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EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS BRYAN PARRA, DIRECTOR FOR NORTH TEXAS LULAC,
[Trustee Candidate Debate ]
DISTRICT THREE, CO-OP CO MODERATING WITH ME TONIGHT IS FELLOW DISTRICT 3 BOARD MEMBER CRISTINA RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS ALSO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NORTH DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL AND PRESIDENT FOR LULAC COUNCIL 272.TONIGHT'S EVENT, A DALLAS COLLEGE TRUSTEE FOR DISTRICT SIX CANDIDATE FORUM HOSTED BY LULAC DISTRICT THREE INCLUDES TONIGHT'S GUEST, CURRENT TRUSTEE DIANA FLORES AND MS. ANGELA ENCISO.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU JOINING US TONIGHT, AS WELL AS DALLAS COLLEGES, FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE TO LIVE STREAMING.
WE WILL BEGIN TONIGHT'S EVENT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CANDIDATES, TRUSTEE DIANA FLORES, CHAIR OF THE DALLAS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, HAS SERVED ITS STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES SINCE SHE WAS ELECTED BY HER CONSTITUENTS TO REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX IN 1996.
BELIEVING THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN, SHE WILL COMPLETE HER MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IN SPRING OF 2021.
PROFESSIONALLY, SHE SERVES AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AS CURRENT BOARD CHAIR AND THROUGHOUT HER TIME AS TRUSTEE, SHE HAS PROVIDED INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP. IN NINETEEN NINETY EIGHT, SHE LED THE INITIATIVE TO ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE, PAYING RESIDENT TUITION RATES.
PRIOR TO HER SUCCESSFUL EFFORT, UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COLLEGE EDUCATION, DALLAS COLLEGE FORMERLY DCCCD, WAS THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE NATION TO ENROLL UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.
THERE ARE NOW A TOTAL OF 18 STATES THAT HAVE IN-STATE TUITION FOR THESE STUDENTS.
THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE COUNTRY [INAUDIBLE] FLORES SPARKED A NATIONAL MOVEMENT WITH HER EARLY ACTIONS ON THE DALLAS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MS. FLORES IS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL HONORS AND AWARDS FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INCLUDING THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD FROM THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF CHICANOS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, THE LULAC NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL FOR LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION. BI THETA KAPPA, ALUMNI OF MERIT AWARD, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR FOR LULAC CHAPTER 4576 INDUCTION INTO THE MASTER OF SCIENCE AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP HONOR SOCIETY KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS.
HER ACTIVISM IN MANY AREAS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANE.
SHE STATES THAT SHE IS ESPECIALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT IT HAS ON A PERSON'S LIFE, THEIR FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY CO MODERATOR, MS. CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CRISTINA RODRIGUEZ, I AM LULAC DISTRICT THREE SECRETARY AND ALSO COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF 272.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE ANGELA ENCISO.
SHE IS ALSO RUNNING FOR DISTRICT SIX TRUSTEE AND FOR DALLAS COLLEGE.
ANGELA ENCISO IS A PROUD FIRST GENERATION HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATE, DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS, A DALLAS NATIVE AND OAKCLIFF RESIDENT, A MOTHER AND EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE. ANGELA INTENDED DISD DALLAS ISD SCHOOLS, GRADUATED FROM TOWNVIEW LAW MAGNET IN 2008 AND CHOSE TO STAY IN DALLAS TO ATTEND SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE PURSUED A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SPANISH.
AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT, ANGELA PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THE CHALLENGES THAT MANY STUDENTS FACE AS THEY PREPARED TO APPLY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND PERSIST THROUGH GRADUATION FROM FINDING WAYS TO PAY FOR SCHOOLS AND BOOKS, FEELING UNDERPREPARED TO PERFORM AT A COLLEGIATE LEVEL, AND THEN LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WITH A LIMITED CONTEXT.
SHE WITNESSED MANY PEERS FALL BEHIND, SOME NEVER GRADUATING, HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, FUELED HER PASSION FOR WORKING DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM ALONG THE WAY. AND SHE RECEIVED HER MASTERS OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN 2014 FROM SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE WORKED IN THE STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE AND SUPPORTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN 2015.
ANGELA MADE THE DECISION TO BECOME A TEACHER AND HOPES OF A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY STUDENTS WHO LOOK LIKE HER EXPERIENCES EXPERIENCE GAPS IN THEIR EDUCATION.
ANGELA TAUGHT AT WEST DALLAS COMMUNITY AS A PRE-K THROUGH FIRST GRADE EDUCATOR.
AND SHE ALSO MENTORED AND WORKED ALONGSIDE TALENTED THIRD AND FIFTH GRADERS AS A UIL CO-CHAIR, HER EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR INSPIRED HER TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, AND TO WORK TO CELEBRATE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE AND SUCCEED.
AFTER HER TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER, ANGELA WORKED WITH TEACHERS ACROSS DFW TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO BEST SERVE STUDENTS ACROSS THE METROPLEX.
HER EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION FILLS HER WITH HOPE BECAUSE SHE PERSONALLY KNOWS THE GREATNESS THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR STUDENTS, AND SHE KNOWS THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ALL
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WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE INCREASED THROUGH ACCESS TO EDUCATION.
SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO VERY QUICKLY GO THROUGH AND EXPLAIN HOW OUR FORUM IS GOING TO WORK.
WE HAVE PRESELECTED QUESTIONS, SOME OF WHICH THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO US AHEAD OF TIME AND SOME HAVE. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THE CANDIDATES EQUAL TIME IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS.
AND SO WE WILL POSE THE QUESTION WE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH BEFORE THE FORUM BEGAN TO FIGURE OUT WHICH CANDIDATE WAS GOING TO ANSWER FIRST.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE TRUSTEE FLORES.
SHE WILL BE THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION.
FROM THEN ON, THEY WILL EACH EQUALLY SWITCH.
SO MS. ANGELA ENCISO WILL GET TO ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST.
SO AS WE GO THROUGH THAT IS THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH IT AND BASICALLY ROTATE WHO IS ANSWERING QUESTIONS FIRST.
SO FOR OUR FIRST QUESTION, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
ME AND MR. PARRA HAVE BOTH COME THROUGH AND INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TO THE VOTERS WITH YOUR BIOS. HOWEVER, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU BOTH THREE MINUTES TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO THE VOTERS. SO I'M GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO FIRST START WITH TRUSTEE FLORES.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE VOTERS.
HAVE THE VOTERS HEAR DIRECTLY FROM US AND FOR MY THREE MINUTES.
I'M JUST GOING TO CUT TO THE QUICK I'M GOING TO GET TO SOME IMPORTANT FACTS THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT DALLAS COLLEGE AND ABOUT MY LEADERSHIP.
SO SOME FACTS THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU REGARDING STUDENTS ELIMINATION OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS, APPRENTICESHIPS AND COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY SO STUDENTS WOULD PERFECTLY MIRROR THE LATINO DEMOGRAPHY IN DALLAS COUNTY.
