DALLAS COLLEGE.
AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY, AS I SAID IN A RECENT MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ALREADY, THE FIRST WEEK HAS FELT LIKE AN ENTIRE YEAR AND CERTAINLY LAST YEAR HAS FELT LIKE A DECADE AS WE NOT ONLY MADE THE TRANSITION TO DALLAS COLLEGE, BUT DEALT WITH SO MANY ISSUES THAT AFFECTED US INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AND CERTAINLY IMPACTED OUR STUDENTS.
I WAS REMINDED RECENTLY THAT IT WAS ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO THAT WE BEGAN THE INITIAL PLANNING PHASE OF HOW WE WOULD RESTRUCTURE THE NEW DALLAS COLLEGE.
AND ALTHOUGH AT THAT POINT WE'D NOT EVEN DECIDED ON A NAME, IN FACT, THAT CAME SOME TIME LATER.
I CANNOT HELP BUT BE AMAZED WHEN I COMPARE WHERE WE STARTED AND WHERE WE ARE NOW.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LOT OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND IT REQUIRED A LOT OF HARD WORK FOR ALL OF YOU.
AND FOR THAT, I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE ENORMOUS EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN TO BRINGING US TO THIS POINT AS WE ROLL INTO THE FIRST SPRING TERM AS DALLAS COLLEGE.
OUR STUDENTS ARE APPRECIATIVE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS THAT LOOK BACK AND ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FOUNDATION THEY RECEIVED AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
AND AS I LOOK BACK ON 2020, I LIKE A LOT OF YOU, I WAS EAGER TO GET THAT IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR.
I JUST RECALL THE PLETHORA OF VERY EVENTS AND EMOTIONS AND THINGS THAT OCCURRED, NOT ONLY WITH DALLAS COLLEGE, BUT OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY.
YOU KNOW, 2020 WAS A YEAR OF ENORMOUS INNOVATION ON ONE HAND AS WE SAW HUGE PROBLEMS, HARDSHIP ON ANOTHER, FAMILY BONDING, UNCERTAINTY, UNREST, AS WE WERE REMINDED OF JUST IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, I LEFT BELIEVING THAT DEMOCRACY PREVAILS OVER ALL OTHERS IN TIMES OF UNREST, OF STRIFE AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AS A NATION AND AS A SOCIETY.
YOU KNOW, IN ORDER FOR US TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING AS AN INSTITUTION, I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY EVENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS OR SO THAT HAVE SHAPED AND INFLUENCED WHO WE ARE TODAY, BOTH AS AN INSTITUTION BUT CERTAINLY AS EACH OF US WORKING INDIVIDUALLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN EMBROILED IN A LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER THE ONE POINT
[00:05:01]
ONE BILLION DOLLAR BOND PACKAGE THAT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED BY DALLAS COUNTY VOTERS.AND JUST A REMINDER, THAT WAS IN 2019 WHEN SEVENTY ONE PERCENT OF THE VOTERS SAID, WE SUPPORT DALLAS COLLEGE AND THE NEED FOR THE RESOURCES TO BUILD FOR BOTH THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.
NOW, THE GROUP AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS LAWSUIT IDENTIFIED WHAT THEY SAID WERE, QUOTE, IRREGULARITIES WITHIN THE VOTING PROCESS, IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR CHALLENGE WASN'T THE BOND, IT WAS TO THE VOTING PROCESS.
AND THE LAWSUIT DIDN'T DISCREDIT DALLAS COLLEGE, BUT IT DID SEEK TO INTENTIONALLY CREATE MAJOR DELAYS AND IMPACT OUR EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.
NOW, THE APPROVAL OF THE BOND PAVED THE WAY FOR US TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES, TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS SUCCESS, TO HELP THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS BUILD A STRONG WORKFORCE.
ALL THESE WERE CRUCIAL IN THE EYES OF THE VOTERS WHEN THEY WENT TO THE POLLS THAT DAY.
AND TAKE JUST A SECOND TO IMAGINE THE TREMENDOUS GOOD WHICH DID COME FROM THIS PACKAGE, MOST NOTABLY OUR VISION FOR A DALLAS EDUCATION AND INNOVATION HUB, A NEW DOWNTOWN DALLAS LOCATION FOR OUR CENTRAL CAMPUS.
THOSE WERE CENTRAL TO THE EFFORT, BUT ALSO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CAMPUSES AND SUPPORTING ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES IN DALLAS COUNTY.
