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>>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO CONFERENCE DAY 2021, OUR LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE.
[Leadership Roundtable on August 20, 2021]
I AM RICK WALKER.I WILL BE SERVING AS YOUR MODERATOR.
I WISH WE WERE IN PERSON AT THE BEAUTIFUL HYATT REGENCY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE 100 PERCENT VIRTUAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING.
OVER THE NEXT 90 MINUTES, WE ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGING IN AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.
I HAVE A PILE OF YOUR QUESTIONS HERE.
YOUR QUESTIONS CAN STILL COME IN.
YOU CAN GO TO TOWN HALL AT DCCCD.EDU.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND THE SUCCESSES OF THE PAST YEAR, CURRENT STATE OF DALLAS COLLEGE.
THE IMPENDING LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO COVER.
IF YOU SEE ME ON MY PHONE, I PROMISE I'M NOT PLAYING CANDY CRUSH.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S WELCOME OUR PANELISTS.
NEXT TO HIM IS MONICA LIRA BRAVO OF THE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
AND THEN OF COURSE DR. JUSTIN LONDON, EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR OF OPERATIONS AND CHANCELLOR-ELECT.
CHANCELLOR, MAY, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.
COVID-19 IS AN ONGOING TOPIC OF THE PANDEMIC.
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, EVEN AS OF LAST NIGHT, THERE WAS A BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS REGARDING GUIDANCE ON MASKS.
ULTIMATELY, THE MODIFIED ORDER ISSUED BY DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS TUESDAY STILL STANDS.
OFFER YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, THE CONFUSION ABOUT THE MANDATES AND HELP DALLAS COLLEGE PLANS TO RESPOND TO THE ORDER.
>> DR. JOE MAY: THIS IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND.
I KNOW IT HAS CREATED CONFUSION.
I WANT TO HIT THIS FROM A COUPLE OF ANGLES, RICK AND KIND OF SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVE AND MY POSITION ON THIS ISSUE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE ARE ABOUT SERVING STUDENTS AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS, AND EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO ARE ABOUT ADDRESSING INEQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND DISPARITY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE COVID MAP THAT SHARON DAVIS PUTS UP AND KEEPS UP TO DATE.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CASES ARE OCCURRING.
FRANKLY, THEY ARE IN AREAS THAT ARE DOMINATED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, BY NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS AND OTHERS.
MANY OF THOSE ARE OUR STUDENTS.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE EDUCATION IN ORDER TO GET BETTER JOBS AND BETTER LIVES.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT FOR US.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE CARE OF THE PRECAUTIONS IN ORDER TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE ARE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE LAWS AND MANDATES.
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THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTIONS COMING IN, SO I WILL ANTICIPATE ONE.DSSD HIS ACTING DIFFERENT AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE OPERATING UNDER DIFFERENT STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY THAN DOES DALLAS COLLEGE AS SUCH.
THE COUNTY IS DIFFERENT AS WELL.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS RESPONDING RIGHT NOW TO THE MANDATE OF COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS, WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY.
IT'S A REQUIREMENT WE ADHERE TO THAT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, SAY THAT GOES AWAY FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THERE ARE SO FEW THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, CHAIR BRAVO AS THE BOARD.
YOU DON'T GO INTO A HEALTHCARE SETTING WITHOUT A MASK ON.
YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF A DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENT WITHOUT A MASK ON IN THE CHAIR.
YOU DON'T GO INTO A WELDING LAB WITHOUT A FACE SHIELD OR GOGGLES OR PROTECTIVE GEAR.
YOU DON'T PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF OUR ATHLETIC EVENTS WITHOUT COVERING TO PROTECT YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL MANDATED, NONDISCRETIONARY REQUIREMENTS.
WE LITERALLY HAVE 100 DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS RIGHT NOW RELATED TO WEARING FACEMASKS, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
SOME OF THESE DIRECTIVES SEEM OBLIVIOUS TO.
TO SAY YOU CAN'T MANDATE A MASK, DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE STUDENTS GOING INTO CLINICAL SITES AND HOSPITALS BECAUSE WE IN FACT WOULD BE VIOLATING THE MANDATE THE MINUTE THAT WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE STUDENTS AS SUBJECTS, OR CLIENTS, OR PATIENTS IN OUR DENTAL HYGIENE LABS AS SUCH THAT ARE OUT THERE? DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN'T MAKE A WELDING STUDENT HAVE A FACE SHIELD OR COVERING? OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT INSURING THE INDIVIDUAL SAFETY OF STUDENTS.
THIS IS NOT A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR US.
THIS BACK AND FORTH ON A MASK MANDATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN MANDATE SAFETY HAS BEEN A MOOT ISSUE.
IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE FOR DISCUSSION BEFORE AND I THINK THROWS CONFUSION UNSETTLED WAYS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAS OPERATED AS WELL AS K-12 AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS, RICK, ONE, WE BELIEVE, AND I BELIEVE, AND I WILL GET INTO THIS LATER, THAT ULTIMATELY THE VACCINE IS THE WAY WE ENSURE THE GREATEST SAFETY FOR EVERYONE.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A FEW MINUTES.
IN THE MEANTIME, THERE ARE OTHER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO THE MASK.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT BOTH PROTECTING THE INDIVIDUAL, JUST LIKE WE DO WHEN GOING INTO A HEALTHCARE SETTING.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT PROTECTING OTHERS, JUST LIKE IT IS WHEN OUR STUDENTS GO INTO A
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HEALTHCARE SETTING.WE ARE REALLY ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BOTH.
I DOUBT THEY CAN EVER GET SPECIFIC ENOUGH WITH THE RULES TO DETERMINE WHEN AND WHEN NOT WE CAN REQUIRE THIS.
WE THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
THE MAIN REASON WE NEED TO BE DOING IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE OUT THERE.
OUR BOARD HAS TAKEN THE POSITION, AND I HAVE HAD THE POSITION ALL ALONG, THAT THE ULTIMATE WAY WE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS TO GET EVERYBODY WHO MEDICALLY CAN -- THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T, BUT MEDICALLY CAN BE VACCINATED, AND WE WANT THAT OF EMPLOYEES, OF STUDENTS, AND WE WANT THAT OF FUTURE STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
>> DR. JOE MAY: MORE THAN YOU WANTED TO HEAR, RICK.
>> RICK WALKER: YOU TOUCHED ON THE NEXT QUESTION.
BASICALLY, WHY NOT JUST MANDATE OUR OWN? I THINK YOU COVERED THAT PRETTY WELL.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: ABOUT THE BACK AND FORTH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION THAT HAS GONE ON THROUGHOUT THIS TIME THAT OR MAY AND I AM COUNSEL HAVE BEEN TALKING TO OUR COUNTERPARTS HERE AND AROUND THE STATE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP FOLKS SAFE.
HENCE, A LOT OF THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK.
>> DR. JOE MAY: AND CONFUSION.
I WILL SAY THESE ARE NOT UNINFORMED DECISIONS ON THE PART OF THE COUNTY OR OTHERS WITH THE MANDATE.
I HAVE REGULAR COME AT LEAST EVERY WEEK, A CALL WITH HEALTH OFFICIALS, WITH OUR COUNTY JUDGE, WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS.
WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE WE SERVE, AND HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.
WE SHARE NOTES WITH EACH OTHER FOCUSING ON THE SAME THING.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT HAVING THE CEO OF ONE OF OUR LARGE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND OTHERS THAT ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE AS WE GET THE BENEFIT OF THE EXPERTS AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JOE MAY IS MAKING UP AS WE ISSUE THESE REQUIREMENTS.
IT'S REALLY INFORMED DECISIONS AS WE TRY TO PUT IN PLACE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS AND THE GREATER POPULATION THAT WE SERVE.
ONE OF THE BURNING QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN AROUND THE VIRTUAL WATER COOLER.
DOES DALLAS COLLEGE HAVE PLANS TO REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID AS OTHER EMPLOYERS HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> DR. JOE MAY: I KIND OF HIT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT, RICK.
IF YOU GO BACK, WHICH I HAVE DONE, AND READ THE NATIONAL PANDEMIC PLAN, THAT CAME OUT IN 2005-2006, IT WAS ADOPTED OR CREATED UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSH AS LOOKING AT HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE NATION.
THEY BASICALLY BUILT THE PLAN ON THE INITIAL PRESUMPTION THAT IN A PANDEMIC A VACCINE IS NOT AVAILABLE.
A LOT OF THE PRECAUTIONS IN TERMS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASKS AND OTHER PRECAUTIONS WERE TO BASICALLY ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE A VACCINE WAS BEING DEVELOPED AND ROLLED OUT.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, WHEN THIS WAS REALLY GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE THAT A VACCINE COULD BE DEVELOPED IN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS AS SUCH.
SINCE THAT, WE HAVE HAD EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS ALLOWED USING RNA SPLICING TO CREATE VACCINES, TO DO THAT MUCH FASTER, AND THAT ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY FDA APPROVED AT THIS POINT.
THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN REASON WHY A LOT OF FOLKS HAVEN'T REQUIRED THE VACCINE.
ALTHOUGH, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE DOING IT, INCLUDING LOCAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS WITH OTHERS WERE INCREASINGLY WE ARE SEEING THE VACCINE REQUIRED.