LATINOS ARE FORTY POINT EIGHT PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN DALLAS COUNTY AND IN DALLAS COLLEG OUR STUDENTS COMPRISE 40 PERCENT OF ALL ENROLLED.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
THERE'S USUALLY A GAP BETWEEN OUR NUMBER AND THE POPULATION AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
THAT IS DUE TO THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DO.
NOW MOUNTAINVIEW COLLEGE HAS THE HIGHEST ENROLLMENT WITH FIFTY FOUR POINT ONE PERCENT OF LATINO STUDENTS TO A LOW OF THIRTY ONE POINT EIGHT AT RICHLAND.
EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES HAS HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION STATUS, WHICH QUALIFIES AS HSI FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
TWENTY FIVE PERCENT LATINO ENROLLMENT IS THE THRESHOLD TO QUALIFY AS AN HSI AND WE EXCEED THAT THRESHOLD AT EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES.
IN THE LATEST FUNDING PERIOD, WE ARE RECEIVING FOURTEEN POINT EIGHT FOUR MILLION IN THIS FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
AS TO FINANCIAL BARRIERS DALLAS COLLEGE HAS REMOVED REMOVED THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
60 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ON FINANCIAL AID OR SCHOLARSHIPS.
DALLS PROMISED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN SEVENTY SEVEN OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLS IN DALLAS COUNTY.
AND WE PLAN TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TO ALL ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN SCHOOLS EACH YEAR.
EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND THEIR PARENTS RECEIVE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE DALLAS PROMISE. EXCUSE ME.
WE ALSO HAVE THE PARENT PROMISE FOR STUDENTS WHO ACCEPT THE DALLAS PROMISE.
THEIR PARENTS CAN ALSO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR A WORK FORCE CERTIFICATE IN HIGH DEMAND SKILL ARE TO BEGIN STUDYING FOR A COLLEGE DEGREE, EARLY COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOLS AND [INAUDIBLE] THESE ARE VERY INNOVATIVE MODELS WHERE STUDENTS CAN OBTAIN COLLEGE CREDITS OR A FULL ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE THEY'RE FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL.
DALLAS COLLEGE LEADS THE NATION IN THIS AREA, STUDENTS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY A DIME IN INTUITION OR BOOKS TALK ABOUT REMOVING A FINANCIAL BARRIER.
AS TO APPRENTICESHIPS, WE HAVE EIGHT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN THE SKILLED TRADES AREAS, HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND I.T.
WE WERE AWARDED A TWELVE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT LAST YEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR APPRENTICESHIPS IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS.
DALLAS COLLEGE PREPARES IT'S STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY AND EXPERIENTIALLY IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATIONS. DALLAS COLLEGE KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES FROM FALL 2019 TO THE PRESENT.
WE HAVE SENT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, TEXT AND EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS APPROXIMATELY SIX MILLION, NINE HUNDRED AND SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR COMMUNICATIONS.
WE HAVE HAD ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR AND FIFTY TWO LOCAL BROADCAST STORIES.
IT HAS BEEN ALLEGED SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT.
OK MS. FLORES TIME WAS 3 MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT, MISS ANGELA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES STARTING NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
IT TRULY IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL AND WITH TRUSTEE FLORES AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE LULAC IS ONE OF THE
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ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRULY HELPED TO SUPPORT ME WHEN I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT MYSELF.SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO NAME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.
SO AS WAS NAMED EARLIER IN THE BIOGRAPHY, PART OF MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT I AM A FIRST GENERATION HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS A STORY THAT IS FEW AND FAR BETWEEN FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE US BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS, TO BE EXACT.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THAT IS AN ERROR AND THAT IS A GAP THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEMS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.
SO FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS COMING IN TO DISRUPT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWING BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS TO PERSIST IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
I ALSO BELIEVE AND I WANT EXPERIENCES LIKE MINE TO BE THE NORM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE THE SELECT FEW THAT GET THESE OPPORTUNITIES. I'M RUNNING TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY ON THE DALLAS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BECAUSE I BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. THE SUPPORT I RECEIVED, I RECEIVED FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LULAC FROM UPWARD BOUND, FROM THE STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS AT MY COLLEGE, REALLY, WERE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELPED ME NAVIGATE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND GRADUATE, ULTIMATELY, THAT WAS THAT IS NOT OF THE TRUTH FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, AND GRADUATION RATES AT DALLAS COLLEGE ARE STILL VERY LOW.
AND WHEN THE STUDENT POPULATION OF OF DALLAS COLLEGE IS 70 PERCENT STUDENTS OF COLOR, THAT'S REALLY TROUBLING TO SEE THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT GRADUATING, PERSISTING THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMS OR THROUGH THE CERTIFICATE.
AND I REALLY WANT TO STRIVE TO FIGURE OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT WE CAN REALLY, TRULY IMPACT THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE WHILE ALSO DISRUPTING THE SYSTEM THAT EXISTS.
THE SYSTEM IS A RESULT OF YEARS AND YEARS AND CENTURIES AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF JUST BEING VERY ANTIQUATED.
AND I CAN SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I WAS A FORMER EDUCATOR AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE PRE K THROUGH 12 SYSTEM.
SO I KNOW THAT THE ISSUES ARE NOT IN OUR STUDENTS.
THEY DO NOT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY EXIST IN SYSTEMS. AND I AM HOPING TO BRING AN EQUITY MINDSET TO THIS WORK.
I ALSO BRING A CURIOSITY AND OPENNESS TO LEARNING AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHERS.
SO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT MY EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION EQUITY WILL TRULY BENEFIT THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING AT DALLAS COLLEGE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO NAME THAT I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT, THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT DALLAS COLLEGE. I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE WORK.
MS. ENCISO THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
WE'LL NOW GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS CANDIDATE TO BE MS. ENCISO. YOU WILL BEGIN THIS QUESTION.
IF ELECTED, WHAT IS YOUR MAIN FOCUS OR GOALS FOR THIS UPCOMING SIX YEAR TERM? YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS QUESTION, MR. PARRA. I THINK THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS MOMENT.
DALLAS COLLEGE HAS CURRENTLY GONE INTO A ONE COLLEGE INTEGRATION.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE SEVEN COLLEGES NOW BECOME ONE AND IT HAS FINALLY ALL BEEN ACCREDITED UNDER ONE INSTITUTION, WHICH IS AMAZING.
THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CHANGE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT.
SO JUST, I THINK ENSURING THAT THE EXPERIENCES THAT OUR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF ARE HAVING WITH THIS INTEGRATION ARE POSITIVE AND THAT WE'RE LEARNING AT EVERY POINT WHEN WHEN A CHANGE HAPPENS, THAT WE'RE LEARNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING ANY GAPS IN EXPERIENCES. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NAME THAT THE REASON THIS IS HAPPENING IS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED STUDENTS FOR A LONG TIME.
