[Employee Town Hall on March 23, 2021.]
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THANK YOU FOR JOINING OUR TOWN HALL TODAY.I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT AND RESTFUL SPRING BREAK.
I KNOW I REALLY APPRECIATED THE TIME OFF.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK HARD, BUT ALSO TAKE TIME TO REST AND TAKE A BREAK AND REFRESH AS WE GET READY FOR THE LAST HALF OF THE SPRING TERM.
ALL SPRING BREAK, I WAS THINKING WOW, WHAT A YEAR.
AND THAT IT WITH US ONLY A YEAR AGO THAT WE MADE THAT TRANSITION, FRANKLY THAT WAS NOT A RESTFUL BREAK FOR ME AND SEVERAL OF US, AS WE WERE PREPARING TO GO REMOTELY AND I JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE AMAZING WORK THAT WAS DONE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, SO YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE NOW WRAPPING UP AND COME MEETING THE SPRING SEMESTER, IT'S TIME TO GET READY FOR SUMMER.
AND SUMMER GOING TO BE A BIT DIFFERENT FOR US, AS OVER THE PAST YEAR, AS YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE SLOWLY NOW, I GUESS SEEMINGLY GETTING SOMEWHAT BACK TO NORMAL, ALL THOUGH NOT AT ALL THERE.
BUT WE KNOW FROM THE STUDENT'S POINT OF VIEW THAT THEY'RE REALLY EAGER, MANY OF THEM, FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES AND SO AS THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE WITH SOME OF THEM ON-LINE, WHILE OTHERS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH ON-LINE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AN IMPORTANT POINT HERE.
EVEN THOUGH, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS REMOVED THE STATEWIDE COVID-19 MASK MANDATE, THAT DOES APPLY TO US, HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING T CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ALL OF OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE WE'RE APPROACHING OUR RETURN IN A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
THAT MEANS WE'LL CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS, EVERYONE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THE PROCEDURES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE AND IT WORK, SO WELL AT KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE AND YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS TODAY AS WE ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE ASKED, AND OF COURSE ONCE AGAIN WE'LL TAKE LIVE QUESTIONS DURING TODAY'S TOWN HALL.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE LAST TOWN HALL WE HAD OVER 3300 OF YOU JOINING US DURING OUR LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION BACK IN FEBRUARY, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT IN THE MEETINGS AND THOSE OF YOU THAT PARTICIPATE AND I APPRECIATE OUR LEADERSHIP FOR BEING PART OF THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO START TODAY BY RESPONDING TO A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE PRE-SUBMITTED TO US, BUT AGAIN JUST TO REMIND YOU WE'LL TAKE LIVE QUESTIONS AT TOWN HALL, BY GOING TO TOWN HALL AT OUR WEBSITE AND WE'LL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN DURING THIS TIME.
SO TODAY I OF COURSE FEEL GREAT TO HAVE JOIN US OUR CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES AND OUR PROVOST AND DR. BEATRIZ JOSEPH AND STILL PRESIDEN OF OUR MOUNTAIN VIEW CAMPUS, DR. DAVIS.
DR. BRAD WILLIAMS OUR NEW PRESIDENT OF THE EL CENTRO CAMPUS AND GREAT TO HAVE YOU AND DR. TERRY DIPAOLO FOR HIS FIRST TIME JOINING US VICE PROVOST OF LEARNING AND OUR EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR WHO WILL GUIDE OUR CONVERSATIONS TODAY.
WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT HOUR OF DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND WE'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH AS MANY AS WE CAN DURING THE TIME WE HAVE.
THEN WE'LL TAKE YOUR LIVE QUESTIONS, AS WELL.
WITH THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
YOU REFERENCED LAST WEEK SPRING BREAK, WE ALSO KNOW THAT LAST WEEK THERE WERE SOME TRAGEDIES WITHIN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, AND CERTAINLY THE SHOOTING IN ATLANTA THAT IMPACTED SO MANY, AND OTHERS THAT HAVE GONE ON AROUND THE COUNTRY LAST WEEK AND OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND I KNOW WHILE WE WERE ON SPRING BREAK, YOU PUT OUT A STATEMENT AND VERY PASSIONATELY SPOKE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
CAN YOU SHARE SOME INSIGHTS AROUND ALL OF THIS AND HOW YOU THINK IT IMPACTS THE
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DALLAS COLLEGE COMMUNITY?>> YEAH, AND THANKS JUSTIN AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU THAT JOIN WITH OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY AND ARE UNDERSTANDING AND SHARING IN THE PAIN OF THE EVENT.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING TO COME TO GRIPS IN OUR NATION WITH THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE FORCED TO CONFRONT ANOTHER LENSLESS ACT THAT IS AIMED AT POPULATION.
THE AUTHORITIES ARE STILL SORTING OUT THE DETAILS AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS POLITICIZED.
IT DOES APPEAR THE INCIDENT IS RELATED TO ONE OF A SERIES OF ATTACKS AGAINST THE ASIAN COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR COUNTRY IN THE RECENT MONTHS AND NOT TO GET INTO OTHER ISSUES, BUT I WANT TO JUST STRESS ONE THING AND THIS IS FOR ALL OF OUR PLEASE AND IT IMPACTS OUR STUDENT AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND EVERYONE THAT IS AFFILIATED IN ANYWAY WITH DALLAS COLLEGE.
HATE AND BIGOTRY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE ON OUR CAMPUSES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND TO SAY I'M SADDENED TO SAY THAT I'M ANGERED BY THESE EVENTS IS AN UNDER STATEMENT.
IT'S ONE IN WHICH ALL OF US, AND I KNOW YOU JOIN WITH ME AS WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY TO CONDEMN THESE ABSOLUTELY - INCREDIBLY HEINOUS ACTS THAT ARE COMMITTED, YOU KNOW WE'RE COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION AND NOW EVEN MORE THAN EVER THAT REALLY DOE INCLUDE WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE AND FOSTER A MORE DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.
AND MAYBE THE PAST YEAR OF US BEING DISTANCED HAS SOMEHOW CAUSED SOME OF US TO FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS WHY WE CREATED AN OFFICE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INCLUSION TO FACILITATE INTENTIONAL LISTENING AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AMONG PLEASE AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S US, THAT'S WHAT WE DO, TO ACHIEVE EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR PRACTICES AND POLICIES ACROSS ALL OF OUR SEVEN CAMPUSES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ABOUT HOW WE IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AT-LARGE.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN THIS SPACE AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SHARE INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK AND LAST SUMMER WITH THE TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND EVEN THE JANUARY SIX EVENTS HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR NATION, WHILE CLEARLY WE HAVE NOT COME TOGETHER, WE MUST COME TOGETHER AND WE MUST HEAL.
