As we approach the last few working days of the year, it is time to reflect back and assess what we have accomplished this semester. At in-service day on August 22, I talked about a few big ticket items: the future of education, facilities, resource development, and our physical environment and safety. So how did we do in these areas during the semester?
The future of education remains one of the most hotly debated topics. Are we over-educating the younger generation? Is college relevant? What is the value of a college degree? I am sure you hear some of these questions as frequently as I do. A study published by The Center on Education and the Workforce at McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University earlier this year quantified the Return on Investment (ROI) on 4,500 Colleges and Universities across our nation. The 40-year Net Present Value of an associate degree from Columbia College is $638,000 (https://1gyhoq479ufd3yna29x7ubjn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/College_ROI.pdf). Indeed a great return on the investment made in College! To keep up with the recent trends in education, we are continuously modernizing our approach to teaching and learning. This semester, we have partnered with Calaveras County to open our second video-transmit classroom near Angel’s Camp. Instead of waiting for students to come to the classroom, we are taking the classroom to the students by removing barriers to accessing education.
Many of you are on the committee that is working on developing the Educational Master Plan for the next decade. Thank you for engaging in this important endeavor. To my knowledge, we are the only campus that has taken on such a huge task without an external consultant - not only to save precious resources, but also to develop a roadmap that we can call our own. Once we complete the educational master plan, we will embark on identifying facilities to support the educational needs.
Preserving, protecting, and enhancing our physical environment is a continued challenge for us. We have had extensive discussion on how we can make our campus more resilient to fire, power outages, storms, and other extreme natural conditions. One of our endeavors is to establish a Biomass fueled power generation station on campus. This power generation station will be based on a micro-grid and will be sufficient to supply power to all our buildings in case of a power shutdown, which appears to be a new normal. We are working with several partners to procure grant funding to the tune of $16 million to bring this dream into reality. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we may be able to secure this grant and ensure continued power supply to our campus in case of an eventuality.
Many of you participated in the recently held Comprehensive Emergency Operations Procedure (CEOP) training. Conducted in a new format, this interaction helped me understand the need of the campus community from the perspective of safety. We conducted a drill for the first time in several years to test our preparedness to face an emergency. We will continue the dialog.
Our Foundation has expanded its scope of the Columbia College Promise Program that enables our high school graduates to enroll in college. This year, 169 students have already applied to come to Columbia College in Fall of 2020. Applications a year in advance is unheard of in the community college environment! Planning early is a key indicator of success. An international study conducted by McKinsey Consulting found that “Student mindsets have triple the effect of socioeconomic background on student outcomes” (https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/social-sector/our-insights/drivers-of-student-performance-insights-from-north-america). By committing early, the students are developing a positive mindset towards education which is likely to improve their academic outcomes. More importantly, I am proud to note that you, the campus community, has been actively cultivating a growth mindset through the efforts pioneered by our own Teaching, Learning, & Community co-facilitators. Mindset, the book you have been reading this year, is about the power of growth mindset! The combined effect of positive, growth-oriented mindset from both the campus community and the oncoming students will have a profound impact on the academic achievement of our students.
One of the highlights this semester is the performance of our basketball team! A 10-0 record and 4th rank in the State speaks for itself! Congratulations, Coach Hoyt and the team! You make us proud!
This semester, we are losing a significant amount of institutional memory through retirements. While I am sad to see you go, I am happy for your well-earned retirement and your significant contribution to Columbia College and the students we serve. Sadly, we also lost some of our retirees. Although I did not get the opportunity to work with them, I have heard many stories of how they enriched the life of our students and colleagues.
It has been a very hectic semester where all of you have worked tirelessly to improve our campus and lives of our students. Thank you! Please have a restful break with your loved ones. If travel takes you far, please be safe - I will look forward to hearing your stories. I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a part of Columbia College and to work with all of you!
Go Jumpers!