STUDENTS WERE UNABLE TO GRADUATE FROM THEIR INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE GRADUATING OR THEY WERE TAKING TOO MANY CLASSES OR NOT ENOUGH CLASSES AT ONE INSTITUTION.
SO THIS HAS ALL RESULTED BECAUSE THERE WAS A GAP IN THE SYSTEM THAT EXISTED.
AND NOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE GAPS IN EXPERIENCES HOW ARE WE ALSO ENSURING THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED TO FULLY NOT JUST GET TO COLLEGE, BUT ALSO ALSO PERSIST AND GRADUATE FROM WHATEVER PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING.
I ALSO THINK THE OTHER THING THAT IS GOING TO REALLY MATTER IS ENSURING THAT COMMUNITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THE AMAZING THINGS THAT EXIST AT DALLAS COLLEGE. I KEEP SAYING DALLAS COLLEGE IS A HIDDEN GEM IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT
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SHOULD NOT BE A HIDDEN GEM.THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE OR FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TAKE CONTINUING EDUCATION TO TAKE DIFFERENT CLASSES.
I ACTUALLY TOOK A SWIMMING CLASS AND DIDN'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY ENROLL AS A STUDENT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO ENJOY THAT.
AND THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACCESS THE FACILITIES.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THIS RESOURCE EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT TRULY CAN BECOME A COMMUNITY HUB BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT IS FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, FOR A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND THEN LASTLY, I THINK TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I THINK THE THE REASON THAT THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING INTO THIS ONE INTEGRATION, ONE COLLEGE INTEGRATION IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE WAY THAT COMMUNITIES SEE THE COLLEGE.
SO I THINK THERE WILL NEED TO BE A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES FEEL THAT THE COLLEGE IS STILL PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND HAS A PART OF THEIR IDENTITY.
THANK YOU, MS. ENCISO. TRUSTEE FLORES, THE SAME QUESTION FOR YOU, IF ELECTED, WHAT IS YOUR MAIN FOCUS OR GOALS FOR THIS UPCOMING SIX YEAR TERM? WELL, I'M GOING TO USE A TERM THAT MS. ENCISO USED TO DISRUPT THE SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE.
BY TRANSITIONING FROM SEVEN INDEPENDENTLY ACCREDITED COLLEGES AND TO ONE COLLEGE WITH SEVEN CAMPUSES, WE'VE DISRUPTED A SYSTEM THAT LASTED FOR OVER 50 YEARS FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON MS. ENCISO WAS TALKING ABOUT, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE MORE OF OUR STUDENTS PERSIST AND GRADUATE. SO THAT WILL BE MY FOCUS IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED CONTINUES SO THAT WE TRULY DO FULFILL OUR MISSION, WHICH WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF NOW ANYWAY, TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION. YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO SAY, WELL, STUDENTS AREN'T GRADUATING, THEY AREN'T PERSISTING, ETC., ETC.
BUT THOSE WHO SAY THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO OUR STUDENTS ARE, OUR STUDENTS, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE PART TIME. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE LIFE AND WORK AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEY COME TO US WHEN THEY CAN. THEY NEED HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION.
THEY NEED HELP WITH HOUSING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO WE'VE ADDRESSED ALL OF THOSE ISSUES.
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING SO THAT EACH AND EVERY DALLAS COLLEGE STUDENT HAS A FREE DART PASS TO REMOVE THAT ISSUE OF TRANSPORTATION.
NOW, WITH COVID-19 THAT WE HAD TO TRANSITION TO ALL ONLINE COURSES, THAT'S ALSO GOING TO HELP MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO CANNOT COME TO OUR CAMPUSES BUT STILL WANT TO GET A DEGREE. WE ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING ONLINE FULL, FULL DEGREES ONLINE.
SO EVEN THAT BARRIER IS REMOVED.
ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT DALLAS PROMISE AND ALL THE THINGS WE ARE DOING ARE SIMPLY SIMPLY NOT LOOKING.
THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU SEND OVER SEVEN MILLION FORMS OF COMMUNICATION DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS, DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY THAT SAYS THAT IS JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION, JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
SO WE ARE ABOUT TRANSFORMATION, CHANGE, INNOVATION, ALL TO BETTER SERVE STUDENTS, ALL TO HELP THEM TRANSITION SUCCESSFULLY, WHETHER IT BE FOR JUST ONE COURSE THAT THEIR COMING ARE FULL DEGREE, EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING, THIS DISRUPTION THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, WE'VE ALREADY DISRUPTED THE SYSTEM IS TO HELP STUDENTS FINISH SUCCESSFULLY WITH US.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. RODRIGUEZ FOR QUESTION NUMBER TWO.
ALL RIGHT, SO TRUSTEE FLORES, YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION FIRST, QUESTION NUMBER TWO IS HOW DO YOU PLAN TO INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DALLAS COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND THE SERVICES OFFERED? AND I'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT, BUT IN TERMS OF THE DALLAS PROMISE, WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH AND EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR IN THE SCHOOLS WHERE WE CURRENTLY OFFER THE PROMISE, WE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM VIA LETTER, VIA TEXT, VIA EMAIL MESSAGE.
WE CALL THEM. SO WE'RE DOING EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATION SO THAT EACH AND EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR FULLY KNOWS ABOUT THE DALLAS PROMISE, AS DO THEIR PARENTS.
WE ARE ACTIVE IN ALL FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THEM, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF COVID.
WE HAD A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO, BECAUSE THEY HAD TO WORK REMOTELY, HAD EXTRA TIME ON THEIR
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HANDS. SO WE DEPLOYED THEM DIFFERENTLY.WE HAD THEM CALL STUDENTS ONE ON ONE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
AND WE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL IN THAT IN COMMUNICATING WITH THEM THAT WE HAD 10 PERCENT MORE IN THE SPRING SEMESTER TO COMPLETE THEIR COURSES WITH US THAN TYPICALLY DO.
SO WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
ANYONE THAT SAYS WE'RE NOT, THERE'S ALWAYS, ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
AND ANYONE THAT SAYS WE'RE A HIDDEN GEM JUST IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID TWENTY TO TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SAID RECENTLY.
WE HAD A CANDIDATE FORUM AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN IN THE OTHER RACE THAT SAID THAT, WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S TWENTY, TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH COMMUNICATION, THAT MUCH ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA, PRINT AND BROADCAST. WE'RE NOT A HIDDEN GEM.
WE'RE THE SHINING BRIGHT JEWEL.
JEWEL IN THIS COMMUNITY, PROVIDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY, REMOVING THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND JUST DOING A HOLISTIC WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE STUDENTS TO HELP THEM PERSIST, TO HELP THEM COMPLETE.
MS. FLORES. YOU HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE IF YOU'D LIKE TO USE IT, IF NOT, I CAN GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO MS. ENCISO.