OUR WORDS HAVE IMPACT EVERY DAY THEY DO.
WE'LL TAKE THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF ALL OF US TO LOOK BEYOND OUR DIFFERENCES AND SEE THE COMMON HUMANITY IN EACH OF US.
YOU KNOW IN MANY WAYS AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY OF ENGAGING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND ALL BACKGROUNDS, AND ALL OUTLOOKS.
I KNOW THAT I CAN COUNT ON ALL OF YOU TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOSTERING THE ENVIRONMENT OF INCLUSION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FO EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO, JUSTIN AND LET ME RETURN THIS TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS.
CHANCE FOR REFERENCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS AROUND MASKS AND OTHER THINGS AND THE STATE ANNOUNCED PHASE 1 C, ALLOWING THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 50 ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AND IT WAS ANNOUNCED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TEACHERS AND CHILDCARE WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE SO WE'VE HAD SOME EMPLOYEES ASK IF THAT INCLUDES DALLAS COLLEGE.
SO SHARING INSIGHT ON THAT OR ANY ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT ORDERS?
SO IN TERMS OF THE 1C POPULATION IT DOES NOT INCLUDE COLLEGE EMPLOYEES.
OUR CHANCELLOR HAS WRITTEN TO OUR STATE OFFICIALS ASKING THAT COLLEGE EMPLOYEES BE INCLUDED, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT, HOWEVER WE'RE DOING ALL WE
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CAN TO GET DALLAS COLLEGE EMPLOYEES VACCINATED.PRIOR TO SPRING BREAK WE OFFERED THROUGH ONE OF THE PARTNERS, PARKLAND TOUR A FACULTY THAT ARE 65 AND OLDER.
JUST YESTERDAY, WE OFFERED THE VACCINE TO ALL OF OUR DUAL CREDIT, HYBRID FACULTY MEMBERS.
ANYONE TEACHING K-12 INDIVIDUALS, WE OFFERED THEM THE VACCINE THROUGH PARKLAND ALSO.
LATER TODAY WE'LL BE OFFERING THE VACCINE THROUGH PARKLAND FOR ANY FACULTY MEMBERS AGE 50 THROUGH 64 SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES TO GET THE VACCINE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEEK THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS FOR MASKS, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AS THE CHANCELLOR MENTION, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT'S SAFE FOR DALLAS COLLEGE AND OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENT, SO WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE MANDATE FOR MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE OTHER PROTOCOLS WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE.
LET ME SPEAK WITH YOU DR. DAVIS.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS AROUND VACCINES AND TO CONTINUE ON WITH THAT THEME.
AS EMPLOYEES RETURN TO WORK LOCATIONS, WE KNOW THAT VACCINES ARE A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AND I THINK IT IS A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATIONS IN ALL OF OUR LIVES.
SO EMPLOYEES ARE WONDERING ABOUT AND CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS THAT THEY MAY INTERACT WITH.
WHAT YOUR GUIDANCE ABOUT YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING VACCINES OR ASKING IF PEOPLE HAVE VACCINES? YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> YES, AND I DID ALSO TALK A LITTLE BIT TO OUR CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER ABOUT.
EMPLOYEES WILL LIKELY BE CONCERNED WHETHER OR NOT THE PEOPLE THEIR INTERACTING WITH HAVE HAD THE VACCINE.
THAT'S PERSONAL INFORMATION SO ALTHOUGH PEOPLE MAY ASK, AND IF THE EMPLOYEE IS NOT COMFORTABLE TO DIVULGE THAT THEY'RE IN THEIR RIGHTS TO DO SO.
DALLAS COLLEGE HAS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY VIA E-CONNECT FOR EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE US INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE HAD THE VACCINE IF YOU DO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION THAT IS KEPT IN CONFIDENCE AS THAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION.
DR. DAVIS, ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT NEW GUIDANCE THAT RECENTLY CAME FROM THE CDC ABOUT PROMOTING SAFETY WITHIN SCHOOLS OF SHIFTING PHYSICAL DISTANCE TOGETHER THREE FEET WHEN IT WITH US 6 FEET.
CAN YOU SHARE HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS MOVING FORWARD? AND THEN AFTER THAT, DR. MAY, YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT MAY CHANGE OUR FALL SEMESTER?
>> SO, YES, IS GUIDANCE THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE CDC IS FOCUSED ON K-12.
AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED CHANGES FOR CHALLENGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE APPARENTLY WITH THE 6 FEET SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOL, BUT WE STAND READY TO PIVOT AND CHANGE AS NECESSARY.
BUT RIGHT NOW OUR PLAN AS WE'RE DOING WITH THE MASKS IS TO CONTINUE WITH OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING OF SIX FEET.
>> YEAH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHARON FOR THAT INFORMATION.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST REMINDED THAT IT WITH US MARCH 3RD, BARELY OVER A YEAR AGO THAT PATIENT ZERO WAS IDENTIFIED AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT OF INFORMATION.
AS YOU CAN RECALL, INITIALLY, THEY WERE TOLD MASKS WERE NOT HELPFUL AND IT TURNED OUT THEY WERE WRONG.
MASKS WERE VERY, VERY EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD.
I SAY ALL OF THAT JUST TO SAY THAT WE'RE LEARNING AND AS THE RESEARCH DATA COMES IN, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE K-12, THE REASON WHY THEY'RE FOCUSED ON K-12 RIGHT NOW IS THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE DATA HAS OCCURRED.
SINCE MANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY STARTED TO GO BACK IN-PERSON LAST FALL AND HAVE REMAINED PERSON THROUGHOUT THIS TIME, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WORKS AND WITH WHAT DOES NOT WORK.
THINGS LIKE THEY DISCOVERED IN K-12 IS THAT THREE FEET IS JUST FINE FOR THAT.
THINGS LIKE WIPING DOWN SURFACES DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP THAT MUCH, BUT IMPROVED AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS SEEM TO HELP A LOT.
SO AS THEY LEARN THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT SCIENCE AND RESEARCH INTO CONSIDERATION.
THEN AS WE LOOK TO THE SPRING AND FALL, WE DO KNOW THERE'S A DATABASE THAT
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TRACKS WHAT GOING ON IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND OVERWHELMING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ARE INDICATING THEY'LL COME BACK TO IN-PERSON THIS FALL.KIND OF THE AVERAGE SEEMS TO BE AROUND 75%.
THAT'S MAINLY ACKNOWLEDGING THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY STILL WON'T BE COMFORTABLE COMING BACK, BUT AS WE LOOK AT THE NEEDS O OUR STUDENTS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, KNOWING WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE SAID THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REENROLL UNTIL IT'S IN-PERSON.