AND ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, MANY OF THEM CUTTING EDGE AND FORWARD THINKING ON THEIR OWN RIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES BY THIS POINT.
AND IN OTHER WORDS, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN THE ROAD TO MAKING THEM A REALITY.
AND WHILE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROCEED ON SOME SMALLER PROJECTS, WHICH WE HAVE SELF FUNDED FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS OR SO, OUR HANDS HAVE BEEN INITIALLY TIED FOR OUR MORE COMPLEX AND LARGER PROJECTS.
BUT HERE'S THE THING, THAT'S DELAYED US, BUT WHAT REALLY HAS BOTHERED ME MORE THAN EVEN THE DELAYING OF THE PROJECT IS THE FACT THAT 70 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS WHO SUPPORTED THIS HAVE EFFECTIVELY HAD THEIR VOICES SILENCED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WENT TO THE POLLS TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND A FEW PEOPLE SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
THEREFORE, WE'RE GOING TO OVERRIDE.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO UNDERMINE YOUR VOTE THAT YOU CAST.
AND THESE ARE VOTES OF FRIENDS OF MINE, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS OF YOURS, FAMILY MEMBERS, OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO REALLY BELIEVE IN THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE PLACED TRUST IN US IN OUR ABILITY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS.
I TRUST THAT OUR INSTITUTION HAS WORKED HARD TO BUILD OVER THE LAST FIFTY FIVE YEARS.
NOW, THIS POLITICAL STALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR ROLE AND MISSION, BUT IT REALLY IS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE ELECTION ITSELF AND ULTIMATELY DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS IN DALLAS COUNTY.
SO I SAID PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME.
BUT BEYOND THAT, IT WAS A SCHEME DESIGNED TO DISRUPT THE PROGRESS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
IF YOU CAN SENSE MY FRUSTRATION, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND PERHAPS WHY THIS HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY STRESSFUL, BOTHERSOME, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE DELAY, IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CHALLENGING THE VERY IMPORTANT TENETS OF DEMOCRACY ITSELF.
NOW, I WAS TROUBLED BY THAT BEFORE THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK, BUT IT'S EVEN BROUGHT IT INTO GREATER CLARITY FOR ME THOSE WHO WISH TO UNDERMINE THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE GO TO THE POLLS, BY WHICH WE CAST OUR VOTE AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE THAT WE BELIEVE IN AS INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVELY AS WELL.
NOW, OVER THE WINTER BREAK, WE WILL SEE THE WELCOME NEWS THAT THE COURT HAS OFFICIALLY SETTLED THE LAWSUIT AND DENIED THE REQUEST OF THOSE WHO WISH TO CHALLENGE IT.
NOW, THIS FAVORABLE JUDGMENT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND INSTRUCTION TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR EVER CHANGING ECONOMY.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS I JUST MENTIONED, THIS BOND UNDERSCORES A LARGER ISSUE THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY THROUGHOUT OUR SOCIETY.
[00:10:02]
WE HAD POLICY MAKERS IN CONTROL TRYING THEIR HARDEST TO MAINTAIN THAT CONTROL AT ALL COSTS, EVEN IF IT MEANS THREATENING LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS THAT WE ALL ENJOY.I CAN GO INTO GREAT DETAIL OF HOW THIS ALSO CAME INTO PLAY WITH THE RECENT DISD BOND ELECTION, BUT I DON'T THINK I NEED TO, AS WE REFLECT BACK ON THE PAST WEEK OF THE HORRIFYING IMAGES OF INSURRECTION ON THE GROUNDS OF OUR US CAPITOL.
YOU KNOW, FOR MANY OF US, IT WAS LIKE LOOKING AT PHOTOS AND PICTURES AND VIDEO CLIPS FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE SEEING THIS TYPE OF ASSAULT COME DOWN IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, ALL IN THE NAME OF DISRUPTING SUCH A SACRED PROCESS, PROTECTED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
IT GETS DOWN TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND THE RIGHT FOR THOSE VOTES TO BE HEARD AND COUNTED.
YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ACT FOR WHAT IT WAS.
AND THAT WAS AN ACT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.
AND THOSE INVOLVED SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
IT'S UNCALLED FOR AND UNNECESSARY IN A DEMOCRACY THAT WAS CREATED TO ENSURE THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER.