SO ONE MORE MINUTE WELL GREAT.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'RE ON A VERY POSITIVE TRAJECTORY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING MOVING TO THIS ONE COLLEGE SYSTEM, WE COULD HAVE STAYED ARCHAIC. WE COULD HAVE STAYED AS THE FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES DO, WHERE THEY HARDLY EVER MAKE ANY CHANGES. BUT THAT MODEL THAT OUR MODEL JUST WAS NOT WORKING FOR US AND WE DIDN'T JUST MAKE THIS DECISION TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
WE HAD EXPERTS COME IN AND FULLY REVIEW TOP TO BOTTOM OUR SYSTEM, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, WHAT WAS THERE THAT WAS PROVIDING BARRIERS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE MADE THAT THAT WHOLESALE TRANSITION IN ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK IN HOW WE OPERATE, IN HOW WE'RE SERVING STUDENTS, BECAUSE OUR MODEL WAS NO LONGER WORKING.
YOU CANNOT HAVE A 50 YEAR OLD SYSTEM FOR TODAY'S 21ST CENTURY REALITIES SO THAT WHAT COLLEGE IS ALL ABOUT, CHANGE IS ALL ABOUT INNOVATION IS ABOUT PROVIDING BETTER SERVICES FOR STUDENTS. A MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FIRST GENERATION.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRUSTEE FLORES.
ANGELA, YOU SAME QUESTION FOR YOU.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DALLAS COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED? THANK YOU. SO THIS WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK CAN DEFINITELY BE IMPROVED AND I BELIEVE AS A TRUSTEE THAT THE WORK THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IS TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THROUGH ONE ON ONES, THROUGH A VIRTUAL FORMATS LIKE THESE FORUMS AND ALSO DIRECTLY WITH OUR STUDENTS.
I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION THAT IS HAPPENING AT THE BOARD IS NOT BEING TRICKLED DOWN TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INCREASE THE THE BOARD SHARING THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING, THE AMAZING WORK THAT IS HAPPENING.
SO FOR ME, I THINK ONE THING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY DO IS INCREASE COMMUNICATION BY PROVIDING MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, SENDING OUT NEWSLETTERS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ESPECIALLY TO SCHOOL LEADERS THAT WE PARTNER WITH.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE ALSO GIVEN AN INSIGHT AND A WINDOW INTO THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE TRUSTEE, WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERS.
AND ACTUALLY I WOULD LOVE TO TO EXPLORE EVEN OPENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN PROVIDE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THAT WILL GIVE THEM MAKE THIS PROCESS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THEM WHEN THEY ACTUALLY GET TO THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO ALSO CLOSE A LOT OF GAPS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO NAME, IS THAT I'M ACTUALLY LAUNCHING A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE HELPING TO TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WORK. I BELIEVE AS A TRUSTEE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING THE THE NEEDS AND THE WANTS AND THE DESIRES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO MY HOPE IS TO BRING IN PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, AS BUSINESS OWNERS, AS STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND JUST COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
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ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN THIS CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIGHER EDUCATION. HOW CAN WE ACTUALLY INCREASE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES? AND HOW CAN HOW CAN BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ALSO ENGAGE WITH THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL? WE TEND TO SEE THE CONVERSATION HAPPENING VERY.STRONGLY AT THE PRE K THROUGH 12 LEVEL, BUT THE CONVERSATION SOMETIMES ENDS WHEN STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CREATE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN WHAT DOES THEIR ROLE LOOK LIKE IN HELPING TO ENSURE AND EQUIP OUR STUDENTS WITH THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO BRYAN, WHO'S GOING TO ASK THE NEXT QUESTION.
THANK YOU, MS. RODRIGUEZ. MS. ENCISO. THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO HELP DALLAS COLLEGE STUDENTS NAVIGATE RETURNING TO CAMPUSES AFTER THE CURRENT PANDEMIC? YES, I THINK THAT IS I THINK THAT IS [INAUDIBLE] THERE IS GOES.
THAT IS THE GOLDEN QUESTION RIGHT NOW THAT I THINK A LOT OF SCHOOL LEADERS AND DECISION MAKERS IN EDUCATION ARE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE ARE LEARNING IN THIS MOMENT IS THAT DALLAS COLLEGE WAS SET UP TO REALLY THRIVE IN THIS MOMENT.
THEY ALREADY HAD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO ONLINE LEARNING.
IT NEEDED TO PROBABLY GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATES.
AND THERE ARE SOME KINKS IN THE ROAD.
BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS ALREADY SET UP TO HANDLE THIS.
WHAT I THINK WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT IS FIGURING OUT WHAT IS THE EDUCATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO NEED? AND AT THIS MOMENT, WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THINGS? LIKE I SAID, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM JUST IN GENERAL IS PRETTY ARCHAIC.
AND I THINK THERE'S THIS MOMENT HAS PROVIDED US A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO BE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE AROUND HOW WE ACTUALLY GIVE ACCESS TO STUDENTS, WHETHER THAT'S VIA A VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON LEARNING.
I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT IS ENSURING THAT WE FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS GOING TO BE AS THEY COME BACK.
WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY COVID, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH HEALTH, THROUGH ACCESS TO WORK, THROUGH ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS PROACTIVE IN FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE HELP OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEM AS THEY COME BACK, WHETHER THAT'S VIA IN-PERSON LEARNING OR ONLINE LEARNING.
ONE THING THAT DALLAS COLLEGE HAS BEEN DOING IS INCREASING THE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND WI-FI, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE A BIG, DISPROPORTIONATE ACCESS TO WI-FI AND TECHNOLOGY.
ONE THING THAT WE WILL NEED TO DO IS ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WHEN THEY COME BACK.
AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE FUND THIS? HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE THESE THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR ACTUALLY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO THESE THINGS. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE NOT THE THE BARRIERS THAT THAT EXIST FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY PERSIST AND GRADUATE THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMS. AND THEN LASTLY, I THINK ENSURING THAT WE'RE CREATING SPACE TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS. I THINK WE WE SOMETIMES CREATE SURVEYS THAT ARE JUST YES AND NO QUESTIONS OR ONE TRACK.
BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET SOME QUALITATIVE INFORMATION, DATA FROM OUR STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LIKE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE FROM THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS TO THE ACADEMIC COUNSELING SUPPORT THAT THEY'RE GETTING AND EVEN THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'RE HAVING IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO ULTIMATELY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO CREATE SPACE TO LEARN AND GROW FROM FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU, MS. ENCISO. TRUSTEE FLORES, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO HELP DALLAS COLLEGE STUDENTS NAVIGATE RETURNING TO CAMPUS AFTER THE AFTER THE CURRENT PANDEMIC? I WANT TO THANK MS. ENCISO FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS DOING AMAZING WORK BECAUSE WE ARE AND THAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS THRIVING, TO USE HER WORD, IN TERMS OF STUDENTS RETURNING.