BUT ANOTHER GROUP SAID, WE'RE JUST FINE WITH BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON-LINE COURSES AND TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
DR. TERRY DIPAOLO WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER TODAY.
JUST TO EMPHASIZE SHARON'S POINT WE'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING TO THE CDC AND WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THOSE SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT WORKS WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR STUDENT'S SAFE, BUT ALSO TO MAXIMIZE THEIR ABILITY TO COME BACK AND TO LEARN.
WELL LET ME TURN TO YOU DR. FLOYD.
A RELATED QUESTION THAT HAS COME IN ABOUT THIS SUMMER.
THE QUESTION IS, AS WE START COMING BACK MORE IN-PERSON, WILL STUDENTS BE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO CAMPUS FOR SUMMER COURSES OR WILL THERE BE ALLOWANCES FOR SOME PROGRAMS AND CLASSES TO REMAIN VIRTUAL?
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH CLASSES IN AN ON-LINE, FACE TO FACE, AND HYBRID FORMATS THROUGHOUT THIS SUMMER.
WE HAVE SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING FACE-TO-FACE COURSES HONESTLY SINCE LAST SUMMER.
LOT OF THOSE ARE IN THE C TE AREA, BUT WE HALF HAD A GENERAL UPTICK WITH INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DESIRE TO COME AND IN NEEDED TO COM IN AND WE WERE HAPPY WITH FACULTY THAT VOLUNTEERED TO COME IN AND TEACH AND THOS CLASSES WILL CONTINUE IN ALL THREE FORMATS.
WHAT WE HAVE STRESSED IS THE NEED TO INCREASE OUR FACE-TO-FACE AND ALSO, HYBRID WITH SCHEDULED FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT STUDENTS SEEK THE ENGAGEMENT, NOT ONLY FROM PROFESSORS, BUT FELLOW COLLEAGUES SO ANYWAY WE CAN GET THAT ENGAGEMENT IF IT'S IN SCHEDULED HYBRID SESSION OR THOSE ON-LINE WHERE THEY CAN KNOW IF THEY SHOW UP AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME THEY WILL BE GREETED NOT ONLY BY THEIR PROFESSOR, BUT FOLLOW STUDENT, SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS INCREASING THOSE EFFORT BUT WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ALL FORMATS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SCHEDULE.
WE RECEIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IN ABILITY TO RETURN TO WORK AND THE QUESTIONS ARE AROUND THE LINES OF WELL THE IN ABILITY TO RETURN TO THE WORK PLACE PROCESS EXISTS BEYOND APRIL FIFTH ONCE WE FULLY RETURN TO FULL PERSON AND CAN PART-TIME EMPLOYEES EXPRESS INTEREST?
AS YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF ABILITY TO THE BACK TO WORK PROCESS HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER AND DOES INCLUDING APPROVAL OF THE WORK AGREEMENT.
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED WILL BE HONORED THROUGH MAY 31ST SO IT DOES APPLY OFF THE APRIL FIFTH DEADLINE, BUT AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY THE INABILITY OF RETURN TO WORK PROCESS WILL NOT BE RENEWE AFTER MAY 31ST.
WITH RESPECT TO PART TIME, GENERALLY, THOSE POSITIONS ARE REQUIRING AN ON CAMPUS PRESENCE THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THAT TYPE OF WORK TYPE OF AGREEMENT SO THAT PROBABLY WOULD NOT APPLY TO PART TIME EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT STUDENT SERVICES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT AND IN-PERSON.
THE QUESTIONS ARE ALONG THE LINES OF, WHAT SORT OF SHIFTS DO WE ANTICIPATE OR ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OFFER SOME ON-LINE WEEKEN AND AFTER HOUR SUPPORT PLUS, OUR FACE-TO-FACE.
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS WE'LL CONTINUE TO OFFER A BLEND OF VIRTUAL AND FACE-TO-FACE SERVICES.
PROVIDING THE MAJORITY OF STUDENT SERVICE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8 A.M.
WE'LL ALSO OFFER ADDITIONAL FACE-TO-FACE SATURDAY SERVICE HOURS DURING THE
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PEAK REGISTRATION SEASON TO SUPPORT FALL AND SUMMER ENROLLMENT.OUR ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES WILL PROVIDE LEARNING COMMON SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT AND THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDING FACE-TO-FACE TUTORING AND WEEKEND LEARNING AND THE LIBRARY AND COMPUTER LABS AND THE DEVICE LOAN SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES ARE HELP DESK SUPPORT FOR BLACKBOARD.
CONNECT, COLLEGE E-MAIL ACCOUNT ACCESS WHICH AS WE THOUGH SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE DIFFICULTY RESETTING PASSWORDS AND ET CETERA, SO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE HERE IS THAT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND JUST AS AN INTERESTING BIT OF INFORMATION, WE HAVE STUDENT WHO HAVE MADE FACE-TO-FAC APARTMENTS FOR THIS WEEK AND IN STUDENT SERVICES WE HAVE OVER 350 APARTMENTS JUST FOR THIS WEEK AND THE WEEK BEFORE SPRING BREAK WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS AND 90% OF THE STUDENTS KEPT THOSE APPOINTMENT, SO THERE'S A NEED FOR FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION, BUT ALSO WE UNDERSTAND FOR SOME VIRTUALLY AND AFTER HOURS IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER.
DR. FLOYD, LET ME TURN BACK TO YOU.
YOU CAME INTO THE ROLE OF PROVOST IN THE MIDST OF THE TRANSITION AND COVID-19 ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF YOUR OTHER PEERS THAT DID THE SAME THING ALONG THE SAME TIME.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND WHAT LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED AND HOW THAT MAY IMPACT WHAT AND HOW WE OFFER CLASSES ON A LONG TERM BASIS?
>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S NO REAL ONE WAY OUR STUDENTS LEARN AND I THINK WE KNEW THAT, BUT BEING THRUST INTO THE PANDEMIC IT REALLY CLARIFIED THAT, RIGHT? THAT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS CAN DO REALLY WELL OFF AND ALONE ON THEIR OWN AND SOME OF OUR STUDENTS NEED MINIMAL SUPPORT SO IT'S REALLY CLARIFIED THE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT IT IS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENT'S NEEDS.
IT REMINDS ME HOW WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WANTING TO BE THE BE ALL AND END ALL FOR EVERYBODY AND WE REALLY HAVE TO BE.