AND TO WITNESS SUCH DISRUPTION AND DISCORD ON OUR OWN SOIL WAS BOTH HEARTBREAKING AND PATHETIC.
I MEAN, LIKE MANY OF YOU AND SOME OF YOU HAVE TOLD ME THIS, ON ONE HAND, YOU COULDN'T TURN AWAY FROM THE IMAGES COMING THROUGH OUR TELEVISION ABOUT WHAT WAS TRANSPIRING.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU COULDN'T BEAR TO LOOK BECAUSE IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO YOU.
AND EVEN MORE INFURIATING, MUCH OF THE BLAME FOR THE VIOLENCE ALSO LIES AT THE FEET OF THOSE VERY POLICY MAKERS SWORN TO REPRESENT US, ELECTED BY US TO SERVE US, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NOW, THESE ACTS WERE PERPETRATED AS A MEANS OF BENDING POLITICAL FRUSTRATION, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THEY UNFORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, UNDERSCORE OUR NATION'S GROWING EROSION OF CIVILITY, EMPATHY AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND THIS HAS OCCURRED NOT JUST IN THIS SHORT WINDOW OF TIME, BUT IT'S GRADUALLY HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS AS SUCH THINGS OCCUR.
AND I'M JUST CONTINUALLY REMINDED OF OUR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THESE VALUES OF CIVILITY, OF EMPATHY AND OF RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.
YOU KNOW, THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE ON US TODAY, AND THIS EVENT WILL FOREVER SERVE AS A DEEP STAIN ON OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
IT WILL BE REPORTED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME IN OUR TEXTBOOKS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE WRESTLED WITH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THAT WE HAVE SEEN COME TO BEAR WITHIN JUST THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
IN TWENTY SEVENTEEN, WE WERE RECEIVED AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT DACA WAS GOING TO BE DISCONTINUED.
AND LET ME JUST TALK JUST A MINUTE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION.
THIS PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS, SIXTY SIX THOUSAND OF THOSE IN TEXAS AND SOME TWENTY SIX HUNDRED ENROLLED RIGHT HERE AT DALLAS COLLEGE THE CHANCE TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND FORTUNATELY, WITH THIS DECISION WAS REVERSED AND THE YET THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF THESE STUDENTS IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
AND I SAY THAT AND THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES AS DALLAS COLLEGE TO NOT WAVER IN OUR SUPPORT FOR THESE STUDENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THE LIFE CHANGING ACCESS TO A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND HOW POWERFUL THIS CAN BE.
AND THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THE RACIAL AND EQUITY AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE THAT HAS DISENFRANCHISED MEMBERS OF OUR BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITY IS NOT ONLY DISHEARTENING, IT'S INTOLERABLE, BUT IT'S ALSO NOTHING NEW.
YOU KNOW, FOR TOO LONG, THESE GROUPS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED AND DEEMED NOT WORTHY OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION, AND NOW WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT EDUCATION, THERE IS VERY LITTLE FUTURE FOR ANY IN OUR SOCIETY AND I CAN GO INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF A LACK OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
IT'S ABOUT THE LIFESPAN OF INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S ABOUT THE MEANS TO GROW A THRIVING COMMUNITY AND CREATED A GREAT PLACE FOR
[00:15:02]
IT, FOR ALL TO LIVE AND TO WORK.AND SADLY, THE RACIAL INEQUITY AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE THAT SO MANY ARE FACING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS A MINDSET THAT AND PART OF IT IS REALLY PROMOTED BY A SENSELESS AND INHUMANE HIERARCHY, WHICH WE AT DALLAS COLLEGE HAVE SAID THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE.
WE HAVE A LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO CREATING AND PROMOTING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHICH SUPPORTS ALL EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS.
HOWEVER, EARLY ON DURING OUR TRANSITION TO DALLAS COLLEGE, WE IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO EXPAND AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE CULTURAL, ETHNIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT OUR DALLAS COLLEGE COMMUNITY UNIQUE.
AND WE WANT TO EXPAND THIS EVEN FURTHER THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
IN OUR EVENTS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY LAST SUMMER CONFIRMED OUR EFFORTS AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE.
AND THERE IS AN UNDENIABLE NEED FOR THE INCREASED INCLUSION OF ALL VOICES IN ALL PERSPECTIVES.