WE DO REQUIRE A MENINGITIS VACCINE OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE ALSO ALREADY REQUIRE VACCINES FOR VERIFYING ON A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BASIS THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE FLU VACCINES AND MENINGITIS VACCINES AND OTHERS BEFORE THEY CAN GO INTO A HEALTHCARE FACILITY BECAUSE MOST HEALTHCARE FACILITIES HAVE THIS AS A REQUIREMENT.
IF THE HOSPITALS REQUIRE THE COVID VACCINE, WE HAVE TO REQUIRE THAT AS WELL OF THOSE STUDENTS, OR THOSE STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREES OR PROGRAMS. SO, BLANKET MANDATES QUITE HONESTLY ARE NOT WORKABLE AS SUCH FOR US BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.
RIGHT NOW WE AREN'T, BUT AS YOU KNOW, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES YESTERDAY AGREED TO REALLY THINK THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE VACCINATED WE WILL DEPOSIT $500 IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT AS AN APPRECIATION OF THEM TAKING THAT EFFORT.
IN SOME CASES FOLKS ARE UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO AND WE WANT TO TAKE AWAY THAT UNCERTAINTY TO DO THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED.
WE WILL GIVE UP TO $200 TO FULLY VACCINATED STUDENTS.
YOU TRY TO PUT YOUR THUMB ON THE SCALE.
ABSOLUTELY WE ARE TRYING TO PUT OUR THUMBS ON THE SCALE.
WE BELIEVE MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, OTHER PRECAUTIONS, ARE REALLY BUYING US TIME UNTIL WE CAN GET EVERYONE VACCINATED.
I REALIZE A LOT OF PEOPLE GREW UP IN A TIME UNLIKE ME WHERE WE SAW PANDEMICS THAT KILLED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SPREAD AND VIRTUALLY WERE WIPED OUT.
THINGS LIKE SMALLPOX NO LONGER EXISTS AS SUCH.
THE MUTATION OF THE COVID VIRUS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF IT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS REALLY CURTAIL THE SPREAD, SLOW DOWN THE MUTATION, AND CREATE SOME LEVEL OF NORMALCY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE VACCINE.
WE WILL DO THE OTHER PRECAUTIONS AS LONG AS THEY MAKE SENSE, BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS GET EVERYONE VACCINATED.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE A B SCHEDULE.
IN DISTANCE LEARNING, IS THERE PLANS TO SHIFT BACK TO AB LEARNING OR A VIRTUAL SCHEDULE?
>> DR. JOE MAY: I WILL LET DR. LONDON TALK ABOUT THAT.
THE TRUTH IS WE DIDN'T SEE AB WORKING ALL THAT WELL.
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IN SOME AREAS, WE WERE ABLE TO ROTATE PEOPLE AND MAKE THAT WORK.I THINK THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW BY KEEPING PEOPLE AWAY FROM WORK, IN PERSON WORK, FOR A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS, DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NOT IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE ELSEWHERE THAT'S OUT THERE.
FROM AN OVERALL STRATEGY OF HEALTH, IT DOESN'T WORK WELCOME AND DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR SERVING STUDENTS.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: THE OTHER THING I WILL ADD IS, GENERALLY WE WILL REACT TO CONDITIONS AS NEEDED.
WE SAW THIS LAST YEAR BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS AVAILABLE THAT WE HAD BEEN OPERATING IN MORO BAY FACE TO FACE MODE FOR MANY EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS UNTIL WE GOT TO AROUND THANKSGIVING.
CASES WERE GOING UP AROUND THAT TIME.
WE REALLY EVALUATED AND PULLED BACK A LITTLE BIT.
THE GOOD NEWS SAYS, AS JAY MAY SAID, THE VACCINE IS NOW WIDELY AVAILABLE NOW.
>> RICK WALKER: CHAIR BRAVO, WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MOVED RATHER QUICKLY.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP.
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THIS DECISION THE BOARD MADE?
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: DEFINITELY.
THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS OUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY AS A GOVERNING BODY IS TO WORK WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE CHANCELLOR.
WE KNOW THAT IS THE ONE EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OF HIRING, SUPERVISING, AND SO WE TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.
UPON LEARNING OF THE RETIREMENT OF DR. MAY, WHO GAVE US AMPLE NOTICE, WE AS A BOARD FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE CHOOSE SOMEONE WHO CAN CONTINUE US ON THIS TRAJECTORY OF GOING TO DALLAS COLLEGE.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT WE DON'T LOSE MOMENTUM.
IT MADE PERFECT SENSE TO US TO NAME DR. LONDON AS OUR NEXT CHANCELLOR.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT DURING THE NEXT YEAR DR. LONDON AND DR. MAY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COLLEGE.
>> RICK WALKER: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR CHANCELLORS HOW THE PROCESS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I WILL JUST COMMENT.
DR. LONDON AND I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER FOR SEVEN YEARS.
WE BEGAN THE PROCESS A FEW YEARS AGO OF INCLUDING DR. LONDON IN ALL OF OUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS WITH THE BOARD SO HE WOULD BE UP TO SPEED INFORMING THOSE DECISIONS.
HE HAS BEEN THE LEAD IN SO MANY OF OUR NEW INITIATIVES AS WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE TRANSITION FROM SINGLE COLLEGES TO AN INSTITUTION.
HE'S THE LEADER OF THAT EFFORT.
HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH ENSURING OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURSES THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT THROUGH OUR SCHEDULING EFFORTS AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR TEAMS THERE.
HE WAS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE RESTRUCTURING OF OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INTO SEVEN SCHOOLS.
HIS FINGERPRINTS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THIS DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT GREAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT PERHAPS COULD HAVE COME IN AND SERVED IN THIS ROLE, BUT I REALLY THINK THE BOARD ACTED IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO COME AT THIS POINT IN TIME, GO INTERNAL.
THERE'S ALWAYS A TRANSITION, EVEN WITH AN INTERNAL MOVE.
DR. LONDON THANKFULLY WILL BRING HIS OWN PERSPECTIVE AND IDEAS TO THE TABLE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE WORLD IS CHANGING AT A RAPID RATE.
WE HAVE TO ADAPT AT A RAPID RATE AS WELL.
WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF CHANGE IN PLACE THAT NEEDS TO BE CARRIED OUT AND COMPLETED.
I THINK THIS MOVE JUST MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH DR. LONON INTO NEXT YEAR AS
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WE REALLY ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, WORK TOGETHER, TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITY.>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: I AM OBVIOUSLY EXCITED ABOUT IT AS WELL, AND APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT.
I CAN TELL YOU THE BOARD DIDN'T TAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY.
THEY RAN ME THROUGH THE RINGER IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AND OUR DIALOGUE.
CERTAINLY, I HAVE BEEN HERE OVER 15 YEARS NOW.
DR. MAY IS THE THIRD CHANCELLOR I HAVE WORKED FOR AN WORKED WITH.
I HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM ALL THREE OF THEM.
AS DR. MAY INDICATED, I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO WORK THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
CLOSELY WITH THE BOARD AND WITH MANY OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVES AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S AHEAD, BUT FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY NOW THAT WE HAVE TRANSITIONED AND CONTINUE TO TRANSITION INTO DALLAS COLLEGE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS TO COME ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> RICK WALKER: CHAIR BRAVO, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE BOARD IN THE COMING MONTHS?
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: HE CAN WORK ON THE BOARD'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN ALIGNMENT.
ONE THING VERY IMPORTANT TO THE BOARD BUT WE NEGOTIATED DR. LONON'S CONTRACT IS PART OF HIS PAY BE TIED TO PERFORMANCE.
PART OF HIS SALARY IS BASED ON THERE WILL BE INCENTIVES IF HE MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WHAT ARE THE METRICS AND THE GOALS WE WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO ACHIEVE.
LONON, IF YOU LIKE TO EXPAND ON THAT.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: IT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE IN THIS NEW STRUCTURE, AS I SAID EARLIER, THERE'S A DIFFERENT SET OF EXPECTATIONS.
THAT COMES FROM THE BOARD AS WELL WITH THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
WE WILL BE FOCUSING HEAVILY ON THE METRICS THAT MATTER AND THE THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO OUR STUDENTS, TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO OUR EMPLOYERS.
IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY, QUITE FRANKLY, BEGINNING WITH ME, AND THE BOARD HOLDING ME ACCOUNTABLE.
THEN, AS WE LOOK AHEAD, SOME OF THE THINGS, SOME OF THE INITIATIVES, WE WILL UNDERTAKE, WILL BE TO LOOK AT PERFORMANCE PAY, MERIT-BASED PAY FOR EMPLOYEES BROADLY AND GENERALLY, SO WE CAN ENSURE WE ARE MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE THAT WE SERVE AND THE PRIORITIES THE BOARD SETS FOR US.
THIS IS CONFERENCE 2021 LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, GO TO TOWN HALL AT DCCCD.EDU.
WE WILL KEEP ROLLING WITH THE QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS IS THE TRANSITION TO DALLAS COLLEGE.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE COLLEGE WIDE REORGANIZATION.
I WILL ADDRESS THIS TO DR. MAY.
CAN YOU SHARE WHERE WE ARE IN THE HOLY ORGANIZATION PROCESS?
WE STARTED THIS PROCESS PRE-COVID.