WE HAVE TO TAYLOR OUR SUPPORT SO WE WILL EXPERIMENT IN THE SHORTER COURSE OFFERINGS BECAUSE PANDEMIC DEMONSTRATED HOW MUCH TIME STUDENTS HAVE LOST SO WHAT CAN WE GET THEM INTO AND OUT OF QUICKLY SO THEY CAN GET TO WORK AND HAVE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE CLARIFIED GAPS THEY HAVE SO WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THE CENTERS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING TO MAKE SURE FACULTY ARE PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOP AND BEST PRACTICES ARE SHARED BROADLY IN A CONSISTENT WAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CAMPUS, BUT WORKING CLOSELY WITH LEARNING COMMENTS AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW DEAN AND TO WORK WITH THAT GROUP, BECAUSE THAT'S AN AREA WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS WITH THE STUDENTS AND WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK WHERE FROM INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT OR GROUP SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND THEN WITH THE DUAL CREDIT POPULATION JUST WORKING TO ON BOARD AND WORK MORE IN AN INTEGRATED MAN WEAR THOSE FACILITATORS THAT SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THE FACULTY THAT TEACH THEM.
THE BIGGEST LESSON IS WE KNEW OUR STUDENTS LEARNED IN MULTIPLE FORM BUT NOW WE REALLY KNOW THAT SO HOW CAN WE SUPPORT EACH AVENUE TO MAKE SURE EACH ONE OF THEM SUCCEEDS AND ACHIEVES THAT SUCCESS THEY CAME TO US FOR.
DR. DIPAOLO LET ME TURN TO YOU.
WE HAD TO MOVE QUICKLY TO FULLY ON-LINE LAST YEAR SO KIND OF SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR ROLE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT ON-LINE LEARNING OVER THE PAST YEAR?
IN THE PAST YEAR THE ON-LINE TEACHING IS NOT EASIER OR HARDER THAN TEACHING FACE-TO-FACE, IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE IN FACULTY.
THE BIG QUESTION LAST YEAR WAS HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF FACULTY AND TEACHING ON-LINE BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF FACULTY CAN BE A INDIVIDUAL AS THE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF THE RESOURCES AND TRAINING AND EVENTS THAT
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DESIGN SUPPORT FACULTY FOR THEIR NEEDS IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE, SO I RECOMMEND CHECKING OUT THE WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE.THERE'S SOME GOLD ON THAT SITE UP THERE.
OTHER LESSONS RELATE TO STUDENT EXPERIENCE.
FIRST WE'VE HEARD AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER SPEAKERS, WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS STUDENTS FOR THE NEED OF FLEXIBILITY.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT IN DEADLINES AND READING ASSIGNMENTS, BUT STUDENTS SEEK PROGRAMS THAT HELP FOR ADVANCE MEANT IN OCCUPATIONS AND THEIR GOING TO LOOK HOW THEIR LEARN COORDINATING BENEFIT THEM IN TERMS OF SAVINGS IN TIME TO COMPLETE AND COST AND FINALLY JUST IN TIME SERVICES.
ONE OF THE JEWELS OF ON-LINE LEARNING IS THE ABILITY TO FIT STUDY AROUND WORK, FAMILY AND LIFE AND THAT CAN MEAN NEEDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES IN THE LATE EVENING OR THE WEEKEND.
I CAN'T RECOMMEND THE LIBRARIES ENOUGH AND THE HUGE THING THEY'VE MADE THIS LAST YEAR.
THE FINAL LESSON AND THIS MAY SOUND OBVIOUS IS NOT EVERY CLASS EXPERIENCE TRANSLATES WELL TO BEING TAUGHT ON-LINE AND IT'S ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING FOR CLASSES WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF HANDS ON WORK INVOLVIN BEING SHOWN HOW TO DO SOMETHING SO WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT, SO THE LEARNING IS AUTHENTIC FOR STUDENTS AND UP INSTRUCTORS.
>> ON THE SAME LINES REGARDING STUDENTS WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS OF WHAT WE'LL DO TO ENSURE STUDENTS STAY ENGAGED WHEN THEY'RE LEARNING IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.
>> SO STUDENT ENGAGE MEANT IN THE ON-LINE ENVIRONMENT IS A GLOBAL CONVERSATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH MANY FEELING THEY HAVE MISSED OUT.
ENGAGING STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS AND THE GENERAL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE THE LAST YEAR.
SADLY THAT LACK OF ENGAGEMENT IS LINKED TO STUDENT'S SUCCESS AND ALSO, TO ISSUES WITH WELL-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG STUDENTS.
VIDEO FATIGUE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG VIDEO COURSES AND TO MY MIND IT IS A SHORT HAND TERM FOR A BIGGER SET OF CHALLENGES OF BEING REMOTE AND ON-LINE.
KEEPING STUDENTS ENGAGED TAKES A VILLAGE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING ENGAGED IN CLASSES.
MANY FACULTY HAVE WORKED HARD TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR STUDENTS REGULARLY.
THERE'S REALLY USEFUL RESOURCES FROM THE SENSE OF THE TEACHING AND LEARNING THAT IS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THIS.
STUDENTS AND TUTORING AND LIBRARIES HAVE MADE AN ENORMOUS HELP IN CREATING AND ENGAGING DALLAS COLLEGE WITH FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE SERVICES.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS IS OUR UPGRADE OF E-CAMPUS MAKING A MORE ENGAGING EXPERIENCE USING CELLPHONES.
WE'LL BEGIN THIS ROLL OUT THIS FALL WITH THE LOOK AND FEEL NOT CHANGING UNTIL FALL OF 2022.
YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN ENGAGED A LOT AT THE STATE LEVEL AND NATIONALLY WITH QUESTIONS AROUND, WHAT DOES HIGHER EDUCATION LOOK LIK POST COVID-19? AND CERTAINLY A PORTION OF THAT IS THE ON-LINE EXPERIENCE, BUT JUST KIND OF WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT YOU THINK WE LOOK LIKE POST COVID?
BOY, IT IS A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN VIRTUALLY EVERY MEETING, EVERY LEGISLATIVE HEARING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHO IS ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THEY MEAN.
BUT LET ME GET AT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE THERE.
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I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST TELLING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY DIFFERENT AND EXPECTATIONS ARE DIFFERENT NATIONALLY.SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS WEEK AND I WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT, SO I'LL GLANCE AT ANOTHER SCREEN, BUT THAT A NEW FUND WAS CREATED CALLED THE TRANSFORMATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FUND THAT BASICALLY WAS SET UP TO HELP COLLEGES THAT ARE CLOSING AND GOING AWAY AND THE EXPECTATION AMONG MANY IS THAT INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING TO BE TOO RIGID AND WON'T HAVE ABILITY TO CHANGE AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS OR STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE INSTITUTIONS LITERALLY HAVE TO CLOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIVE.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A SITUATION THAT WE WANT TO BE AT CLASS COLLEGE AND IT REALLY IS LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY AND TALKING TO A FACULTY MEMBER AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA.