IT'S WHY WE ANNOUNCED OUR NEW OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION, A DIRECT RESPONSE TO OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO COMBAT THE SOMETIMES TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF RACIAL AND SOCIAL INEQUITY.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING AN EQUITABLE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR DALLAS COLLEGE EMPLOYEES.
NOW TO FURTHER THIS CAUSE, WE ARE DEVELOPING A NEW DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE, TALKING ABOUT A BOARD COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS.
NOW, WHILE THESE CHANGES WILL NOT SERVE AS A MAGIC WAND OR A MAGIC BULLET TO ERADICATE SUCH ISSUES OVERNIGHT, THEY WILL WORK TO ENSURE ALL ASPECTS OF DALLAS COLLEGE EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE OUR COMMON HUMANITY AND SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EQUITABLE STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW, I'M HEARTENED BY THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE OVER THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR NEW EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT THESE CRITICAL STEPS WILL GUIDE US TOWARD BECOMING A STRONGER, MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTION.
YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDST OF CONTENDING WITH THESE RACIAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS, WE WERE ALL BLINDSIDED BY PERHAPS THE BIGGEST DISRUPTER IN MODERN US HISTORY, FRANKLY, ONE THAT COULD HAVE SEEN COMING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED FOR.
AND OF COURSE, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
NATIONWIDE, OVER THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
SOME TWENTY FOUR MILLION JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST AND COUNTLESS OTHER CASUALTIES HAVE OCCURRED, ALL AT THE HANDS OF THIS RUTHLESS VIRUS AND FOR SOME OF US IS CLOSE TO HOME WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE DEALT WITH THAT PERSONALLY, AS I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE.
AND THEN THERE'S A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT WHICH RUNS MUCH DEEPER, EVEN THREATENING THE VERY WORK WE DO WITHIN THIS INSTITUTION, EDUCATING STUDENTS.
YOU KNOW, I CAME ACROSS A STARTLING REPORT THAT SHOULD TRULY HIT HOME FOR EACH OF US.
ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE NATIONAL STUDENT CLEARINGHOUSE, UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT FOR FALL 2020 DECLINED BY THREE POINT SIX PERCENT FROM THE FALL OF 2019.
BUT OVERWHELMINGLY IT WAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES THAT SAW THE GREATER DROP WITH OVER NINE PERCENT NATIONALLY OF AN ENROLLMENT DROP AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THAT'S MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN COLLEGE THAT WEREN'T IN COLLEGE.
FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THEIR FUTURE BUT WEREN'T DOING SO AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.
NOW, THESE FIGURES REPRESENT A DANGEROUS POINT IN TIME AND FUTURE TRAJECTORY, FEW STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE AND EARNING A CREDIT TOWARD DEGREES AND TO NEGATIVELY.
THE ARE GOING TO BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED NOT ONLY BY THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL .
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED IN A NEGATIVE WAY AND ULTIMATELY OUR ECONOMY IS AS WELL.
NOW, WE'RE NOT SEEING AS MUCH IN THE ECONOMY BECAUSE OF THE STIMULUS PACKAGES COMING TO EACH OF US AND INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE IMPACT LONG TERM IS GOING TO BE HUGE.
WE KNOW THAT EDUCATION CAN HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS LIVES.
[00:20:02]
AN IMPACT WHICH CAN AFFECT POSITIVELY FUTURE GENERATIONS.AND WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE POSITIVE RIPPLE EFFECT AN EDUCATION CAN HAVE.
YOU KNOW, A GOOD EDUCATION CAN LEAD TO A WELL-PAYING JOB WHICH CAN HELP UPLIFT THE FAMILY, SUSTAIN THE COMMUNITY AND AID IN REBUILDING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
THIS IS WHY WE ABSOLUTELY MUST DO MORE DURING THIS VOLATILE TIME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S STUDENTS.
FRANKLY, THE OLD WAY OF SERVING STUDENTS IS NO LONGER SUFFICIENT.
NOW, THIS IS BEING DOCUMENTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS HEADLINES AND NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES, BUT WE MUST ADOPT NEW WAYS AND ACCELERATE OUR PRACTICES OF SERVING STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BY COVID-19.
THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME THE REALITIES OF THEIR DAILY LIVES, REALITIES THAT OFTEN SERVE AS BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.
THE FACT IS THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR A COVID-19 REALITY.
THEREFORE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR ENERGY ON DISCOVERING NEW WAYS TO GET STUDENTS TO COLLEGE.