YOU KNOW, PRE-SNOWMAGEDDON AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME ALONG AND DEALT WITH AND AFFECTED LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND STUDENTS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IN SOME WAYS, WHAT WE HAVE REALIZED IS, THANK GOODNESS WE HAD A PLAN THAT WAS GOING TO REALLY BRING THINGS TOGETHER AND CONSOLIDATE OUR ABILITY.
I'M GOING TO BE STRAIGHT WITH EVERYBODY.
IF WE HADN'T ALREADY PLANNED OUT A STRUCTURE FOR HOW TO KIND OF WORK AS A SINGLE INSTITUTION, WHEN WE ENTERED THE COVID WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CREATE IT.
THIS LITERALLY PUT US MONTHS AHEAD IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND FOR US TO RESPOND TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
AND STILL TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AT
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THAT TIME.FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, IT'S OVERALL GOING VERY WELL.
ARE THERE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE GONE BETTER? OF COURSE.
WE REALIZE IT IMPACTED PEOPLE IN WAYS I HADN'T FULLY ANTICIPATED AS WE GOT INTO IT.
THE IMPACT ON PEOPLE ALWAYS KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.
I AM CONCERNED WE MEET THOSE NEEDS.
BUT OUR OVERALL GOAL HASN'T CHANGED.
THAT IS TO GET STUDENTS THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET GREAT JOBS.
IT MEANS GETTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NORMALLY BEEN LEFT OUT OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES A CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
LITERALLY, I THINK IT WAS ALMOST 1300 STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR A DEGREE, AND COULDN'T GET THE DEGREE BECAUSE THEY HAD TAKEN CLASSES AT ALL OF OUR COLLEGES, BUT HADN'T ACCUMULATED ENOUGH FROM ANY ONE TO ACTUALLY EARN THE DEGREE.
SOLVING THAT PROBLEM, AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY, I THINK HAS GONE WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, AS WE MAKE THE TRANSITION, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE GAPS IN THAT.
THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE PEOPLE AND STUDENTS THAT BRING THEM TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE ARE ABLE TO FOLLOW-UP AND ACT ON THEM.
>> RICK WALKER: CHAIR BRAVO, FROM THE BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, WHY IS THIS A CHANGE THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN NOW, ON NOT FIVE OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD?
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: SINCE I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD, I REMEMBER WE WOULD HAVE MEETINGS WHERE THEY WOULD SHOW THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WERE ENROLLED AT DIFFERENT COLLEGES, AND WE ALWAYS HAD THAT NEW CATEGORY OF THE STUDENT WHO IS GOING TO MORE THAN ONE COLLEGE.
AS WE HEARD MORE ABOUT THIS RURAL STUDENT, WE FOUND OUT STUDENTS WERE AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT BECAME TIME THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE COMPLETING THEIR DEGREE BECAUSE THEY UNFORTUNATELY HAD NOT ATTENDED ENOUGH CLASSES AT ONE CAMPUS TO GET THEIR DEGREE.
WE THOUGHT IF OUR FOCUS IS AROUND THE STUDENT AND NOT AROUND THE INSTITUTION, WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT ULTIMATELY WAS WHY WE DECIDED THIS WAS IMPORTANT, URGENT, AND DIDN'T NEED TO WAIT.
THE SOONER WE COULD TRANSITION, THE SOONER OUR STUDENTS COULD BENEFIT BY COMPLETING THEIR CREDENTIALS.
>> RICK WALKER: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES OF THIS TRANSFORMATION.
ONE BENEFIT OF BECOMING DALLAS COLLEGE HAS BEEN OPPORTUNITY TO RESEARCH, DESIGN, AND ESSENTIALLY BUILD AN INSTITUTION FROM THE GROUND UP WITH NEW PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES AIMED AT SUPPORTING OUR MISSION TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.
TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THE COLLEGE HAS EXPERIENCED SUCCESS IN THIS REGARD.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: I THINK ONE THING I WILL SAY ABOUT THE TRANSITION IS WE ALL RECOGNIZE AND WE ALL KNOW THIS HAS BEEN TOP FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.
WE DIDN'T JUST DIVE INTO THIS.
WE ARE VERY INTENTIONAL STARTING WITH A STUDENT EXPERIENCE STUDY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING TO STUDENTS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO STUDENTS AT THAT TIME.
THAT HELPED INFORM THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE AND TWEAK AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE STUDENT JOURNEY.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL, EVEN WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TRANSITION TO ONE COLLEGE.
WE SPENT TIME LOOKING AT OTHER MODELS OF STRUCTURE.
WE TRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT MAY MAKE SENSE FOR OUR INSTITUTION.
TOOK A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THAT ALONG THE WAY TO GET TO THE STRUCTURE AND DESIGN THAT WE WENT WITH.
KEEP IN MIND IT'S ONLY BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE WE HAVE BEEN DALLAS COLLEGE AT THIS POINT.
JUST NOW ARE WE COMING BACK LARGELY FACE TO FACE.
AS THE CHANCELLOR SAID, IT WAS A MATTER OF A COUPLE DAYS AFTER WE SUBMITTED OUR PROPOSAL AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.
WE HAVE HAD TO ENGAGE WHICH HAS PROVIDED CHALLENGES.
HAVE WE GOTTEN IT 100 PERCENT RIGHT ALONG THE WAY?
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NO.WILL WE MAKE TWEAKS AND ADJUSTMENTS AND LEARN FROM THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT REMAINS, AS DR. MAY HAS SAID, THE REMINDER OF WHY WE HAVE DONE THIS.
IT IS STILL A LITTLE EARLY TO IDENTIFY WHAT ALL THE SUCCESSES WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT CERTAINLY A UNIFIED STUDENT EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING ALREADY THAT'S TAKING PLACE AS WE PUT SOME OF THE MEASURES IN PLACE, AND TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE INCONSISTENCIES THAT WERE OCCURRING BEFORE.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I WOULD SAY, TO COME ALONG THAT LINE, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN A BIT OF AN OBSERVATION, AND OBVIOUSLY EACH OF OUR LOCATIONS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM MIX AND WHAT IS THERE, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL ATTITUDE OR CULTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, PART OF OUR GOAL WAS TO BRING THE OUTSIDE IN, TO BETTER CONNECT WITH EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND UNIVERSITIES.
WHERE WE SEE THE EXTERNAL CONNECTION TAKING PLACE, WE ALSO SEE THE BEST RESULTS HAPPENING FOR STUDENTS AS WE GET THERE.
WE WERE REALLY CREATED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS.
THAT'S WHY THE TAXPAYERS FUNDED US.
THAT IS WHY WE WERE PUT INTO PLACE.
PART OF THIS DESIGN WAS TO REALLY GET PEOPLE OUT TALKING TO EMPLOYERS, ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS, AND MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THE NEEDS SO WE COULD RESPOND TO THOSE NEEDS WITH OUR PROGRAMS TO GIVE PEOPLE JOBS AND SO THEY CAN RAISE THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT EQUITY IS ABOUT, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.
IF WE ARE NOT OUT ENGAGING REALLY SUPPORTING THAT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
WHERE THE LEADERSHIP IS OUT ESTABLISHING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, HELPING TO TIE THOSE TO OUR PROGRAMS WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS.
FRANKLY, IT'S GOING SLOWER AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
>> RICK WALKER: SAID THE REORGANIZATION HAS PRESENTED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST EXAMINE, BUT RE-EXAMINE AND RE-EXAMINE THE CULTURE WITHIN DALLAS COLLEGE.
WHAT DID YOU GUYS LEARN, AND WHAT AREAS DO YOU FORESEE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: I WILL START BY SAYING CULTURE IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OVER THE COMING YEARS.
WE HAVE A GREAT LEGACY IN HISTORY AS DCCCD WE ARE BUILDING ON.
WE ALSO HAD UNIQUE CULTURES AT THE LOCATIONS.
WE WILL SPEND TIME WITH THE BOARD TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF DALLAS COLLEGE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE PART OF THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE FOUND OVER THIS LAST YEAR OR SO AROUND COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ALL SITTING FACE-TO-FACE AROUND THE TABLE.
WE WILL FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION GAPS THAT HAVE EXISTED.
CERTAINLY STAFF AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE NEW LEADERS IN NEW ROLES THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
ALSO WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS AND BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITY, AND INDUSTRY.
OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, AND IN THE COMING YEARS, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON, BUT WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING EMPLOYEES, SUCH AMAZING FACULTY AND STAFF, THAT ARE COMMITTED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING OUR STUDENTS.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT TOGETHER TO REALLY REBUILD WHAT THE NEW DALLAS CULTURE WILL BE.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT.
WE'VE HAD INCREDIBLE PEOPLE STEP UP OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN WE'VE HAD REAL HEROES THAT ARE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS, BUT HOLY COW.
WE HAVE HAD FOLKS GO WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATED.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD ADD TO DR. LONON IS WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CONSTANT CHANGE.
I THINK FOR SO MANY YEARS YOU COULD REALLY LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND SAY, THIS INSTITUTION THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO OPERATE FOR 50 YEARS.
[00:35:05]
QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S NOT A LUXURY WE HAVE ANY MORE.A LOT OF THE CHANGE WE ARE MAKING IS TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CHANGE QUICKLY.
LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, EVERYTHING FROM 9/11 TO HURRICANES TO TORNADOES TO ICE STORMS TO PANDEMICS, TO FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THREATS.
THAT IS JUST ACCELERATING AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.