THEY'RE WANTING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CONNECTING WHERE THEY ARE COMPARED TO THE FUTURE.
AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM WITH THAT CONNECTION.
I HAVE BEEN ASKED A SINGLE QUESTION IN THE PAST YEAR, MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS ENTIRE YEARS OF MY CAREER COMBINED AND THAT'S, WHAT SHOULD A PERSON BE STUDYING TO GO INTO TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A GOOD JOB GOING FORWARD? THAT PUTS PRESSURE ON US TO RESPOND IN A WAY THAT ENSURES THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS BY MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE ECONOMY.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PROGRAMS THAT ARE BETTER A LINED THE ECONOMY.
HOW WE MEET THOSE NEEDS TOO AND THAT APPLIES TO ALL AREAS AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COUNT TO SEE ARE STUDENTS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED ON THEIR FUTURE AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
WE CAN GET INTO THE IMPLICATIONS FOR COLLEGE DEBT AND FORGIVENESS AND WHY THAT MATTERS A AND WHOLE NUMBER OF THINGS TIED INTO, I THINK THE FUTURE, BUT THE EDUCATION IS TIED TO THE FUTURE OF WORK AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE FEW OUR AND IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALIGNED LATER TODAY.
THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF LEGISLATION.
CAN YOU SHARE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR DALLAS COLLEGE AND HOW WE ANTICIPATE USING DOLLARS HERE AND FROM A STATEWIDE LEVEL?
WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE DOLLARS COMING TO US, MAINLY TO GO DIRECTLY TO STUDENT IN THE CARE'S ACT, THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDS WE RECEIVED I THINK ROUGHLY $21,000,000 AND ROUGHLY HALF HAD TO GO DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS IN THE FORM OF ASSISTANCE WITH THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, RENT, COVERING LIVING EXPENSES, FOOD, OTHER THINGS THAT WERE BARRIERS THAT WERE GETTING IN THE WAY, BUT THE TROUBLE WITH THAT IS IT WITH US LIMITED ONLY TITLE 4 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.
THE NEXT ROUND WE RECEIVED ROUGHLY $53 MILLION AND HALF NEEDING TO GO TO STUDENTS AND WE'RE STILL WAITING ON ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS TO COME TO US, BUT LIKE THE FIRST ROUND, THE OTHER HALF NEEDING TO GO TO COVID-19 RELATED ISSUES THAT WE FACED AT DALLAS COLLEGE, AND THE THIRD ROUND, A LOT MORE MONEY.
WE'RE SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $97 MILLION IT LOOKS LIKE BASED ON THE CURRENT ESTIMATES AND THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
AGAIN, 1/2 OF THIS WILL NEED TO GO DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO RESTRUCTURE THAT AND HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH HARRISON KELLER AND I'LL BE IN AUSTIN ACTUALLY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW TALKING ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A REAL CONCERN ABOUT HOW WE'RE USING THESE DOLLARS TO IMPACT THE HARDEST SERVED POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY MINORITIES.
MINORITY MALES AND FEMALES THAT ARE THERE, BUT PARTICULAR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF MINORITY MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25 AN 34 THAT SEEM TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THIS, SO THE GREAT NEW IS THAT THE DOLLARS AS THEY COME TO US GIVES US FLEXIBILITY TO HELP STUDENTS.
AND ACROSS THE STATE, WE'RE WORKING, AS I SAID EARLIER TO IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC SET OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS AND CERTIFICATIONS THAT WILL LEAD TO JOBS.
I'LL BE ALSO TOMORROW MEETING WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE AND I'LL BE TESTIFYING ON A BILL THAT IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY A NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATIONS THAT LEAD TO JOBS AND NOT JUST COMMUNITY COLLEGES, BUT HOW ALL HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS TO START HAVING THAT'S A THEIR FOCUS GOING FORWARD.
SO THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE USED SUCH A WAY TO HELP US HALF HELP STUDENTS GET ON A PATH TO EDUCATION AT DALLAS COLLEGE, BUT ALSO A LONG-TERM CAREER SO THAT THEY CAN IN FACT SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND MEET THEIR NEEDS GOING FORWARD.
>> WELL DR. MAY YOU HAVE REFERENCED THE STATE AND AUSTIN AND THAT YOU'LL BE
[00:35:05]
BACK THERE TESTIFYING TOMORROW AND SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT'S YOUR LEGISLATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HOW DO YOU THINK HIGHER EDUCATION IS FAIRING THIS SESSION?>> IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO READ THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN THROUGH.
THEY'RE NOT MEETING IN THE SAME FASHION THAT THEY HAVE BEFORE AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A REAL, I THINK UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY.
I MENTIONED THE TRUE BILL THAT CHAIRMAN CREIGHTON WHO IS SHARE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS SPONSORING THAT PARTICULAR BILL.
HE'S ASKED THAT BE HEARD FIRST ON HIS COMMITTEE'S AGENDA AND I GUESS THAT SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
THAT BILL WOULD, FOR THE FIRST TIME, SPECIFICALLY FUND TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO ENGAGE IN WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND PROVIDE A DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING FOR MODEST AMOUNT.
$50 MILLION UP FRONT TO THAT, BUT THE INTENT OF THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT'S A LEVERAGE EVEN WITH OUR FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING ALONG.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO PUT, AS OUR TOP PRIORITY, FUNDING OF THE PERFORMANCE POINTS OF COLLEGES, MEANING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON SUCCESS.
NOT ENROLLMENTS AS MUCH, BUT STUDENT'S GETTING THEIR CREDENTIALS AND EARNING THEIR DEGREE TO TRANSFER TO A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION IN A SUCCESSFUL WAY.
HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WE'RE NAVIGATING STILL CONVERSATIONS AROUND REDISTRICTING EVEN THOUGH, THAT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK.
WE'RE NAVIGATING THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL GRID DISCUSSION AND CONCERNS OVER THAT ISSUE, AS WELL AS THE COMPLICATION OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO IT'S ONE OF THE MORE COMPLEX, COMPLICATED, CONVOLUTED SESSIONS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH WHICH MEANS THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO B THERE TOMORROW.
I'LL BE, WE ARE TESTIFYING IN-PERSON, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, WE'RE TESTED EVERY TIME WE GO INTO THE CAPITOL, YOU KNOW I GET SWABBED AN CHECKED OUT, AS DOES EVERYONE ELSE, BUT THE PROCESS IS GOING FORWARD AND WE HAVE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THAT WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE SEE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THAT HELPS OUR INSTITUTIONS AND OUR STUDENTS.