WE DO NOT HAVE AN ARCHAIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.
[00:30:02]
WE DO NOT. THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE AT SMU, BUT IT IS NOT THE CASE AT DALLAS COLLEGE.SO IN TERMS OF HELPING STUDENTS RETURN TO COVID WHEN WE FIRST HAD TO TRANSITION ONLINE, THE BOARD APPROVED 20 MILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING TO HELP MAKE THAT TRANSITION.
PART OF THAT FUNDING WAS TO GIVE STUDENTS ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, TO IPADS, TO HOT SPOTS, BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT ANY STUDENT LEFT BEHIND.
AND AS I SAID, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAD A 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN COURSE COMPLETIONS IN OUR STUDENTS.
WE WERE NOT SHY ABOUT THE BOARD, WAS NOT SHY ABOUT GIVING THE MONEY THAT WAS NEEDED.
MS. ENCISO TALKED ABOUT FORMING AN ADVISORY COUNCIL AND MENTIONED HAVING FACULTY AND STAFF. THAT'S NOT FOR ANYONE THAT WORKS IN AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OR PUBLIC EDUCATION. YOU KNOW THAT THE ONLY CHANNEL TO FACULTY AND STAFF IS THROUGH THE CHANCELLOR.
SO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT CONTAIN FACULTY AND STAFF UNLESS THE CHANCELLOR ASSIGNS THOSE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU'RE MICROMANAGING IN TERMS OF COVID-19 AND STUDENTS.
SINCE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFER TOTALLY ONLINE, WE'RE PREPARED TO NOW HELP THEM COME BACK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS TRANSITION TO DALLAS COLLEGE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HIRE APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED MORE ADVISERS.
AND THAT IS SO THAT THE STUDENTS CAN GET THAT MORE OF THAT ONE ON ONE GUIDANCE TO HELP THEM IN THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION, TO HELP THEM MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLETE, THAT THEY PERSIST. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ALSO TO HELP THEM SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION BACK.
AND AGAIN, STUDENTS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION, DO THEY WANT TO COME BACK TO IN-PERSON CLASSES OR DO THEY PREFER TO STAY ONLINE.
SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING READY NOW BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE AND ALSO BECAUSE WE REMOVED AN ARCHAIC SYSTEM. WE WEREN'T THAT ARCHAIC TO BEGIN WITH, BUT WE REMOVED AN ARCHAIC SYSTEM TO USE MS. ENCISO'S WORDS SO THAT NOW WE ARE READY, THAT WE CAN VERY QUICKLY ADAPT, WE CAN VERY QUICKLY RESPOND, AND WE DO MONITOR AND WE DO ASK FOR INPUT FROM STUDENTS.
WE DO ASK FOR INPUT FROM FACULTY.
WE DO ASK FOR INPUT FROM STAFF, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
DO WE NEED TO ADAPT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING? SO WE ARE DOING IT.
AND I PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP TO HELP DO THAT ON THE BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TRUSTEE FLORES.
THE NEXT QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IS GOING TO BE OR IS SORRY, EXCUSE ME, THE NEXT QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IS GOING TO ACTUALLY BE FOR YOU FIRST.
AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THAT.
CAN YOU GO THROUGH AND JUST KIND OF WHAT TALK ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE, IN YOUR OPINION? AND WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS? SO I WAS AT ADDISON HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE WAS LAUNCHED, WAS ANNOUNCED WHERE DR.
JOE BIDEN WAS THERE IN ATTENDANCE.
IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE THE STUDENTS BE SO EXCITED, STUDENTS THAT THOUGHT THEY HAD NO CHANCE TO GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION, FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO WALKED THE STAGE AT ADDISON AND TAKING THE PLEDGE THAT, YES, THEY WOULD GO TO COLLEGE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE STUDENTS COME FROM FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN GENERATIONAL POVERTY, MANY OF THEM FROM FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE ANYONE THAT HAS EVER ATTENDED COLLEGE.
SO EVEN THOUGH YOU PUT IT RIGHT BEFORE THEM IN TERMS OF REMOVING THE FINANCIAL BARRIER, THEY STILL HAVE MENTAL BARRIERS THAT THEY NEED TO OVERCOME.
AND SOME CAN AND SOME CANNOT FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT.
WE TAKE THE TIME TO REACH OUT TO THEM, TO WORK MORE ONE ON ONE WITH THEM, TO NOT LET THEM GET LOST, TO NOT DROP BY THE WAYSIDE.
AND WE ARE ABLE TO RECOVER SOME OF THEM IN TERMS OF THEM REALIZING THIS IS A REAL DEAL, THIS IS FOR YOU.
SO WE DO HAVE I THINK IN THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED MORE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE FROM THESE HIGH SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE DALLAS PROMISE, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY NOT ONE DIME IN TUITION.
AND NOW SINCE WE'VE INTRODUCED INCLUDE ED, WHICH MEANS THAT STUDENTS, WHEN THEY PAY THEIR TUITION AND THE TUITION IS PAID THROUGH DALLAS PROMISE THEIR TEXTBOOKS ARE INCLUDED IN
[00:35:01]
THE TUITION. FORTY THREE PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS WOULD NOT BUY TEXTBOOKS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THEM, I'M SURE MS. ENCISO WHEN SHE WAS STUDYING FOR HER BACHELOR'S AND HER MASTER'S KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE TEXTBOOKS ARE. WE HAVE EVEN REMOVED THAT BARRIER.SO THE WAY TO IMPROVE DALLAS PROMISE IS TO CONTINUE THE HEAVY, HEAVY COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
BUT WE NEED TO, AGAIN, HELP THEM TO BREAK THAT MENTAL BARRIER, TO REALIZE THAT THIS REALLY IS FOR THEM, THAT THEY CAN SUCCEED.
YOU KNOW HOW WE HAVE MANY IMMIGRANTS THAT COME OVER AND FOR OUR FAMILIES, IT JUST TAKES THAT FIRST ONE TO CROSS OVER, TO COME OVER AND TO BEGIN THE LIFE HERE.
AND THEN THE [INAUDIBLE] OK, WELL, YOU KNOW, MANUEL DID IT.
AND THAT'S THE SAME WAY IT IS FOR COLLEGE.
IT JUST TAKES THAT FIRST PERSON IN THE FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE TO SHOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE, TO THEN INSPIRE THE OTHERS, TO LET THE OTHERS KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME.
SO THAT'S WHAT DALLAS PROMISE DOES FOR THEM.
IT REMOVES THAT WORRY ABOUT HOW AM I GOING TO PAY FOR COLLEGE? HOW AM I GOING TO PAY FOR MY TEXTBOOKS? WHAT HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER? WE'VE REMOVED THOSE BARRIERS THAT WE ALSO, AS I ALREADY STATED, ARE GOING TO BE HIRING MORE ADVISERS TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH EACH AND EVERY STUDENT, ONE ON ONE, TO HELP THEM INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL, THAT THEY PERSIST, THAT THEY GRADUATE.