NOT AID THE BARRIERS WHICH OFTEN TURN THEM AWAY.
NOW, ONE THING ABOUT COVID-19, IT DIDN'T CREATE A LOT OF THESE CHALLENGES, BUT IT HAS SHOWN A SPOTLIGHT ON THEM AND BROUGHT THEM TO OUR ATTENTION WITH GREATER CLARITY THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN.
NOW, THIS WAS AS WE LOOK AT OUR PREVIOUS STRUCTURE, WE WERE INADVERTENTLY CREATING BARRIERS.
AS WE OPERATED AS SEVEN SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, THE REALITY IS THAT OUR STUDENTS STOPPED VIEWING US AS A SEPARATE COLLEGES Y EARS AGO.
THERE WERE LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR GOING TO MULTIPLE COLLEGES ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
NOW, THIS IS A GOOD THING, EXCEPT WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THEIR DEGREE.
AND HERE THEY HAD MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE, THEY HAD TAKEN ALL THE COURSES FOR THE YEAR, THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING THEY BELIEVE, RIGHT.
ONLY TO BE TOLD SORRY, YOU MISS ONE LITTLE CRITERIA THAT PROBABLY YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE TWENTY FIVE PERCENT OF YOUR COURSES FROM A SINGLE INSTITUTION.
AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND TAKE MORE COURSES, WHICH, OF COURSE, OUR STUDENTS REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT, AND TOO MANY OF THEM DIDN'T GET THE DEGREES THAT THEY HAD RIGHTFULLY EARNED.
AND THAT'S REALLY, UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO OUR STUDENTS UNDER THE PREVIOUS DCCCD STRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T OFFER THE SAME PROGRAMS AT ALL OUR LOCATIONS, WHICH IS ALSO A GOOD THING, BUT THAT EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM, MEANING THAT OUR STUDENTS TAKING A PROGRAM AND A DEGREE OFFERED AT ONE CAMPUS BUT LIVING IN ANOTHER PART OF DALLAS COUNTY WANTED TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
SO ALMOST BY DESIGN WE REQUIRED STUDENTS TO TAKE COURSES AT MULTIPLE COLLEGES AND THEY DID SO TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND A SEMESTER.
NOW WE'RE GLAD THAT WE HAD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHERE WE'RE SUPPORTED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE DISTRICT BY PROVIDING THAT AT NO COST.
BUT THAT, IN ITS OWN WAY, ACTUALLY HELPED FEED PART OF THE PROBLEM.
IT CREATED MORE ACCESS, BUT ALSO CREATED THE NECESSITY OF TAKING COURSES AT MORE THAN ONE LOCATION.
SO NOW IS DALLAS COLLEGE, WE HAVE NOT ONLY EFFECTIVELY REMOVED A BARRIER BETWEEN OUR STUDENTS AND A DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL, WE HAVE ALSO REMOVED MANY OF THE SELF-IMPOSED BARRIERS THAT BECAME THE NORM OF HOW WE OPERATED ON THE DAY TO DAY BASIS.
AND THOSE ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO GO INTO.
HOWEVER, OUR TRANSITION TO A SINGLE INSTITUTION HAS ALLOWED US TO REPOSITION OURSELVES AS A UNITED TEAM, WORKING TOGETHER TO OVERCOME BOUNDARIES.
I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE [INAUDIBLE] FALLING AND PEOPLE TEAMING UP FROM ACROSS ORGANIZATIONAL BOUNDARIES TO BETTER SERVE OUR INSTITUTION.
YES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BETTER SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
IT HAS BEEN EASY TO FIND EXAMPLES OF THIS ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
[00:25:05]
AND WHILE WINTER BREAK SERVED AS A TIME OFF FOR MANY OF US, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, DALLAS COLLEGE EMPLOYEES WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, EXPLORING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW METHODS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN STUDENTS FOR THE UPCOMING SPRING SEMESTER.FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE I.T.
SUPPORT STAFF DEDICATED HOURS OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, HELPING THEM OUT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
AND STUDENT SERVICES SELF-PROCLAIMED HOLIDAY HELPERS ALSO WORK THROUGHOUT THE BREAK TO ENSURE NO EMAIL OR VOICE MESSAGE FROM OUR STUDENTS WENT UNANSWERED.
NO EMAIL OR VOICE MESSAGE WENT UNANSWERED.