THAT AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS, COMMUNITIES, EMPLOYERS.
WE HAVE TO BE IN THE POSITION WE ARE RESPONDING TO IT, NOT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO IT.
THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADAPT TO AND RESPOND TO WITH THE CULTURE WE ARE CREATING, ONE THAT ANTICIPATES AND EMBRACES CHANGE RATHER THAN TO LOCK OURSELVES DOWN TO RESIST IT.
I KNOW TIME IS FLYING BY AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU ARE BRINGING US.
WE ARE GETTING BLOWN UP WITH QUESTIONS.
WE WILL GO THROUGH AND GET SOME MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE LIVE DISCUSSION HERE, LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE.
ONCE WE GET PAST COVID, HOW WILL WE CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH AN INDUSTRY?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: IS IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO TO ENSURE WE ARE RESPONSIVE, THAT WE ARE TABLING OUR PROGRAMS IN A WAY THAT ARE SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.
AS DR. MAY INDICATED, IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE IN A REMOTE ENVIRONMENT TO BE ABLE TO FULLY DO THAT.
IN THIS NEW STRUCTURE, WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT ARE HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING TRYING TO ENGAGE.
AS DR. MAY SAID, LEADERSHIP TEAM, THE CAMPUS PRESIDENTS.
WE HAVE SUCH IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY THAT HAVE STUCK WITH US WHEN WE HAVE HAD TO MOVE TO AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT.
THEY WERE FLEXIBLE ALONG THE WAY.
THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE PRETTY HIGH EVEN THROUGH THE RESTRUCTURING.
THEY SEE THE BENEFIT AND VALUE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TAP INTO JUST ONE CAMPUS, ONE AREA, BUT NOW THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
OUR TEAMS ARE ON THE STREETS NOW ENGAGING WITH FOLKS TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US SO WE CAN TAILOR IT ACCORDINGLY.
>> DR. JOE MAY: AND I WOULD SAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH OUR PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEES ENGAGING WITH THOSE.
WHERE THAT LEFT A GAP, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW INDUSTRIES, NEW COMPANIES COMING IN FOR WHICH WE DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE PROGRAMS. WE EXPECT OUR PRESIDENTS AND OTHER LEADERS AND VICE PROVOST AND PROVOST AND OTHERS TO BE OUT ESTABLISHING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AS WE SEE THINGS LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AS WE SEE NEW TECHNOLOGY EMERGE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN AEROSPACE AND TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY, CLOUD COMPUTING, OTHERS, HOW ARE WE REALLY ENGAGING IN UNDERSTANDING THOSE AND STARTING NEW PROGRAMS? WE ARE CREATING BACCALAUREATE DEGREES.
WE NEVER HAD A BACHELORS DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS PROBABLY LATER TODAY.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHEN WE GET BACK TO NORMAL, QUITE HONESTLY I DON'T EVER SEE THAT HAPPENING.
I DON'T EVER SEE US NOT BEING UNDER THE THREAT OF A PANDEMIC, OR A CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THAT IS THE REALITY THAT WE HAVE TO DESIGN OURSELVES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO.
IF WE THINK IT'S GOING TO LOOK EVER AGAIN LIKE IT DID IN 2019, I THINK WE ARE MISTAKEN.
CHAIR BRAVO, YOU ARE AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.
LAST MONTH, FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS RULED CONGRESS HAD NOT GRANTED THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE THE DACA PROGRAM.
THAT DECISION CAME AFTER MUCH BACK AND FORTH AROUND THE PROGRAM AND SERVED AS A LATEST SETBACK FOR THE ROUGHLY 600,000 DACA RECIPIENTS NATIONWIDE.
CHAIR BRAVO, SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ONGOING LEGAL BATTLE, AND THE IMPACT YOU SEE IT'S HAVING ON STUDENTS AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:40:01]
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY WAS VERY DISHEARTENING TO SEE THIS DECISION AT A FEDERAL COURT IN SOUTH TEXAS.
WHAT I WANT TO REITERATE TO OUR STUDENTS AND SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE DACA STATUS, IS THE DECISION BASICALLY SAID, IF YOU HAVE DACA, YOU CAN STILL RENEW IT.
IF YOU HAVE A DACA WORK PERMIT, YOU HAVE NOT LOST THE ELIGIBILITY.
YOU CAN KEEP RENEWING THE WORK PERMIT.
THIS DECISION AFFECTS PEOPLE APPLYING FOR DACA FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY WILL INCLUDE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR DACA FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEIR CASES WILL BE ON HOLD INDEFINITELY UNTIL EITHER A HIGHER COURT ACTS, OR OUR PRESIDENT, OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH, CHANGES DIRECTION ON IT, OR CONGRESS PASSES LEGISLATION.
THIS IS VERY DISHEARTENING FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.
I KNOW FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THEM THAT MANY STUDENTS ARE GETTING DISCOURAGED OF CONTINUING WITH THEIR STUDIES BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE THE BENEFIT OF COMPLETING THEIR DEGREE AND GETTING A JOB BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO A WORK PERMIT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS A DISHEARTENING TIME.
THANKFULLY AT DALLAS COLLEGE WE WELCOME ALL STUDENTS TO OUR CAMPUS REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE CHAIR BRAVO ALWAYS HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS.
RIGHT NOW, SOME OF YOU LIKE ME ARE HEARING FROM THE AFGHAN STUDENTS DEALING WITH PERSONAL ISSUES, FAMILY ISSUES, OTHERS.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO APPRECIATE THOSE WHO ARE ENCOURAGING THEM, NOT JUST FROM AFGHANISTAN.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS DEALING WITH REFUGEE STATUS THAT THEIR STORIES ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, HEARTBREAKING, AND IN MANY WAYS THEY ARE HEROES.
WE REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, AND PROVIDE THEM A QUALITY EDUCATION TO MEET THEIR NEEDS EVEN IN A WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY.
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: >> DR. JUSTIN LONON: ONE OF THE THING WANT TO ADD IS WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER SINCE THE 90S.
OUR BOARD MADE THE DECISION THAT REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS STUDENTS COULD PAY TUITION UNDER CERTAIN CRITERIA AND THAT LED THE WAY FOR THE STATE IN 2001 TO PASS THE NORIEGA BILL THAT MADE IT A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE OF OUR BOARD CHAIR AND THAT DOES POSITION US TO ENSURE WE CAN CONTINUE, AS DR. MAY SAID, TO BE NIMBLE AS THINGS EVOLVE, AND AS THE CHAIR SAID, THAT WE ARE A WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS A LITTLE BIT.
IN 2019, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR BOND.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: WE REMEMBER IT THOUGH.
>> RICK WALKER: THERE WAS THIS BOND IN 2019.
DALLAS COUNTY VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A $1.1 BILLION BOND FOR DALLAS COLLEGE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE NEEDS, EXPAND FACILITIES, AND IMPROVE PROGRAMS. WE HAD SEVERAL LEGAL DELAYS.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN EIGHT ON THE LATEST IN THAT?
WE WON THE CASE IN COURT WHICH WAS A CHALLENGE OF THE ELECTION.
THIS HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN ABOUT THE BOND.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE ELECTION AND FRANKLY IT'S A LOT OF THE SAME FOLKS THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH CHALLENGING SOME OF THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND CLAIMING VOTER FRAUD AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAD OCCURRED HERE.
THE COURTS RULED NONE OF THIS OCCURRED AS SUCH.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS NOW.
I AM OPTIMISTIC WE WILL RESOLVE IT.
QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, AND THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS, AND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FRANKLY HAVING TO BE PUT ON THE BACK SHELF WHILE WE DEAL WITH A FEW INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO KIND OF THROW A WRENCH IN THE GEARS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS, IT WILL JUST BE A
[00:45:06]
LATER TIME THAN WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED.THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND WE WILL GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WERE OUTLINED FOR THE 1.1 BILLION THE VOTERS APPROVED.
THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO AND WE NEED IT.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: THERE'S A COUPLE INITIATIVES OUT OF THAT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
ABOUT $300 MILLION WORTH THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE ON.
THE BOARD SUPPORTED SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WAS THINKING OR SPEAKING TO A GROUP AT EL CENTRO CAMPUS.
AS DR. MAY SAID, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
WE HAVE SOME WRANGLING TO GET PAST, BUT 71 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS GAVE US THE MANDATE TO DO THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO IT.
LET'S CHANGE TOPICS A LITTLE BIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
NOT JUST LOCALLY, BUT NATIONWIDE AND BEYOND.
WHERE DOES HIGHER ED STAND NOW, ON HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE IT WILL EVOLVE THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: GREAT QUESTION.
I WILL START WITH A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING.
AS DR. MAY INDICATED EARLIER, HOW THE STUDENT POPULATION IS EVOLVING, AND HOW OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE SEEN THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT IT PLAYS IN THAT.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE WILL SEE A MOVE TO PERSONALIZE EDUCATION EVEN MORE, AND PERSONALIZE OUR SERVICE AND INTERACTION WITH OUR STUDENTS.
CERTAINLY, THERE ARE POLICY DISCUSSIONS IN AUSTIN AND ELSEWHERE THAT ARE SOMETIMES SUPPORTIVE AND HELPFUL OF THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO, AND SOMETIMES GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, DR. MAY AND I THROUGH THE YEARS HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN THE POLICY ARENA.