SAME QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE HAS DONE WELL, AND WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM STILL NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED? YES, I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING I WISH THAT DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE EXISTED WHEN I WAS A STUDENT BECAUSE I KNOW IT WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY MADE THAT EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT EASIER. AND I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE PROGRAM BECAUSE I AM SEEING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GIVING OUR STUDENTS WHO WOULDN'T LIKELY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS FINANCIALLY A HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO I JUST TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM THAT IS REALLY HELPING TO REDUCE THAT FINANCIAL BARRIER THAT EXISTS LIKE MS. FLORES SAID, FOR STUDENTS.
I THINK ONE AREA THAT THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN AND IMPROVED IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE THE PART ABOUT MENTORING AND PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT AS THEY'RE ACTUALLY NAVIGATING THIS THIS EXPERIENCE WHICH IS APPLYING.
AND ALSO ONCE THEY'RE ACTUALLY ENROLLED IN SCHOOL, PERSISTING THROUGH THE PROGRAMS, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT MYSELF BECAUSE I WAS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT MYSELF.
I DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT I COULD NECESSARILY GO TO TO ASK MY FAMILY, HOW DO I DO THIS? HOW HOW DO I FIGURE THIS OUT? AND I HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT ON MY OWN.
AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO STILL EXIST FOR MANY STUDENTS JUST JUST BECAUSE OF THE MERE FACT THAT THERE IS NOBODY IN THEIR FAMILIES THAT CAN SPEAK TO THOSE EXPERIENCES. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT ONE THING THAT CAN REALLY BE IMPROVED IS, AGAIN, PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO BE MENTORED POTENTIALLY BY CURRENT STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS.
THEY ALSO NEED TO MAKE A BETTER, BETTER IMPACT ON STUDENTS OF COLOR AND ENSURING THAT THEY THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AS NECESSARY IN THIS MOMENT.
AGAIN, STUDENTS OF COLOR EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AS AS COLLEGE STUDENTS, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH ACADEMIC GAPS OR THE DIFFERENT GAPS THAT EXIST ECONOMICALLY AND EVEN IN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT ARE ACCESSING THE DALLAS COLLEGE PROMISE. ONE THING THAT I ALSO THINK IS GREAT IS THE PROMISE.
I THINK IT'S AMAZING MY AUNT IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS BECAUSE MY COUSIN IS A SENIOR AND SHE WANTS TO COME BACK AND GET HER CONTINUING EDUCATION.
I THINK THOSE THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP DECREASE THE ECONOMIC DISPARITY THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, ONE THING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE CONTINUE TO EXPAND WITHIN OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE.
CANDIDATE TO BE THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU, MS. ENCISO, IN ANTICIPATING A REDUCTION IN BUDGET, WHERE DO YOU FORESEE CUTBACKS FOR DALLAS COLLEGES? YES, THANK YOU.
THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE
[00:40:06]
THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC IS REALLY GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT EDUCATION.THERE ARE THERE ARE THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE K THROUGH 12 AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL IN TERMS OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO I THINK THINGS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR ARE GOING TO TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A STRONG AND EQUITABLE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WHERE DO I FORESEE CUTBACKS? I BELIEVE THE CUTBACKS MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE TO COME IN TERMS OF OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMING.
I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE BUDGET INFORMATION, BUT I THINK AS A TRUSTEE, I WOULD ENSURE THAT THE CUTBACKS DO NOT IMPACT THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WORK AND SERVE AT DALLAS COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO AS AN EDUCATOR, I KNOW THAT THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT ALSO HELP TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED.
SO FOR ME, I WOULD MAKE SURE TO CHAMPION AND ADVOCATE TO ENSURE THAT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH ARE NOT IMPACTED BY THE CUTBACKS.
I THINK I WOULD ALSO WORK TO REALLY FIND DIFFERENT AVENUES TO GET FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE ARE ANY PROGRAMMATIC LOSSES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TO FIND PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP COVER THOSE GAPS THAT MIGHT EXIST.
AND ULTIMATELY, I REALLY WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE GAINS THAT WERE THAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS CURRENTLY MAKING IN TERMS OF PROVIDING REALLY AFFORDABLE EDUCATION TO STUDENTS ARE NOT LOST IN THIS MOMENT.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE, BECAUSE I THINK ULTIMATELY WE DO NOT WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF OF ENSURING THAT THOSE LOSSES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT DO NOT IMPACT THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS REMAINING.
OH, YEAH, THANK YOU. I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE IS TO ENSURE THAT [INAUDIBLE] ACTUALLY NOT IMPACTED BY THESE THINGS, SO IF THERE ARE ANY ANY NEW THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN TERMS OF ASSISTANCE WITH TECHNOLOGY, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE BRINGING IN THOSE RESOURCES. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING AMAZING WORK TO HELP FILL THOSE GAPS THAT MIGHT EXIST.
TRUSTEE FLORES. THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IN ANTICIPATING A REDUCTION IN BUDGET, WHERE DO YOU FORESEE CUTBACKS? THANK YOU AND I'D LIKE TO MENTION JUST REAL QUICK, IN TERMS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE DALLAS PROMUS STUDENTS, THEY ALL HAVE SUCCESS COACHES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES FOR FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS TO HAVE THE THE ASSISTANCE AND THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY NEED.
SO DALLAS PROMISE IS SET UP TO HAVE SUCCESS COACHES FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF CUTBACKS BECAUSE OF THE RESTRUCTURING, MOVING TO DALLAS COLLEGE, MOVING TO THE ONE SYSTEM, ONE UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME HAS BEEN THAT WE ARE HAVING TO TRANSITION SOME EMPLOYEES OUT, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE A FUNCTION TO FULFILL. SO AS A TRUSTEE, YOU HAVE TO WEIGH EVERYTHING.
YOU NEVER, EVER, EVER WANT TO IMPACT PEOPLE.
YOU NEVER WANT TO IMPACT EMPLOYEES.
BUT YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THAT WITH DO YOU RAISE TUITION.
DO YOU RAISE TAXES? YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE.
IT'S EASY TO SAY ONE THING, BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT SEAT, YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE. SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO REALIZE SOME SAVINGS BECAUSE WE'RE BECOMING MORE LEAN. BUT DOING MORE WITH LESS.
THAT WAS ANOTHER PURPOSE OF MOVING TO DALLAS, THE ONE SYSTEM, DALLAS COLLEGE, OF HAVING THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE.
AS I TOLD THE CHANCELLOR THE OTHER DAY, I SAID, IN HIGHER EDUCATION, YOU NEVER, EVER HAVE WHOLESALE CHANGE. YOU MIGHT HAVE CHANGE IN ONE DEPARTMENT, BUT YOU NEVER HAVE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
AND THE REASON WE DID THIS IS TO BETTER POSITION US TO BE A 21ST CENTURY COLLEGE AND AGAIN, TO BORROW MS. AND SEESAWS TERM INSTEAD OF STAYING IN AN ARCHAIC MODEL THAT DOES NOT WORK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.