AND I HEARD WITH GREAT PRIDE FROM OUR FOLKS AS THEY SHARE THE FACT THAT WE CAME BACK IN JANUARY, EVERYONE WAS CALLED UP.
IN TOTAL, OUR EMPLOYEES HANDLED ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO CALLS OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.
PROCESSED TWO HUNDRED AND NINETEEN ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN TRANSCRIPTS AND TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN FINANCIAL AID AWARDS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE TEAM ENSURED THAT THIRTY FIVE STUDENTS RECEIVED THE CRUCIAL SUPPORT OFFERED BY OUR TWENTY FOUR HOUR CRISIS SERVICE, MEANING THAT THEY NEEDED PERHAPS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND OTHER SERVICES TO DEAL WITH THE REALITIES OF THEIR SITUATION.
THESE ARE NOT JUST RANDOM FIGURES, BUT REAL RESULTS OF OUR EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHILE THE ACTS ARE EFFORTS MADE IN THEM THEMSELVES SEEM SMALL, THE OUTCOME OF THIS IS MIGHTY IS POWERFUL.
IMAGINE A STUDENT ON THE VERGE OF DROPPING OUT OF COLLEGE DECIDES TO REACH OUT FOR HELP IN A FINAL ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE HIS OR HER EDUCATION.
SO THAT ATTEMPT, WHETHER IT BE A PHONE CALL, A TEXT OR A FACEBOOK MESSAGE, GO UNANSWERED.
MORE THAN LIKELY WE HAVE JUST LOST A STUDENT.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THAT STUDENT HAS JUST LOST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EDUCATION.
FAR TOO OFTEN, I HEAR FROM STUDENTS WHO FEEL THAT THE PROSPECT OF ATTENDING COLLEGE IS DAUNTING AND OUT OF REACH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A FAR FETCHED DREAM THAT'S FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AND NOT FOR THEMSELVES.
AND THAT WAS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR JESSE, A STUDENT WHO ADMITS TO HAVING FACED ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO COMPLETE SCHOOL DUE TO UNFORESEEN EVENTS THROUGHOUT LIFE.
UPON DECIDING NOW WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO CONTINUE PURSUING AN EDUCATION, JESSE ENCOUNTERED MANY OF OUR FANTASTIC EMPLOYERS WHO OFFERED EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT.
SHE ADMITS THE WORST PART OF RETURNING TO SCHOOL IS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO OR WHEN TO DO IT.
BUT THANKS TO OUR EFFORTS, SHE NOW FEELS MOTIVATED AND CONFIDENT TO TAKE ON THE SPRING SEMESTER.
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS BEING AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE DURING SUCH A PERIOD OF TIME FOR OUR STUDENTS, WHO ARE OFTEN UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO NEXT.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR STUDENTS WHO CONTINUE TO TURN TO US FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR EMERGENCY AID NEEDS.
BETWEEN APRIL AND DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE NEARLY SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GIFT CARDS ALONE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO PURCHASE GROCERIES TO SURVIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER TWO POINT ONE MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO OVER TWENTY THOUSAND FAMILIES WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK AND THEIR MOBILE FOOD PANTRY.
AND I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO HELP US REALLY UNDERSTAND THE REALITY FOR THOSE FAMILIES, THE WORRY, THE ANXIETY, THE FRUSTRATION, FEAR AND OTHER EMOTIONS THAT CREEP UP ON US THE MOMENT WE REALIZE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.
IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE THAT SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS FACE ON A DAILY BASIS.
BUT OUR EFFORTS HELP TO ALLEVIATE THESE FEELINGS.
IF ONLY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, AT LEAST WE CAN GET THEM THROUGH THIS MOMENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND HELP THEM WHILE THEY PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION.
THIS IS REALLY OUR MISSION PERSONIFIED.
IT'S A TRUE EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT THROUGH ALL THE AVENUES AT OUR DISPOSAL, NORMALLY IN AREAS WHERE WE'VE NORMALLY NOT SEEN THIS AS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
[00:30:01]
WE KNOW THAT FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, RECEIVING EMERGENCY AID CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.CONSIDER THAT ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WAS FACING THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON TWO FRONTS, HAVING TO PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR HER AND HER DAUGHTER WHILE ALSO HAVING TO TAKE ON COSTLY CAR REPAIRS.
AND, OF COURSE, MANAGE HER COURSEWORK.
THE FUNDS SHE RECEIVED FROM DALLAS COLLEGE BY THE CARES ACT PROVIDED HER WITH THE RESOURCES SHE NEEDED TO CONTINUE HER JOURNEY.