RIGHT NOW IS A REALLY UNIQUE TIME.
WE HAVE COME OUT OF N02 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THIS YEAR.
WE HOPED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FOCUS AND SUPPORT ON EDUCATION.
A LOT OF THE ATTENTION WAS ON K-12 GIVEN THE UNIQUENESS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND HOW THEY WERE LEARNING AND THE LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE REMOTE TIME PERIOD.
AND THEN CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL REALLY AROUND FUNDING WHICH DR. MAY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AND WILL BE INVOLVED IN OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.
IS THE FUNDING STRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES THE RIGHT FUNDING STRUCTURE? IT'S A COMPLICATED HISTORIC FORMULA THAT HASN'T BEEN EVALUATED IN DECADES AT THIS POINT.
DR. MAY AND OTHERS ARE LEADING AN EFFORT TO REALLY REVIEW THAT.
I THINK OVER THE NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE ATTENTION AND FOCUS ON THEM.
>> DR. JOE MAY: WE SEE A LOT OF TRENDS AS IT RELATES TO A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I AM JUST THINKING OF SOME CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH LEGISLATORS WITHIN THE LAST 8-10 DAYS WITH MEETINGS WITH POLICY PEOPLE OUT OF WASHINGTON, WITH MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE DISCUSSION OF SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATIONS RISE TO THE TOP LIKE IT HAS NOW.
THAT WAS A CONVERSATION WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYONE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENSURE PEOPLE ARE VERY QUICKLY ABLE TO GET THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO GET A JOB AND CERTIFICATION RIGHT UP FRONT IN THEIR DEGREE? WE WERE RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER THANKS TO A LOT OF OUR FOLKS AT THE COLLEGES THAT WORKED WITH COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON WEB SERVICES AND GOOGLE AND VERIZON AND SALESFORCE AND OTHERS TO BRING THOSE CERTIFICATES INTO PROGRAMS AND MEET THOSE NEEDS.
WE ARE SEEING POLICY ON THAT WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT CONGRESS PUT FORTH.
REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, MAKING SURE TWO YEARS WERE ACCESSIBLE.
THEY ARE STILL NATIONALLY WORKING WITH THE ISSUE OF FREE AS WE ARE IN TEXAS.
FRANKLY, WE SOLVED THE PROBLEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN DALLAS.
WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE A FREE PATHWAY FOR EDUCATION FOR MOST OF OUR STUDENTS.
THAT IS STILL PART OF THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION ON POLICY RECOGNIZING THAT WITHOUT EDUCATION TODAY THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR INDIVIDUALS.
[00:50:04]
WITHOUT EDUCATION, EMPLOYERS CAN'T FIND THE WORKFORCE THEY NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE.I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE TALK TO ME AND ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT JOBS ARE IN DEMAND TODAY, THE PROGRAMS AND DEMAND.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I USED TO HEAR THAT MAYBE ONCE EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.
SOMEONE ASKS ME THAT EVERY DAY.
I AM ASKED TO SERVE ON THE PANEL ALMOST DAILY TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
THE REASON IS FOLKS NOW UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND JOBS.
THE TRUTH IS, WHEN DALLAS COLLEGE WAS CREATED, WE NEEDED ONLY 22-25 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION WITH POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS.
NOW, THE STATE OF TEXAS SAID WE NEED 60 PERCENT.
OUR DATA SHOWS WE NEED ABOUT 70 PERCENT WITH POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIAL.
THAT IS NOT A BACHELORS DEGREE NECESSARILY, BUT THAT IS THERE.
IT'S NOT JUST AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE.
IT IS CERTIFICATES ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
GRADUATE DEGREES ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.
PEOPLE NOT GETTING THOSE DEGREES ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND.
>> RICK WALKER: SO, CHAIR BRAVO, I SAW YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD.
ANY WORD FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, OR YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THIS?
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: EVERYWHERE YOU GO THERE ARE HELP-WANTED SIGNS.
I WENT TO A DINNER A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO.
AN AT&T EXECUTIVE WAS SAYING SHE HAS 30 STORES SHE'S OPENING AND SHE CANNOT FIND ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO HIRE FOR HER STORES.
SHE WAS VERY EAGER TO PARTNER WITH US IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FIGURE OUT WAYS OF GETTING OUR STUDENTS INTO GOOD PAYING JOBS.
>> RICK WALKER: THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO SLIP THIS QUESTION IN HERE.
I THINK IT FITS NICELY ABOUT THE SCHOOL'S MODEL.
SIGNIFICANT EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON REIMAGINING THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS BEGINNING WITH THE NEW SCHOOL'S MODEL.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS MODEL IS EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: AS I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT MODELS THAT EXIST ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TRIED TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
WHAT IT ALLOWS IS FOR THOSE POCKETS OF GREATNESS THAT HAVE EXISTED, THAT MAY HAVE EXISTED AT A CAMPUS COME IN A SILO COME IN A NARROW SORT OF WAY, REALLY SORT OF LEFT THAT UP SO IT CAN SHINE ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND ACROSS THOSE THAT WE SERVE.
HAVE LIKE-MINDED FACULTY AND CURRICULUM AREAS WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT.
LIKE I SAID, OUR PREVIOUS STRUCTURE WAS PRETTY NARROW ABOUT GEOGRAPHY AND WHAT AREA COMPANIES WERE SERVED BY THOSE PROGRAMS IN THAT AREA.
BACK TO ONE OF YOUR EARLIER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EARLY SUCCESS OF THIS, AS DR. MAY INDICATED, THE BUZZ WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE EXTERNAL COMMUNITY IS THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BECAUSE THERE ARE BUSINESS SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WE WERE INTERESTED IN IT OUR BUSINESS, BUT IT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONNECT THE TWO.
NOW, THIS PROVIDES A WAY TO CONNECT THE TWO, AND ALSO ALLOWS, AS CHAIR BRAVO TALKED ABOUT, IT MAKES EASIER FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE FOCUS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AND THE PATHWAYS WE HAVE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO ENSURE OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS PUT STUDENTS IN THOSE PATHWAYS, AND ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE JOBS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN.
YOU MAY HAVE TIME TO SQUEAK INTO QUESTION AT TOWNHALL@DCCCD.EDU.
THIS IS THE 2021 LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE HERE AT CONFERENCE DAY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.
I THINK THE LATEST NUMBERS DOWN ABOUT 1 PERCENT GIVE OR TAKE WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FACING SIMILAR REALITIES, OR ONE THAT IS EVEN MORE DIRE IN SOME AREAS.
HOW IS DALLAS COLLEGE BEING IMPACTED BY WHAT SEEMS TO BE IN IMPACT IN NUMBERS.
[00:55:03]
>> DR. JOE MAY: WAS NOT HOW DALLAS COLLEGE IS IMPACTED, IT'S REALLY ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK A LOT OF US KNEW THAT NOT EVERYONE HAD ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
THAT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH WHEN YOU COULD COME ON CAMPUS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND USE OUR WI-FI AND SERVICES AND OTHERS.
WE HAD A LOT OF STUDENTS TAKING ONLINE COURSES SITTING IN OUR FACILITIES.
YOU LOCK THE DOORS AND BAR PEOPLE FROM CAMPUS AND YOU TELL PEOPLE CLASSES ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED ONLINE.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, BUT I DON'T HAVE ACCESS.
WE GAVE STUDENTS WIRELESS HOTSPOTS.
WE PROVIDED THE RESOURCES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, BUT IT STILL IS INSIGNIFICANT FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.
WE KNOW WE LOST PEOPLE THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES THEY HAD TO HAVE THE COURSES ONLINE, OR THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE OFFER THEM.
OTHERS, THERE IS STRENGTH IN PARTNERSHIP.
SOME OF OUR PARTNERS HAVE ALSO MADE DECISIONS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE ABILITY OF STUDENTS TO ENROLL WITH US.
WE ARE NOT GOING HAVE NINTH AND 10TH GRADERS IN MANY CASES ENROLLING IN DUAL CREDIT COURSES.
WE STILL RELY ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY UP IN THOSE POPULATIONS THAT ARE THERE.
I THINK THE HARDEST HIT HAVE BEEN WORKING ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 26 TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY WHERE ONE IN THE FAMILY HAD TO STAY HOME WITH THE CHILDREN BECAUSE THE CHILDREN COULDN'T GET TO SCHOOL.
THAT HAS HAD A REAL IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS.
IT IS PART OF ADAPTING, CHANGING AND ACCOMMODATING AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.
WE HAVE ALSO SEEN WE HAVE HAD TO CHANGE OUR SCHEDULE CONSIDERABLY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS.
WE WILL HEAR INDIVIDUALS COMPLAINING FROM A FACULTY OR WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A REAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE OF STUDENTS.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE WAY STUDENTS ARE INDICATING THEY WANT TO LEARN AND MEET THOSE NEEDS.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: AS DR. MAY SAID, EIGHT WEEK COURSES ARE WAY UP.
WHERE YOU SEE THE DECLINE IS THE TRADITIONAL 16 WEEK COURSES.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
WE HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT PATTERNS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
I SHOULD SAY ALSO, JUST THE SENSE OF CARING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS VERY EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.
OUR EMPLOYEES REALLY DOVE INTO DO OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS, PHONE CALLS, CHECK-IN TEXTS ON OUR STUDENTS TO SEE WHAT THEY NEEDED ALONG THE WAY.