SO BY MOVING TO THIS, IT'S HELPING US REALIZE SAVINGS IN MANY AREAS AND IT'S HELPING US REDIRECT FUNDING.
AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HIRE 200 PLUS MORE ADVISORS.
[00:45:02]
EXACTLY. FOR A BETTER STUDENT EXPERIENCE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE FULL TIME FACULTY. EXACTLY FOR A BETTER STUDENT EXPERIENCE THAT I AM AWARE OF, PROGRAMS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED FOR STUDENTS.SO WE ALREADY HAVE GONE THROUGH A DIFFICULT FUNDING PERIOD IN THE 2008 2009, THE EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION THERE.
AND WE HANDLED IT VERY, VERY WELL IN TERMS OF FINANCES.
THIS BOARD HAS TRADITIONALLY AND CONTINUES TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH ITS FINANCES.
WE NEVER TAKE ON MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.
AND IN THAT WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BY HAVING THE SECOND LOWEST TUITION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, MS. ENCISO KEEPS REFERRING TO AFFORDABLE.
HOW MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE CAN YOU BE IN THE SECOND LOWEST TUITION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS? WE HAVE FIGURED IT OUT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS CUTBACK BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT. PLUS THE ENERGY SAVINGS THAT WE'RE.
REALIZING BY HAVING MOST OF THE CAMPUSES NOT FULLY OPERATING DURING THIS COVID-19 PERIOD, WE'RE REALIZING MILLIONS OF SAVINGS THERE.
THANK YOU. I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MS. RODRIGUEZ. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, CANDIDATES, THIS WILL BE YOUR FINAL QUESTION THAT WAS PREARRANGED AND THIS ONE WILL GO TO TRUSTEE FLORES FIRST.
SO BOTH OF YOU HAVE A HISTORY AND OF WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ADVOCACY, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE THIS OFFICE AND THE NETWORKS THAT YOU HAVE BOTH GAINED THROUGH YOUR COMMUNITY WORK TO FURTHER AID THE COMMUNITY? AND IN WHICH WAY DO YOU INTEND TO DO THAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ON MY BUSINESS CARDS I HAVE MY OWN CELL PHONE NUMBER.
I DON'T EVER WANT STUDENTS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT NEED TO ACCESS OUR COLLEGES TO EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH LAYERS TO REACH ME.
I'M ACTIVE IN THE HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK OF TEXAS AND PEOPLE KNOW ME.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME AND I'M ALWAYS OUT THERE.
SO IF SOMEBODY HASN'T MET ME, ARE KNOWN ABOUT ME OR SEEN ME, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT RUNNING IN THE SAME CIRCLES.
BUT I'M OUT THERE IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
I MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT IN COLLEGE.
I ALWAYS GIVE THEM MY EXAMPLE.
I, TOO, AM A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT.
I TOO DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT I NEEDED WHEN I FIRST WENT TO COLLEGE.
I GOT MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE WHEN I WAS FORTY TWO.
SO NOT ONLY DO I RELATE TO THE FIRST GENERATION STUDENT, I RELATE TO THOSE WHO ARE ADULTS AND WANT TO RETURN AND FINISH THEIR EDUCATION BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT REACHING OUT, HELPING OUT AND PROVIDING THAT DIRECT ONE ON ONE CONTACT.
I ALWAYS TELL THOSE THAT ARE WANTING TO ACCESS OUR SYSTEM, YOU SEND ME AN EMAIL SO THAT I CAN FORWARD IT DIRECTLY TO THE CHANCELLOR AND THEN THEY WILL HANDLE IT THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY VERSUS YOU HAVING TO NAVIGATE OUR BUREAUCRACY.
THEY WILL MAKE DIRECT CONTACT WITH YOU BECAUSE I'M DIRECTING YOU, CONNECTING YOU DIRECTLY. WE ALSO NOW HAVE NAVIGATORS.
SO AGAIN, THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW ME ARE THOSE THAT I DO NOT INTERFACE WITH.
AGAIN, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE BUREAUCRACY.
THEY ARE IN CONTACT WITH A NAVIGATOR AND THE NAVIGATOR THEN HELPS THEM GET WHAT THEY NEED FROM US. THAT IS ANOTHER WAY THAT WE ARE MORE EFFECTIVELY SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY WAYS PROGRAMS, APPROACHES, STRATEGIES, INITIATIVES THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF LEADERSHIP THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BASED ON KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S HOW I WILL CONTINUE TO USE MY OFFICE AND I WILL ALWAYS BE NETWORKING.
AND I HAVE PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW ME, BUT THEY THEY THERE IS SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW THAT KNOWS ME AND THEY REFER THEM TO ME.
AND THERE IS NOT ONE PERSON THAT HAS EVER COME TO ME THAT DOES NOT GET WHAT THEY NEED FROM DALLAS COLLEGE BECAUSE I HAVE NEGLECTED THEM.
SO I'M VERY PROUD OF MY RECORD.
I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT I'VE DONE.
I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE THE SECOND LOWEST TUITION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M VERY PROUD THAT SIXTY PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE EITHER ON FINANCIAL AID OR SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE FINANCIAL AID PART.
A LOT OF STUDENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE FAFSA, SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FAFSA. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY RECORD AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED TO BRING ABOUT HISTORIC, INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE CHANGE.
MS. ENCISO, THE SAME QUESTION, IN WHICH WAYS DO YOU PLAN TO USE YOUR OFFICE AND THE NETWORK THAT YOU HAVE GAINED THROUGH YOUR COMMUNITY WORK TO AID THE COMMUNITY AND IN
[00:50:04]
WHICH WAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.I JUST WANT A NAME THAT I THINK IT'S THAT THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MOMENT THAT DALLAS COLLEGE IS CURRENTLY REBRANDING WITH THE DALLAS COLLEGE WITH THE ONE COLLEGE INTEGRATION.
AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY EXCITED FOR THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING.
SO I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
AS I STATED BEFORE, I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATION ADVOCATE FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS HERE IN DALLAS. AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, AS A AS A HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENT, I ADVOCATED FOR STUDENTS WHO WHO, LIKE ME, WERE STRUGGLING AND NEEDED ACCESS.
SO FOR ME, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK.
AND I DO THAT THROUGH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, THROUGH NETWORKING AND COALITION BUILDING.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT AS A AS AN ELECTED LEADER THAT YOU ARE BUILDING COALITIONS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE.