SHE GOT THIS JUST WHEN SHE NEEDED IT.
THE PANDEMIC, COMBINED WITH OUR NEW STRUCTURE, HAVE BOTH FORCED ENABLED US TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE STUDENTS.
WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TO AGAIN OFFER COURSES PRIMARILY ONLINE THIS SPRING, OUR ACADEMIC SCHEDULING TEAM QUICKLY JUMPED INTO ACTION.
THEIR TASK WAS TO SHIFT OUR SPRING 2021 ACADEMIC SCHEDULE BUILT WITH A HEAVY FOCUS ON FACE TO FACE.
WE'RE HOPING WE'D BE BACK IN THAT FORMAT, BUT WE HAD TO GO TO A MODEL WHICH WAS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED AND SUPPORTS ONLINE LEARNING.
NOW THEY'RE PROACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WILL TRANSLATE INTO AN ENHANCED EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS WITH FEWER DISRUPTIONS AS THEY BEGIN COURSE REGISTRATION.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS EFFORT.
THIS IS THE LEVEL OF COHESION BEING DISPLAYED ACROSS OUR ORGANIZATION.
GONE ARE THE DAYS OF WORKING SOLELY IN SILOS OF OUR INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES OR DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH EACH OTHER AND ACTIVELY LISTENING TO OUR STUDENTS.
THIS KIND OF TRANSFORMATION IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN THE DESIGN AND UPCOMING IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR NEW STUDENT SUCCESS COACH MODEL.
OUR STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM TOOK THE LEAD IN CREATING SUCH A MODEL, IT GIVES STUDENTS ONE CLEAR POINT OF CONTACT TO HELP ADDRESS THEIR ADVERTISING ISSUES OR NEEDS.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS NEW MODEL WILL REMOVE FRICTION FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE A PROBLEM BUT DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN.
NOW, THESE CHANGES HAVEN'T BEEN LOST ON OUR STUDENTS.
AS A RECENT EXAMPLE, OUR STUDENT HECTOR, INQUIRED OVER THE BREAK ABOUT POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE NECESSARY FOUR COURSES FOR HIS DEGREE BY THE FALL.
HE MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTED TO TRANSFER TO UNT.
AND HE WANTED TO DO SO IN THE FALL TERM.
HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE'S CHALLENGED BY ONLINE COURSES, BUT HE ALSO HAS A FULL TIME JOB.
HAVING WORKED WITH A DEDICATED ADVISER, HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH HIM AND HIS CHALLENGES.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR COMPLETING HIS DEGREE BY THE FALL, INCLUDING A RECOMMENDATION FOR SUMMER SEMESTER CLASSES TO LIGHTEN HIS BURDEN.
NOW, BEING ABLE TO TELL HIM IN ADVANCE WHICH CLASSES ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED AND WHAT TERM IS CRITICAL FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED HOW MUCH HE APPRECIATED THE GUIDANCE OF OUR ADVISORS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HOW HE'S BEEN STRESSED BY WORK AND SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC.
BUT OUR ADVISERS RELY ON THOSE MAKING THE SCHEDULES TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO I WANT TO THANK BOTH OUR ADVISERS AND OUR SCHEDULERS FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND OTHERS ARE DOING TO GUIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH OPTIONS THAT WORK FOR THEM.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE REAL TIME RESULTS OF SOME OF OUR OTHER EFFORTS PAY OFF FOR STUDENTS.
THIS SUMMER, THIS PAST SUMMER WE AWARDED A STAGGERING TWO THOUSAND SIXTY SIX COLLEGE CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN OUR DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS. THAT'S RIGHT, THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AN INCREDIBLE FEAT WHEN WE WOULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT ONLY TWENTY THREE OF THOSE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE EVER EARNED A CREDENTIAL OR DEGREE IN THEIR LIFETIME.
TWO THOUSAND SIXTY SIX VERSUS TWENTY THREE.
THERE WERE ALSO SIXTEEN HUNDRED NINETEEN GRADUATES ALONE FROM OUR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS AND [INAUDIBLE] HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CARROLLTON FARMERS BRANCH ISD, CEDAR HILL ISD, DALLAS, DESOTO, GARLAND AND GRAND PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THESE PROGRAMS OFFER QUALIFIED STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT, NOT JUST COLLEGE CREDIT, BUT DEGREES WHILE COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.