AS WE LOOK AT FALL ENROLLMENT, FIRST TIME IN COLLEGES UP 30 PERCENT.
WE SEE THERE ARE SOME GAPS WITHIN OUR POPULATIONS AS DR. MAY INDICATED, THE ADULT WORKING POPULATIONS.
WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN VARIOUS STRATEGIES TO HELP SUPPORT THAT.
TEXTING CAMPAIGN, WE WANT YOU BACK SORT OF THING, SO WE CAN INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AND SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, SEE WHAT BASIC NEEDS WE COULD HELP SUPPORT THEM ALONG THE WAY TO SUPPORT THEIR ENROLLMENT GOALS.
AS DR. MAY SAID, FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE HEARD, LOOK, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT, BUT I JUST CAN'T RIGHT NOW.
I APPRECIATE SOME OF THE OTHER WRAPAROUND SERVICES YOU ARE PROVIDING.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE MY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO AS PEOPLE STARTED COMING BACK, A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN ABOUT EMPLOYEE MORALE.
HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE TRANSITION.
THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND WE CARE ABOUT THAT, AND WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT AND ADDRESS THAT AS I INDICATED EARLIER, BUT ALSO WANT TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE TRAUMA THAT SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE GONE THROUGH THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO TO HELP SUPPORT THEM.
IN THE END, OUR ENROLLMENT, AS DR. MAY SAID, IS REFLECTIVE OF THE NEEDS STUDENTS HAVE.
[01:00:04]
BETWEEN THE TEXTING CAMPAIGN, AND THE SATURDAY SESSIONS WE HAVE HAD THAT HAVE PROVIDED A FORUM AND OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF IMPACT OUT OF THOSE SORT OF ACTIVITIES.WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THOSE SORT OF THINGS.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I WOULD JUST ADD, THERE'S A BIG CONCERN NATIONALLY, AND THAT IS THE FACT THAT WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE HAS DROPPED TO 59 PERCENT.
WE WOULD LOVE IT TO BE AROUND 70-71 PERCENT MEANING A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THIS, BUT WHEN YOU SEE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES, IT IS INVOLVING ONLY THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY.
WHEN IT DROPS TO ONLY 59 PERCENT, THAT MEANS WE HAVE 41 PERCENT OF OUR ADULT POPULATION SAYING, I'M NOT EVEN TRYING TO WORK.
A LOT OF THOSE WERE OUR STUDENTS IN THE PAST.
SOME OF THOSE ARE STAYING HOME WITH CHILDREN AND OTHERS AND MAYBE THEY WILL REENTER AT SOME POINT.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE PULL THEMSELVES OUT.
AS YOU SAID, LOOK AT THE HELP WANTED SIGNS AROUND.
AS YOU MENTIONED, AT&T EXAMPLE.
PART OF THAT IS CAUSED BY SIMPLY PEOPLE NOT ONLY NOT GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY NEED, BUT NOT CHOOSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE TO HELP EVERYBODY MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
LET'S POP OUR HEAD BACK INTO SOME LIVE QUESTIONS THAT JUST CAME IN.
I KNOW YOU ADDRESSED IN THE REORGANIZATION, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETED.
IT SAYS, AS A FACULTY MEMBER, THIS IS COMING FROM A FACULTY MEMBER WHO DEPENDS ON ASSISTANCE OF STAFF IN THEIR AREA, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THE TIMETABLE FOR THESE DECISIONS AS WE ENTER THE NEW SEMESTER.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: COMPLETELY FAIR QUESTION.
WE HAVE ENDEAVORED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE COULD BEFORE THE ACADEMIC YEAR WOULD BEGIN.
MUCH OF THE TRANSITION WE HAVE SEEN, SOME OF THE RESTRUCTURING, AND THE EXITS THAT HAVE HAD TO OCCUR, MANY OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY MORE THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO AS WE ARE GETTING TOWARD THE END OF REFINING THOSE STRUCTURES.
THE QUESTION OF WHEN IS THE TRANSITION OVER? AS I SAID EARLIER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE, IDENTIFY WHAT WE NEED TO TWEAK AND CHANGE ALONG THE WAY, BUT THE HEART OF THE QUESTION, I UNDERSTAND, IS THERE HAVE STILL BEEN SOME GAPS IN AREAS OF THE STRUCTURE WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE, CERTAINLY ON THE ACADEMIC SIDE WHERE WE ARE MOVING FOLKS INTO INTERIM ROLES, AND CHAIR ROLES AND OTHERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FACULTY KNOW WHO IS THERE TO HELP SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS, MUCH OF THIS WILL BE DONE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE LONGER ANSWER IS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST.
THERE ARE PARTS OF THE STRUCTURE THAT WHEN WE ROLLED IT OUT IN JANUARY OF 2020, AND STARTED PUTTING SOME ELEMENTS IN PLACE, THAT WE TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID, THIS NEEDS TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT, OR MAYBE WE NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF IN THIS AREA, OR NEED TO COMBINE SOME THINGS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT.
THE ISSUE OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREES CAME UP.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED HOUSE BILL 3348 INTO LAW ALLOWING TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO OFFER OF 254 YEAR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES.
DALLAS COLLEGE WE WERE ALREADY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
WE WERE OFFERING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND TEACHING BACHELOR'S DEGREE, BUT WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT, ARE THERE PLANS TO OFFER ADDITIONAL FOUR-YEAR DEGREES AT DALLAS COLLEGE?
>> DR. JOE MAY: THIS IS ACTUALLY BETTER NEWS THAN IT SOUNDS LIKE PROBABLY ON THE SURFACE.
THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT GAVE US THE AUTHORITY TO OFFER THREE SPECIFIED TWO.
IT SAID WHAT NEEDED TO BE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
ONE NEEDED TO BE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, WHICH WE ARE STARTING TO GET UNDERWAY.
IT LEFT US WITH A THIRD THAT FRANKLY IS A LOT OF PRESSURE.
THAT MEANS WE HAD TO GET IT RIGHT.
ONLY ONE BULLET IN THE GUN AND WE BETTER HIT THE RIGHT TARGET WITH THAT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE FIVE, THAT GIVES US OPTIONS.
WE WILL BE LAYING THAT OUT AS A STRUCTURE.
I THINK HONESTLY THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
[01:05:02]
WE WERE GRANTED THE AUTHORITY NOT TO BECOME A BACCALAUREATE INSTITUTION, BUT TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT OUT OF NECESSITY NEEDED PEOPLE WITH A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE.THERE WILL PROBABLY BE OTHERS.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING.
THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THE TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: CERTAINLY COME IN THE TECHNOLOGY AREA, BACHELOR OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, THOSE ARE AREAS WE ARE LOOKING AT.
TECHNOLOGY IS BIG AND BROAD AND THERE ARE LOT OF NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THAT SPACE.
OUR ROAD ON THIS JOURNEY TO A BACCALAUREATE HAS BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ALONG THE WAY AS WE WERE BUILDING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ONE.
BY THE WAY, THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS IN THAT PROGRAM ARE JUST AMAZING AS WE ARE ROLLING INTO IT THIS FALL.
THAT'S WHAT WILL DRIVE THE DECISIONS IS TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THE DATA IS SHOWING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
SPEAKING OF NUMBERS, WE ARE GETTING CLOSE ON TIME.
THERE IS ABOUT 2600 OF YOU VIEWING.
YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL OF THE QUESTIONS COMING IN.
WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN SOMETIME BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN HIT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
LET ME ADDRESS THIS TO YOU, CHAIR BRAVO.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECENTLY FORMED A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE.
SHARE WITH US THE NEW COMMITTEE'S MISSION AND SOME ACTIONS THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN.
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: WE HAVE CHARTERED THIS COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT CREATING A GOOD PLAN FOR US, AND MAKING SURE IT'S PART OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITHIN DALLAS COLLEGE.
IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE A ONE-TIME ISSUE.
IT SHOULD BE IMMERSED IN EVERY SINGLE FACET OF OUR COLLEGE.
OUR BOARD WILL BE MEETING SOON, THE DI COMMITTEE WILL BE HAVING A MEETING SOON TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PATH WE WANT TO CONTINUE ON.
YES, WE WANT TO SHOW THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND THAT WE VALUE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND WE WANT THAT TO BE TRANSPARENT THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: THE ONLY OTHER THING I WILL ADD TO THAT, AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS BOARD, AND THIS COLLEGE, HAVE BEEN LEADERS IN THE DI SPACE A LONG TIME.
SO MANY FACULTY MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO THIS WORK AND HAVE BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE.
WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR BOARD CREATING THE DI COMMITTEE, ALSO WE REWIND TO A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE RELAUNCHED AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY SPECIFICALLY ON DI TO GET A SENSE OF HOW WE WERE DOING WITHIN SOME OF THESE AREAS.
THAT HELPED INFORM SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID WHICH LED TO THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU REFERENCED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT COMBINES OUR DEI WORK, SUSTAINABILITY WORK, AND SUPPLIER DIVERSITY, TO ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS IN DALLAS COUNTY.
THERE IS A LOT TO SAY ON ALL OF THOSE TOPICS, BUT I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THAT NEWLY FORMED OFFICE IS DOING.