YOU ARE BUILDING COALITIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF YOUR OUTSIDE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SO FOR ME, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY INVOLVED IN THE K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION FORUM, AND SOMETIMES THE THE CONVERSATION ENDS AT 12TH GRADE AND WE DON'T CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON WHAT IS WHAT IS THE POOR ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE FOR OUR STUDENTS ONCE THEY'VE GRADUATED FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
SO FOR ME, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO CHAMPION AND EVEN PARTNER WITH OUR OUR ISD SCHOOL BOARDS AND REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PARTNER TO CREATE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO IMPACT OUR STUDENTS FROM PRE-K AND BEYOND.
I THINK AS AN EARLY EDUCATION TEACHER MYSELF, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR MY STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, WHAT IT WAS, WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND APPLY FOR COLLEGE AND ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE PATHWAY THAT I HAVE TO TAKE.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED OF ME TO EVEN ACCESS TO THIS INSTITUTION? SO FOR ME, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.
I ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD COALITIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS ADVISORY BOARD WILL ENSURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING DIFFERENT VOICES TO THE CONVERSATION AND THAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE GIVING SOME INPUT BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE AT THE BOARD LEVEL.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO TO CONTINUE TO THINK THROUGH WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LEVERAGE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM BUSINESS OWNERS TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AS WE'RE CREATING SOME SOLUTIONS AND BEING CREATIVE IN THIS MOMENT WHERE WE MIGHT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES POST COVID.
SO I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I BELIEVE IN THE BRILLIANCE THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR STUDENTS. AND I KNOW THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT WITH OUR STUDENTS, IT'S WITH OUR SYSTEM. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION FOR A CHANGE. THANK YOU, MRS. ENCISO. THANK YOU BOTH FOR ANSWERING.
BOTH OF YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FINAL CLOSING.
FOR TIMES SAKE, YOU WILL BOTH BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES.
MS. ENCISO. YOU WILL GO FIRST.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU TO LULAC, THANK YOU TO MS. FLORES FOR BEING PRESENT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT AS A PROFESSIONAL WORKING FULL TIME JOB, RUNNING A CAMPAIGN AND BEING A MOM AND FORMER TEACHER AND ALSO A TEACHER TO MY TWO YEAR OLD, I UNDERSTAND THE LOAD THAT MANY THE STUDENTS AT DALLAS COLLEGE ARE NAVIGATING AT THIS MOMENT, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH BEING CAREGIVERS, THROUGH BEING FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND ALSO EXPERIENCING THEIR OWN VIRTUAL LEARNING.
BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE, I KNOW THAT I AM NOT ONLY CAPABLE, BUT CAN SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THE WORK AND THE COMMITMENT THAT A DALLAS COLLEGE TRUSTEE HAS.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH AN EMPATHETIC AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED HEART.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I THINK IN THIS MOMENT OUR STUDENTS ARE DEMANDING CHANGE.
OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT OK WITH THE STATUS QUO.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, WHATEVER AGE THAT THEY ARE, AND THAT WE'RE ALSO LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THIS MOMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE TASKED IN THE NEXT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WITH REALLY TRYING TO REINVENT WHAT HIGHER EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE AND BEING SOLUTION ORIENTED INSTEAD OF TRYING TO JUST CONTINUE TO BE REACTIVE AND FIXING PROBLEMS THAT EXIST.
[00:55:01]
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT IS CONTINUING TO BUILD COALITIONS. I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AND COALITION BUILDING AND BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SEE WE CAN SUCCEED IS THROUGH THOUGHTFUL PARTNERSHIP.ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE IN THE BRILLIANCE THAT THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR STUDENTS.
AND AGAIN, I WILL I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR STUDENTS.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR SYSTEM.
IT IS OUR JOB TO INTERROGATE IT AND FIX IT SO THAT MORE STUDENTS CAN TRULY ACCESS THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT HIGHER EDUCATION HAS TO OFFER.
THANK YOU MS. ENCISO. TRUSTEE FLORES.
YES, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALSO FOR PROVIDING [INAUDIBLE].
I HOPE IT'S NOT OK FOR PROVIDING US THIS FORUM, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO REPEAT, AND I HOPE IT PENETRATES, WE ARE IN CHANGE.
STUDENTS DON'T NEED TO DEMAND THAT OF DALLAS COLLEGE BECAUSE THE CHANGE IS ALREADY HERE.
IT'S BEEN A PROCESS SINCE LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF BRINGING THIS TO DALLAS COLLEGE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, MS. ENCISO, FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE'RE DOING AMAZING WORK, THAT WE'RE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE.
AND WE HAVE COLLABORATIONS WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] AND EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE CORPORATE PARTNERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ET CETERA, ALL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND HELP GUIDE THEM ON THEIR PATH TO THEIR CHOSEN CAREER, WHETHER THAT BE A COLLEGE DEGREE OR A SKILLED TRADE AREA.
AND SO ALL OF THIS I WILL BE CONTINUING AND I'M GLAD THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT CHANGE. I'M GLAD THAT I MADE THE CHANGE HAPPEN.
I'M SO PROUD THAT I LED THE EFFORT THAT'S NOW HAD NATIONAL IMPACT FOR STUDENTS, UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS TO GET THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE.
THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND NOW WE HAVE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.
WE HAVE THE FOUR PERCENT OF OUR TAXES, TEN POINT FOUR CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLAR VALUATION AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE STATE, CERTAINLY IN DALLAS COUNTY.
DALLAS ISD TAXES ARE ONE DOLLAR THIRTY ONE CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLAR VALUATION.
SO MS. ENCISO SAYS THAT SHE WANTS ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TUITION CHECK.
WE GOT THAT. SHE WANTS LOWER TAXES.
SHE WANTS GOOD WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. CHECK WE HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY DEGREES FOR TWENTY FIRST CENTURY PROGRAMS I HAVE DELIVERED.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY ELECTION.
THERE'S A 80 TO 100000 VOTERS IN THIS DISTRICT SIX ALONE IN THIS RACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TRUSTEE FLORES, AND I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MS. RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRUSTEE FLORES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ANGELA ENCISO.
IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.
AND I THINK THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT USE OF OUR TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY GET TO KNOW YOU BOTH. AND IF THEY REALLY EVER HAD ANY KIND OF QUESTIONS OF HOW TO GET TO HOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DALLAS COLLEGE AND WHERE TO WHERE TO START, I THINK THAT THEY FOUND THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE OPEN TO COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ARE REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR THEM. I JUST WANTED TO THANK LULAC AND DALLAS COLLEGE FOR ALLOWING US TO HOST THIS BRYAN PARRA IS OUR DISTRICT 3 DIRECTOR FOR HELPING TO MODERATE TONIGHT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS STILL EARLY, EARLY VOTING.
I VOTED YESTERDAY AT MOUNTAINVIEW COLLEGE.
AND SO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GOES OUT TO VOTE AND THAT EVERYONE SHOWS UP FOR SURE, NOVEMBER 3RD ON ELECTION DAY AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE IT FOR TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US TO WATCH THIS AS WELL ONLINE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.