CLEARLY EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS AN ADVENTURE, BUT CERTAINLY MORE SO THIS YEAR.
LET ME TURN TO YOU, DR. WILLIAMS, AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE CLUB, WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE AND APPRECIATE YOU JOINING THE PANEL TODAY.
>> TELL THE AUDIENCE A LITTLE ABOUT YOU AND HOW YOU ARE SETTLING INTO YOUR ROLE INTO THE DALLAS AREA SO FAR?
IT'S NOT JUST A NEW ROLE IT IS A NEW ROLE IN TERMS OF THE ROLE WITHIN THE MERGER STRUCTURE.
THE ROLE AS IT HAS EVOLVED WITHIN THE PANDEMIC.
THE ROAD GEOGRAPHIC FOR ME THAT'S BEEN A SHIFT DOWN HERE IN DALLAS, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT ROLE IN TERMS OF FACILITY.
MANY OF YOU THAT KNOW OR MAYBE DID NOT KNOW, EL CENTRO HAD A POND.
THE BUILDINGS GOT SOME WORK TO DO BEFORE WEAR FULL FORCE IN THERE.
AS EVERYONE KNOWS AS DALLAS COLLEGE CONTINUES TO WORK THROUGH MERGER ACTIVITIES AND THE STRUCTURE OF POSITIONS CHARACTER WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL TO REINVENT I THINK FOR ALL OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE NATION TO TAKE NOTICE OF HOW WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN TO IMPACT COMMUNITY ON SOME VERY INTERESTING AND INTERESTING WAYS.
IT'S NOT DONE IN ISOLATION AS MANY OF OUR JOBS AREN'T, AND SO IT'S WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN WORK UNITS ACROSS DALLAS COLLEGE AND INCORPORATING THINGS LIKE THE SALES FORCE PLATFORM TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES AND STRENGTHEN THE VALUE OF THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE AS WE USE THAT TO GO BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE THINGS ARE VERY, VERY EXCITING AND SO I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF
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THIS.BY THE TIME WE'RE FINISHED, I THINK DALLAS COLLEGE WILL BE, OR I KNOW, NOT THINK THAT DALLAS COLLEGE WILL BE THE ENVY OF HOW COMMUNITY COLLEGES LOOK HOW THEY'RE CHALLENGES TO DELIVER SERVICES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
>> WELL ALONG THE SAME LINES AND YOU REFERENCED THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT THROUGH THE TRANSITION, I'M JUST CURIOUS YOU KNOW AS PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU VIEW THIS ROLE AND A CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT ROLE KNOWING YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE ALSO AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL?
>> ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHEN I ENTER A NEW ENVIRONMENT IS LOOKING FOR THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT OUR WORK IMPACTS.
I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT, MET HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW, BUT TO DWAYNE WRIGHT.
HE'S BEEN AT THE COLLEGE FOR FOUR YEARS OVER FACILITIES AND HE'S RETIRING THIS WEEK.
WHILE HE WORKED HERE HE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE HVAC PROGRAM AND AS HE RETIRES HE'S STEPPING INTO A DIFFERENT PHASE OF HIS LIFE AND THAT'S WHAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
HELP PEOPLE FIND THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES AND MOVE TOWARDS WHATEVER GOAL AND DREAMS THEY HAVE AND FOR MR. WRIGHT HE'LL BE SELF-EMPLOYED AND CAN CONTROL THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DECADES OF HIS LIFE AND THAT'S THE MAGIC OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND DALLAS COLLEGE.
WE HAVE TO AMPLIFY THAT STORY TO OTHERS AND THAT'S THE GOAL.
YOU KNOW WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT THE CORE, AFTER MY FIRST WEEK HERE AFTER WE SAW THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM BURST AND HAD THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE WERE UP AGAINST, I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO MYSELF OF THE CORE CHARACTERISTIC OR BEHAVIORS THAT I NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE AND THOSE WERE FLEXIBILITY, BEING OPEN TO CHANGE, AND THE PACE OF CHANGE SOMETIMES.
NOT ONLY FOR HOW OTHERS EMBRACE OR PERCEIVE CHANGE, BUT HOW OTHERS PROCESS THAT CHANGE AND THE HAS ONE WAS UNITY.
OR A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A THIS GRAND EXPERIMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IS NOT DONE IN A VACUUM.
IT RELIES AS AN INPUT OUTPUT MODEL.
WE HAVE TO TRUST THE PROCESS BEFORE US AND AFTER US BECAUSE THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE WORKING ON THOSE PROCESSES, AS WELL AND JUST AS WE WANT THEM TO TRUST US IN OUR ROLE WE HAVE TO TRUST THEM IN THEIR ROLE SO THAT'S WHERE WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS MAGIC HAPPEN AS WE SERVE PEOPLE.
AS WE ALL AGREE AS WE HELP STUDENT'S ENROLL IN A CAREER AND PUT A FULL RANGE OF WRAP AROUND SERVICES AROUND THEM, AND IF WE'RE ALL WILLING TO BE A LITTLE VULNERABLE AND SAY I DON'T KNOW, WE'LL SOLVE THIS TOGETHER WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO REDEFINE THE MODEL OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THERE WILL BE VOLUMES WRITTEN TAB WORK WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND IT'S GREAT TO BE PART OF IT.
>> THANKS DR. WILLIAMS WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU PART OF THE TEAM.
SHERRI? WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRANSITION AND THE REORGANIZATION AND HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS AND STATE O TALENT POOLS AND FUTURE TALENT POOLS.
WHAT INFORMATION CAN YOU SHARE WITH US?
>> SURE AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AND DR. MAY REFLECTED AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING A YEAR AGO AND WE OPENED OUR FIRST TALENT POOL ON MARCH 21ST OF 2020.
SO WITHIN A YEAR WE'VE OPENED 11 REGULAR TALENT POOLS AND MULTIPLE MINI TALENT POOL AND THE FIRST STARTED OUT WITH 12 POSITIONS AND WE'VE HOSTED OVER 500 POSITIONS BETWEEN THE REGULAR TALENT POOL AND THE MINI TALENT POOL.
OF THE OTHERS 1 THROUGH NINE ARE MOSTLY COMPLETE.
TEN AND 11 ARE IN SOME FORM OF PROCESS, AND WE'LL BE OPENING ROUND 12 LATER THIS WEEK WITH OPERATIONAL POSITIONS.
WE HAD MAJOR, MANY TALENT POOLS IN ACADEMIC AREA, STUDENT SERVICES, WORK FOR ADVANCEMENT OPERATIONS.
THOSE TWO ARE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF PROCESS.