I HAVE SET SOME THINGS UP AND OF LIKE A VOICE HOTLINE.
IF PEOPLE HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVES THEY WANT TO SHARE THAT PROVIDES AN AVENUE TO DO THAT.
CERTAINLY SOME DI WORKSHOPS THAT ARE ONGOING AND MORE TO COME.
AND THEN CERTAINLY WITHIN THE SUSTAINABILITY SPACE THAT IS ONE AREA WHERE THE COMBINING DALLAS COLLEGE INTO ONE HAS ALLOWED US TO LEVERAGE SO MUCH OF THE GREAT WORK PREVIOUSLY GOING ON IN THAT SPACE.
ARE YOU READY TO GO BACK INTO OUR LIVE QUESTIONS HERE? TIME IS FLYING BY.
ANOTHER QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT THE IN TERMS OF WORKING REMOTELY.
WE TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT.
THE POINT WAS MADE THAT MANY POSITIONS IN THE COLLEGE DO NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED AND EXECUTED HAS BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO ALLOW US TO WORK REMOTELY, AND WE FOUND WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT, REDUCING COVID OR OTHER TRANSFERABLE DISEASE, AND REDUCING COST TO THE COLLEGE.
IT IS WORKING REMOTELY ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS OF THAT WE TOUCHED ON EARLIER, BUT ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS BEING CONSIDERED FOR SOME SUPPORT STAFF POSITIONS IN THE COLLEGE?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: HERE'S WHAT I CAN SAY ON THAT.
[01:10:03]
CERTAINLY, WITHIN SUMMER ROLLS, WE HAVE LEARNED WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.WE HAVE ALSO REALIZED THE VALUE OF FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION, THE ABILITY TO JUST WALK DOWN THE HALL AND ENGAGE WITH COWORKERS, AND THE VALUE OF THAT.
THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS WEEK WITH PEOPLE COMING BACK JUST TO SEE THAT EXCITEMENT AS PEOPLE RECONNECT.
OUR HR TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT WOULD REDEFINE WHAT FLEX WORK LOOKS LIKE HERE.
WE HAVE HAD A TELECOMMUTING POLICY IN PLACE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT SORT OF UPDATING DOES THAT NEED, AND GETTING REALLY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT ROLES, TO GET TO THE HEART OF YOUR QUESTION, REALLY DO WORK WELL IN THIS SORT OF ENVIRONMENT, AND WHICH ONES DON'T.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I THINK THAT PRETTY WELL SUMMARIZES IT.
I WANT TO KIND OF DOUBLE DOWN ON ONE PIECE OF THIS.
WE LOST A LOT BY NOT BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.
WE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE STUDENTS BETTER.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE-ON-ONE TRANSACTIONS.
IT'S ABOUT HOW WE WORK AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND AS A TEAM.
WE DID SEE SOME ONE-ON-ONE TRANSACTIONS WORK WELL, BUT WE ALSO SAW SOME REAL FAILURES IN TERMS OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, WORKING AS TEAMS, THAT WERE OUT THERE, AND INDIVIDUALS NOT BEING SERVED.
I HAVE SOME EXAMPLES FROM THIS MORNING WHERE WE DIDN'T WORK WELL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS.
I HEAR THE QUESTION, BUT QUITE HONESTLY OUR GOAL IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION GOING FORWARD.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING HIGH ON MY RADAR.
MORE QUESTIONS COMING IN THIS MORNING.
AS THINGS ARE EVOLVING WITH DALLAS COLLEGE, ARE THERE ANY PLANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO PROVIDE STUDENT HOUSING ON OR NEAR SOME OF THE CAMPUS LOCATIONS?
>> DR. JOE MAY: WELL, I'M GOING TO SAY I HOPE SO.
THAT WASN'T PART OF THE BOND AS WE ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS, BUT CERTAINLY PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD.
CHAIR BRAVO, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED OUR STUDENTS MANY ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING.
WE WERE SEEING THIS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, OTHER CHALLENGES.
IF WE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE FOLKS.
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE HAD MASTER PLANS DONE FOR EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES.
SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE INCLUDED PROVIDING HOUSING FOR OUR STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE PARTNERS WHO CAN PROVIDE SO THAT DALLAS COLLEGE NOT NECESSARILY WOULD BE ONE PROVIDING THE HOUSING, BUT WE WOULD BE PROVIDING THE SPACE SO IT COULD BE ADJACENT OR ON OUR CAMPUSES, AND ALSO ADVANTAGES OF MAYBE SOME RETAIL ALSO KIND THE ABILITY SO IF THEY LACKED TRANSPORTATION IT WOULD BE VERY EASY FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR BOARD.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO ISSUE OF NEEDS WITH OUR STUDENTS.
WE HELP IN FUTURE YEARS WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR CAMPUSES.
THERE ARE LOT OF EMPLOYEES NOT IN LEADERSHIP ROLES, BUT TAKING ON MINOR LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES.
HOW IS DALLAS COLLEGE PLANNING TO ENCOURAGE OR GROW ITS NEXT GROUP OF LEADERS? WILL YOU LOOK FOR LEADERS WITHIN OUR RANKS, OR ONLY EXTERNALLY TO FILL SOME OF THE OPEN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS?
>> DR. JOE MAY: BOY, THAT'S A REALLY KEY QUESTION AS WE REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE -- THAT'S ABOUT CREATING AND MAINTAINING A CULTURE.
THAT'S ENSURING THE CONTINUITY OF OUR OPERATIONS GOING FORWARD.
REALLY, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AS WE BEGIN TO MOVE TO DALLAS COLLEGE, WE SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY.
WE HAVE STARTED IMPLEMENTING IT AT SOME LEVELS, BUT I SUSPECT WHERE THE QUESTION CAME FROM WE HAVEN'T YET AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE PUT THIS IN PLACE FOR OUR PRESIDENTS, FOR OUR LEADERSHIP, IN TERMS OF THE PROVOST AND THOSE VICE CHANCELLORS AND OTHERS, AND DOWN A LEVEL, BUT WE ARE NOT
[01:15:02]
THERE YET.WE HAVE PUT IT IN PLACE ALSO TO SUPPORT OUR FACULTY, AND HOPEFULLY CREATE SOME AVENUES THERE.
THAT IS STILL WHERE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS MUST BE MADE.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: I WILL SAY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST AND FOCUS ON STAFF AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, AND GET DEEPER THAN PERHAPS WE HAVE AS DR. MAY INDICATED.
THE LAST PART OF THE QUESTION, WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY INTENTIONAL ABOUT TRYING TO GROW OUR OWN.
CERTAINLY, THROUGH THIS RESTRUCTURING, WE WERE LOOKING INTERNALLY FIRST FOR THE MOST PART THROUGHOUT THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE THAT IF GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY CAN DO EVEN MORE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT LOOK FOR THE BEST TALENT WHERE IT EXISTS.
IF THAT'S EXTERNAL, THAT'S WHERE WE WILL LOOK AS WELL.
>> DR. JOE MAY: OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO RECRUIT THE BEST, AND SUPPORT THEM WHILE THEY'RE HERE, AND ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THEIR OWN.
IT'S REALLY A TWO WAY RELATIONSHIP.
WE CAN'T DO THAT FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.
CAN YOU SHARE HOW WE ARE PLANNING TO LEVERAGE THE BENEFITS OF SALESFORCE TO INCREASE COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, AND TRANSPARENCY RELATED TO ALL DALLAS COLLEGE PROJECTS AND RELATIONSHIPS?
>> DR. JOE MAY: JUST REAL QUICKLY, SALESFORCE, GREEN LIGHT.
OTHER TOOLS THAT WE ARE INVESTING INTO REALLY IMPROVE THE ENGAGEMENT OF STUDENTS IN REAL-TIME ON THEIR TERMS. THIS IS A WORLD IN WHICH FOLKS EXPECT TO HEAR FROM US.
FRANKLY, PEOPLE TODAY EXPECT THAT WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING BEFORE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND ENGAGE WITH THEM.
THAT WILL BE INVESTING IN THINGS LIKE SALESFORCE.
THE BEAUTY OF THAT IS ITS FLEXIBILITY AND BEING ABLE TO ALLOW LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF DALLAS COLLEGE TO USE THAT PLATFORM TO COME UP WITH CUSTOMIZED, UNIQUE WAYS TO BASICALLY ENGAGE BOTH STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES AS WE MEET THOSE NEEDS.
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: THE OTHER THING I WILL ADD IS WE HAD SOME REAL DATA GAPS QUITE FRANKLY IN THE OLD STRUCTURE.
SALESFORCE HELPS US WITH THAT.
AS I SAID EARLIER, STUDENTS ARE GOING TO WANT MORE OF A PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE.
TECHNOLOGY TOOLS LIKE THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, SO WE CAN PROVIDE MORE OF A HIGH TOUCH SERVICE THAN PERHAPS WE WERE ABLE TO DO BEFORE.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE QUESTIONS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME.
I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR INSTITUTIONS HISTORY.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE A FRIEND, LEADER AND ADVOCATE WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
CHAIR BRAVO, I WOULD LIKE TO TOSS THIS TO YOU.
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR MEMORIES? WE JUST RECENTLY LOST TRUSTEE SONNY WILLIAMS WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 78.
CAN YOU BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT HIS IMPACT?
TRUSTEE WILLIAMS, WE MISS HIM ALREADY.