THERE IS A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO STUDENTS BEGINNING THEIR COLLEGIATE CAREERS LONG BEFORE SETTING FOOT ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS.
THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE THE CULMINATION OF MONUMENTAL EFFORT BY OUR TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HELPING STUDENTS IN REAL TIME.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS SERVES AS A CONFIRMATION THAT WHEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TOOLS, STUDENTS NOT ONLY CAN ACHIEVE, BUT HAVE THE WILL AND DESIRE TO DO SO.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE MORE THAN JUST A NEW NAME AND A NEW LOGO, BUT RATHER WE'RE AN ESTABLISHED INSTITUTION THAT BOASTS A NEW MINDSET AND A REINFORCED COMMITMENT,
[00:35:04]
ALL ENABLING US TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IN A MORE INTENTIONAL AND INNOVATIVE FASHION.NOW, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE ROAD TO GET TO THIS POINT WAS NOT EASY AND NOT BY A LONG SHOT.
AND WE'RE STILL NOT THERE AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
NOW, I REALIZE THAT OUR ONGOING REORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TOUGH AND CHALLENGING, AND I PERSONALLY FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THIS AND THE ANXIETY, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU DO AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE EXPERIENCED AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF CHANGE AND DISRUPTION.
AND WE'VE LOST SOME FANTASTIC FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES IN THE PROCESS.
AND WE SHARE IN THIS SENSE OF LOSS TOGETHER.
BUT IT'S ALSO TOGETHER, UNITED BY OUR PURPOSE AS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT WE'RE OVERCOMING THIS AND THAT WE ARE PERSEVERING AND THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, THE CHANGE THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW IS UNFORTUNATELY PAINFUL, BUT YET IT'S PART OF THE REALITY OF BECOMING AN INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION.
I WISH I COULD SAY WE WERE THROUGH A CHANGE, BUT CHANGE WILL ALWAYS BE NECESSARY AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT MORE FREQUENTLY AND FASTER IN THE FUTURE AS THE PACE OF CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY ACCELERATES.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE MUST GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT CHANGE.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BECOME, I BELIEVE, A GREAT INSTITUTION AND WHERE OUR POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH LIES.
LET ME BE CLEAR, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND WE NEED EACH OF YOU TO BE A PART OF IT.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, OUR SUCCESS AS AN INSTITUTION WILL TAKE THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF US ALL.
I DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
YES, THERE WILL BE NEW CHALLENGES WHICH WILL GROW OUT OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES TO US, BUT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BOTH EXCEL AND GROW DURING A TIME OF CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE DEALT WITH CHANGE OVER THE LAST FIFTY FIVE YEARS, OUR INSTITUTION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A PATH FORWARD FOR ALL.
AND ALL MEANS ALL, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND IF WE DIDN'T EXIST.
AND OUR WORK IS MORE THAN SIMPLY OFFERING COURSES AND DEGREES.
WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES OF IMPACTING AND TRANSFORMING LIVES.
IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE LIGHTLY.
JUST REMEMBER THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK AND THAT EDUCATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THE IMPACT OF OUR EFFORT IS LIFELONG, EXTENDING WELL BEYOND THE END OF THE SEMESTER OR EVEN A GRADUATION CEREMONY.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS OUR DEFINING MOMENT AS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING.
FROM EVERY DECISION TO EVERY INTERACTION WITH A STUDENT AND AN EMPLOYER, A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY, IT ALL SERVES AS A BRICK ON OUR STUDENTS PATH TOWARDS SUCCESS.
BUT I COULD NOT BE MORE CONFIDENT THAT THIS TEAM IS BEST POSITIONED TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S TRULY A NEW DAY AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
AND COLLECTIVELY, WE WILL CHAMPION A NEW DAY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
YOU KNOW, WITH THESE COMMENTS, OUR SPRING KICKOFF CONTINUES WITH A FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS OVER THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF DAYS.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO ATTEND EACH SESSION AND TO EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY, THIS IMPORTANT TIME, TO GAIN INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE AND PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS TO HELP EACH AND ALL OF OUR FUNCTIONAL AREAS WITHIN DALLAS COLLEGE BE SUCCESSFUL.
HERE'S TO A SUCCESSFUL SPRING, A SUCCESSFUL SPRING KICKOFF AND A DYNAMIC SPRING SEMESTER.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.