MOSTLY COMPLETE, BUT STUDENT SERVICES OBVIOUSLY IS OUR BIGGEST FOCUS RIGHT NOW IN GETTING THROUGH THOSE ROLES AND AGAIN THIS WEEK WE'RE OPENING ANOTHER MINI TALENT POOL, ACADEMIC AND SOME OF OUR OPERATIONAL AREAS INCLUDING OUR OFFICE OF US
[00:45:01]
IS SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPLIANCE SO WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ON THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION PROCESS.WE ALSO HAD QUESTIONS NOT ONLY PEOPLE PERHAPS JOINING NEW TEAMS THROUGH THIS, BUT AS THEY THINK ABOUT COMING BACK TO THEIR LOCATIONS WE'VE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT EXPLAIN HOW THE DETERMINATION TO RELOCATE EMPLOYEES FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER MAYBE MADE AND WHAT SORT OF FACTORS PLAY IN THOSE DECISIONS?
>> AND THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
TO BRAD'S POINT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SAY WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE YET.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF LONG RANGE PLANNING ON THOSE TYPES OF DETERMINATIONS.
OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST FACTOR IS NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE ORGANIZATION SO AS WE START LOOKING AT THE, YOU KNOW THE AREAS THAT NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER, THAT MAY IN FACT MEAN A RELOCATION.
WE TRY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR OWN PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT CLEARLY THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT AND THE DISTRICT WILL DICTATE THAT AND WE'RE WORKING ON A PLAN FOR THAT.
SIMILAR QUESTION FROM SOME OF OUR FACULTY MEMBERS ASKING, IS THERE SIGNS TO TEACH AT A CAMPUS THAT'S NOT HOME CAMPUS WILL THEY HAV OFFICE SPACE AND A PLACE TO PREPARE FOR CLASS AND SEE STUDENTS WILL.
THAT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM?
THAT'S A PRIMARY CONCERN NOT JUST FOR CURRENT STRUCTURE AS WE BEGIN TO MOVE OUR RESOURCES WHERE STUDENTS NEED THEM MOST, BUT WE'RE LEARNING A LOT FROM THE FUTURE PLANNING.
SO ALL OF THE BUILDING PLANNING AND SPACES ARE GOING UP, WE ARE LOOKING TO INSTALL CAFE STYLE SPACES THAT ARE MORE PLUG AND GO MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD SEE AT A STAR BUCKS OR BARNES AND NOBEL AND WE'LL LOOK HOW TO RETRO-FIT THEM SO AS DEANS ARE PLACED OFFICES AND RECEIVING NEW OFFICE ASSIGNMENTS WE'RE LOOKING AT ADJACENCIES AND WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE ITEMS IN PLACE SO THAT FACULTY WON'T JUST SHOW UP AND FEEL LIKE THEY HAV TO GO SIT IN A HALLWAY OR JUST FIND THEIR OWN SPACE, BUT THEY HAVE A DEDICATED SPACE TO PLUG UP THEIR LAPTOP AND BEGIN TO DO THEIR CLASS ROOM PREP IN A QUIE MANNER AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING MORE COMMON SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR MEETINGS WITH STUDENT AND REUSED BY WHOEVER NEEDS IT IN THE MOMENT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED.
WE WANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE IDEA THAT THIS IS MY SPACE A PERMANENT ASSIGNMENT, BUT MORE OF A PLUG AND GO SPACE THAT CAN BE UTILIZED EVEN BY ME IF I NEED TO PLUG AND IN DO SOME WORK WHILE MEETING WITH SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE TURN IT BACK TO YOU SHERRI, WE'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU KNOW THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPACTS ACROSS THE COLLEGE AND A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITY CREATED THAT YOU WERE REFERENCING EARLIER.
KNOWING MOST OF THE ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITY HAVE BEEN ETERNAL CAN YOU SHARE HOW MANY HAVE BEEN REHIRED SINCE THE PROCESS BEGAN?
>> ABSOLUTELY AND I'M SO THRILLED WITH THIS.
SO FAR THE POSITIONS I NOTED THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 330 OF THOSE BILLS AND OVER 300 HAVE BEEN INTERNAL EMPLOYEES AND OF THAT, ALMOST 170 WERE PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE HAD 8 EMPLOYEES WHO WE'RE PREVIOUSLY IMPACTED AND DID RECEIVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD WITH THE TRANSITION TO DALLAS COLLEGE AND THE ABILITY TO RESHAP OURSELVES IN THIS MANNER.
LET ME TURN TO YOU DR. JOSEPH.
CERTAINLY AS WE PUT TOGETHER THE PLANS FOR THE RESTRUCTURING, DR. MAY WAS VERY FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF INDIVIDUAL CAMPUS AS WE COULD RELATED TO ATHLETICS AND MASCOTS AND YOU KNOW OUR STUDENT JOURNALISM PROGRAMS THAT WERE UNIQUE TO THOSE CAMPUS BUT WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW WILL THE CONSOLATION IMPACT AREAS LIKE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS
[00:50:03]
THAT TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN MORE CAMPUS SPECIFIC THAN WHAT WOULD BE DALLAS COLLEGE SPECIFIC.>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
IT GOES BACK TO WHAT DR. WILLIAMS SAID EARLIER ABOUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND NOT UNDERSTANDING AND BEING EMPATHETIC ABOUT THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS SO CULTURE IS OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT PIECE AND DRIVES A SENSE OF BELONGING SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THAT SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SHARE AROUND THOSE EFFORTS ARE MARKING THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CAMPUS PRECEDENCE ARE WORK ON IDENTIFYING THREE AREAS ON EACH CAMPUS THAT WILL HAVE CAMPUS SPECIFIC THINGS INTEGRATED IN THE SPACE THAT GOES WITH KEEPING THEIR UNIQUE MASCOTS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR OUR STUDENT LIFE TEAM THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO CONSOLIDATE AND STREAMLINE EVENTS TO PROVIDE EQUITY OF SERVICE ACROSS ALL THE CAMPUSES, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP THE FLAVOR OF EACH CAMPUS IS REPRESENTED IN THE PROGRAMMING, SO OUR STUDENTS WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH BOTH STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES ON EACH OF OUR LOCATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE OFFER MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
DR. MAY LET ME TURN TO YOU AND IT'S ONE OF OUR LIVE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME IN.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE AROUND GRADUATION AND WHAT OUR PLANS FOR GRADUATION AND THERE'S FOLKS ON THIS SCREEN AND OTHERS AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE PLANS FOR GRADUATION AND THE QUESTION IS ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A VIRTUAL CEREMONY OR DO FACE-TO-FACE.
IS IT SEPARATE ONES OR ONE BIGGER IS MOAN.