I FIRST MET HIM WHEN I GOT ON THE BOARD FIVE YEARS AGO.
I GOT ASSIGNED A SEAT NEXT TO HIM IN THE BOARD ROOM.
HE IS A RETIRED CEO FROM MENARDS FOOD STORE, MINORITY OWNER OF THE DALLAS MAVERICKS.
HE WAS VERY QUIET DURING BOARD MEETINGS, BUT YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHEN HE SPOKE IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT, AND IT WAS GOING TO GET US TO ALL THINK ABOUT IT.
I PERSONALLY HAD A DEEP FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM.
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM FONDLY BECAUSE HE WAS JUST SUCH A GREAT PERSON AND DEEPLY CARED ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF DALLAS COLLEGE, OF OUR STUDENTS.
ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR US.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PERSONS I REMEMBER HEARING DURING BOARD MEETING SAY, WHY DO WE HAVE SEVEN OF EVERYTHING? WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE SEVEN THINGS? HE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT CENTRALIZATION YEARS AHEAD OF WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BECOMING ONE DALLAS COLLEGE.
[01:20:02]
WE HAVE MAYBE A COUPLE QUESTIONS LEFT HERE AND WE WILL START WRAPPING THINGS UP.
HERE'S A QUESTION RECENTLY SUBMITTED THIS MORNING.
HOW DOES LEADERSHIP PLAN TO LEAD ORGANIZATIONAL, CULTURAL CHANGE, TO HELP INDIVIDUALS SETTLE INTO THE NEW DALLAS COLLEGE, SO THEY CAN BEGIN TO FOCUS ON STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, RATHER THAN JUST TRYING TO HANDLE DAY TO DAY PROCESSES?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: A GREAT QUESTION.
IT GETS TO THE HEART OF WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF US, OUR EMPLOYEES, ARE IN A POSITION TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS THE BEST WAY THEY CAN.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT NOW THAT MORE COMING BACK FACE-TO-FACE, THIS WEEK, AND AS WE BEGIN OUR CLASSES NEXT WEEK, THAT IT AFFORDS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REESTABLISH SOME OF THOSE CONNECTIONS THAT WERE HARD TO MAINTAIN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AS I SAID EARLIER, SOME COMMUNICATION GAPS THAT MAY HAVE EXISTED.
JUST GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.
AND AS I INDICATED, LONGER TERM STRATEGIES, INVESTMENT.
WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE CULTURE PART.
CERTAINLY, AS I SAID EARLIER, MINDFUL OF WHERE FOLKS ARE IN THIS JOURNEY RIGHT NOW.
AS I SAID, WHEN WE UNDERTOOK THE TRANSITION, WE TALKED A LOT AND LOOKED A LOT AT THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT WHEEL THAT EXISTS.
PEOPLE END UP AT DIFFERENT PARTS ALONG THE JOURNEY.
PEOPLE ARE AT DIFFERENT PARTS.
WE WANT TO HELP SUPPORT FOLKS THROUGH THAT.
AS I SAID, ULTIMATELY WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF A POPULATION THAT IS IN TREMENDOUS NEED, AND SURVEY COMMUNITY WITH TREMENDOUS NEED.
WE WANT TO BEST POSITION THE INSTITUTION AND OUR EMPLOYEES TO DO THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> DR. JOE MAY: I WOULD JUST ADD THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO FOCUS ON WHY WE ARE DOING IT, WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WE ARE SOLVING FOR PARTICULARLY THOSE EXTERNAL IN OUR COMMUNITY? THAT'S WHY MENTIONED EARLIER, WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE GRACE MOVEMENT IS WHERE WE ARE HAVING THE GREATEST SUCCESS OF OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY CONNECTING BUSINESS, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER PARTNERS BACK TO WHAT WE ARE DOING.
IT MAKES IT UNDERSTANDABLE THE PROBLEMS WE ARE SOLVING AND WHY WE ARE DOING THIS.
WE CONTINUE TO BE ISOLATED IN SOME AREAS AND THAT MAKES IT HARDER TO UNDERSTAND.
OUTSIDE IN VIEW IS GOING TO BE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR US IF WE ARE TO REALLY HAVE THE TYPE OF CULTURE IN WHICH WE ALL WANT TO LIVE AND WORK.
>> RICK WALKER: WE HAVE ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES LEFT.
WE HAVE COVERED SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD A PS TO? JUSTIN CLOSING THOUGHTS OR MARKS?
>> DR. JUSTIN LONON: WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IDENTIFYING THOSE THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF STUDENT SUCCESS, TOO, THROUGH AND BEYOND US, WHETHER THEY ARE TRANSFERRING TO UNIVERSITY, GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE TO GET A JOB.
I THINK WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS, WORKING WITH DART ELIMINATING THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE AND CHALLENGE FOR MANY STUDENTS.
WORKING WITH THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK TO DEAL WITH THOSE THAT HAVE HUNGER ISSUES.
AS DR. MAY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE TO WORK ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE.
THE INCLUDE PROGRAM TO REMOVE THE BARRIER OF TEXTBOOK COSTS FOR STUDENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE HOUSING THAT WE KNOW IS A BARRIER THAT WILL BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT FOCUSING ON.
CHILDCARE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S A TREMENDOUS BARRIER.
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, IT PROVIDES EVEN A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF CHALLENGES FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.
THERE ARE LOT OF BARRIERS LEFT TO BUST AS I LOOK AHEAD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT IDENTIFYING THOSE AND ADDRESSING THOSE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT PARTNERING WITH THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE CAN'T GO PICK EVERYONE UP FOR CLASS, BUT WE CAN WORK WITH DART TO HELP.
WE CAN'T FEED EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN WORK WITH NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK.
WE WILL BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BUILDING THIS PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP ASSIST WITH THAT.
[01:25:03]
I WANT DALLAS COLLEGE TO BE KNOWN AS THE PLACE TO GO.WHATEVER YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE SOLUTION TO IT, FOR INDIVIDUALS, FOR BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE ALREADY ON THAT PATH.
WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING A LOT OF THOSE BARRIERS.
AS I SAID EARLIER, THE EXPECTATIONS ARE REALLY HIGH, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
>> MONICA LIRA BRAVO: I WOULD JUST ADD, THROUGH ALL THESE PROGRAMS THAT DR. LONON JUST MENTIONED, WE ARE SERVING THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS COUNTY.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE ANYBODY THAT WANTS AN EDUCATION, OR THAT WANTS TO OBTAIN A CREDENTIAL, WE ARE GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE DOING THAT AT MOST OF THE TIME NO COST TO THEM THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE DONE, THANKS TO PROGRAMS LIKE THE DALLAS PROMISE.
I MEET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME WHO ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THE DALLAS PROMISE BECAUSE NOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY HOW THEY WILL PAY FOR THEIR KIDS EDUCATION.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE US WITH AN ASSOCIATES OR CREDENTIAL.
THEY HAVE THE PATHWAY TO GET A BACHELORS AT NO COST TO THEM.
AS MANY OF US KNOW WHO HAD TO PAY STUDENT LOANS, THAT'S A BURDEN WHEN YOU DECIDE TO GET YOUR FIRST JOB.
IF YOU CAN TAKE A JOB AT A NONPROFIT OR NOT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL WE ARE ABLE TO LET OUR STUDENTS GET THEIR CREDENTIAL AND TAKE WHATEVER JOB THEY WANT TO AFTER THEY LEAVE US.
>> RICK WALKER: THANK YOU, CHAIR BRAVO.
>> DR. JOE MAY: ONE THING IS CERTAIN, WE WILL SEE AN ACCELERATION OF CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
I SEE DALLAS COLLEGE AS THE INSTITUTION IN NORTH TEXAS THAT IS IN THE PERFECT POSITION TO HELP INDIVIDUALS REALLY GET THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, WHAT THEY NEED, TO BE ABLE TO REALLY ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYERS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WHO DEEPLY CARE ABOUT STUDENTS.
WHO DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AND SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. I'M EXCITED TO EMPOWER OUR KEY PEOPLE, OUR FACULTY, OUR STAFF, OUR LEADERSHIP, TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND MEET THOSE NEEDS.
AS WE DO THAT, WE ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO PROSPER AS AN INSTITUTION, BUT WE WILL PROSPER AS A COMMUNITY.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO BE PART OF WHAT HAS REALLY BEEN PART OF A NORTH TEXAS MIRACLE NOW AND CONTINUED THAT IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S EXCITING AS I LOOK AHEAD.
>> RICK WALKER: THANK YOU PANELISTS FOR SUCH INSIGHTFUL AND INFORMATIVE, CANDID CONVERSATION.
THAT WILL WRAP UP OUR TIME TODAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE CONFERENCE DAY 2021.
WE WILL ADDRESS AS MANY AS WE CAN AT TOWNHALL@DCCCD.EDU.
A QUICK NOTE TO REMEMBER TO VISIT THE VIRTUAL SPONSOR EXHIBIT.
WE APPRECIATE OUR VIRTUAL SPONSORS LIKE TEXAS A&M COMMERCE.
YOUR NAME WILL BE ENTERED INTO A PRIZE DRAWING AS YOU ENGAGE THE VIRTUAL SPONSORS.
ACTUALLY YOU VISIT THE VIRTUAL SPONSOR VISIT.
WE WILL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT TIME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.