CAN YOU SHARE THE LATEST THING?
AS WE LOOK AT MEETING THE NEEDS.
WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF A GRADUATION.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO ACCOMPLISH FOR WHAT MANY OF THEM THOUGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND WE WANT TO BE THERE TO HELP THEM CELEBRATE THIS EVENT SO WE'RE PLANNING TO HOLD IN-PERSON THIS YEAR, BUT THE DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN FINALIZED.
THERE WILL BE SEPARATE CEREMONIES ON OUR SCHOOLS AS APPOSED TO THE CAMPUSES AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
WE WILL BE LIVE STREAMING THE CEREMONY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ATTENDING IN PERSON, SO YOU KNOW THIS WILL BE A SKILL LEVEL HYBRID EVENT, ASSUMING THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET THE GREAT NEWS WE'RE SEEING AS REGARDING A VACCINATION AND NUMBER OF CASES, BUT LIKE ALL THINGS IN PERSON, WE WILL BE WEARING MASKS AND PRACTICING THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS AS THEY EXIST AND IMPORTANTLY WE'LL BE CELEBRATING OUR STUDENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING WHAT IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY OF THEM A CHALLENGING YEAR.
DR. DAVIS LET ME TURN BACK TO YOU.
I'M TOLD IN MY FAKE EAR PIECE THERE'S BREAKING NEWS THAT TEXAS IS ANNOUNCING THAT VACCINATIONS WILL BE OPEN TO ALL ADULTS STARTING ON MARCH 29TH SO CERTAINLY GET YOUR REACTION TO HOW THAT MAY IMPACT OUR PLANNING AND WE'VE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT AS EMPLOYEES BEGIN TO RETURN, IF WE CAN PROVIDE PPE AT THE LOCATIONS?
>> YEAH, SO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND HEALTH SERVICES DID ANNOUNCE THEY MADE A DECISION YESTERDAY THAT ALL TEXANS WILL QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINE STARTING MARCH 29TH.
THEY'RE ASKING WE PRIORITIZE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE 80 AND OLDER SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS TO SEE ABOUT PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES SPECIFICALLY.
AS IT RELATES TO PPE, DALLAS COLLEGE DOES NOT PROVIDE PPE FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE DO ASK EMPLOYEES BRING THEIR OWN MASKS AND WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER WEARING A DISPOSABLE MATH UNDER YOUR CLOTH MASK.
WITH THAT BEING SAID IF AN EMPLOYEE FORGETS THEIR MASK WE DO HAVE THOSE DISPOSABLE
[00:55:01]
AT THE ENTRY POINTS AT ALL OF OUR DALLAS COLLEGE LOCATIONS AND THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THAT SOUR HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS WHERE WE PROVIDE PPE'S AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT.WE DO HAVE HAND SANITIZE EVERYTHING THROUGHOUT EACH DALLAS LOCATION.
>> DR. DAVIS, WE HAD QUESTIONS COME IN FROM SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK AT OUR ENTERS, SO THE GARLAND AND PLEASANT GROVE CENTER AN THE QUESTIONS ARE, WHEN DO WE EXPECT THOSE LOCATIONS TO OPEN AND MR. EMPLOYEES BE ABLE TO WORK AT THOSE LOCATION?
SO BOTH LOCATIONS ARE OPEN ON A LIMITED BASIS RIGHT NOW FOR SOME OF OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. WE DON'T EXPECT THEY WILL OPEN FULL SCALE BEFORE THE SUMMER.
AS WE ARE RESTRUCTURING AND MOVING PEOPLE AROUND, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE DEDICATED TO THOSE LOCATIONS AS THEIR PERMANENT OFFICE SPACE.
WELL, AND JUST OUR REMAINING FEW MINUTES HERE.
I'LL TURN TO YOU FOR THE LAST QUESTION AND IT'S ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION TO DALLAS COLLEGE AND THAT YOU INDICATED EARLIER THAT WE EXPECTED TO SEE SYNERGY AS WE MOVE TO A COHESIVE COLLEGE VERSES THE SEVEN SEPARATE THAT WE HAD BEFORE, SO CAN YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT HAS BEEN ON THE INSTITUTION AND OUR STUDENTS AT THIS POINT AND WHAT YO EXPECT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE?
FRANKLY THERE'S A LOT IN THAT SIMPLE QUESTION AS IT RELATES TO THE BENEFITS OF THE REORGANIZATION.
WE KNOW THIS BEEN FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, CHAOTIC AND CHALLENGING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I JUST THINK BACK OVER THE PAST YEARS SHERRI MENTIONED IT WITH US JUST ABOUT THIS TIME A YEAR AGO THAT WE BEGAN THE PROCESS.
I DON'T HONESTLY KNOW HOW WE WOULD HAVE GOT THROUGH A YEAR WITH THE PANDEMIC IF WE WEREN'T ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING PLANNED SOME OF THE RESTRUCTURING AND STRATEGIES.
THAT'S NOT WHY WE DID IT, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BENEFIT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY I THINK THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE RECENT TEAM WHEN THEY MET WITH OUR STUDENTS, AS THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING THEY CAN TELL AN INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THIS ALREADY.
THEY BENEFITTED BY AS COMING TOGETHER AS A SINGLE COLLEGE AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AS WE LOOK AT THE UPCOMING YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE EVEN MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS OF COURSE AS YOU HEARD DESCRIBED, BUT ALSO TO THE NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYERS THAT BENEFITS THE STUDENTS GREATLY AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE.
CERTAINLY CHALLENGES EXIST AND NOTHING IS PERFECT OR SMOOTH WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH CHANGE, BUT TO HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE BENEFITS FOR OUR STUDENTS I THINK EXCEEDS MY EXPECTATIONS AND THAT'S A CREDIT IT TO ALL OF YOU AND THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE EVERY DAY AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR STUDENTS DURING THESE TIMES TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK AND TO WORK WITH US DURING THIS TRANSITION TO DALLAS COLLEGE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK THERE.
>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS.
WE TRIED TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE COULD.
PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING TO THE TOWN HALL.
THAT CAN BE DONE AT OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS.
WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THOSE THAT WE COULD NOT GET TO ON THE SHARE POINT SIDE.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK ALL THE LEADERSHIP PANEL.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS AND THOUGHTS AND JUST TO SAY TO RE-EMPHASIZE SOMETHING JUSTIN SAID.
I KNOW WE DIDN'T GET TO EVERYTHING ON YOUR MIND.
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUESTIONS AND INPUT AND JUST PERSONALLY KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING EVERY DAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND FOR EACH OTHER.
SO STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO HELP YOU DO THAT AND THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
IT WITH US GOOD TO SEE YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.