Interim Chancellor’s Update: Fostering A Culture Of Caring

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you have been enjoying your summer days or at least have had the opportunity to slow down a bit and spend time with your loved ones.

It is hard to believe that we’re approaching the start of another academic year. It’s also hard to believe that I have been in the Acting Chancellor’s role for one month and will now have the honor of serving as Interim Chancellor. I am grateful to the Governing Board for their belief and confidence in me during this transitional period as we search for a permanent Chancellor.

Since I started as Acting Chancellor on July 1, I have been quite busy. For example, we hosted Governor Hobbs’ visit to the Downtown Campus, I was interviewed on the Bill Buckmaster radio show, I have met with some of our high school principals and superintendents related to our Higher Learning Commission additional site locations plan, attended the NC3 Leadership Summit in Kenosha, Wisconsin, have started visiting our campuses, have helped plan for All College Day, and have participated in the Mayor’s HUD Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant Ceremony at the Downtown Campus, which happened today. As with every role I’ve filled as a member of the College, I’m excited to be able to do all that I can to help keep it the outstanding institution that it is.

Elevating student voices

Let’s bear in mind that in order to recruit, retain, and keep our students on the path to completion, we all need to keep building on our culture of caring, belonging, and respect. In order to achieve an optimal culture of caring, we all need to understand our community’s needs. This begins with developing an understanding of our students. It requires elevating their voices to drive a change of systems. We need to have humility and embrace our sense of mission as we listen to our learners. We will be talking more about our culture of caring during All College Day on August 18. Because this is such an important topic, we are closing the College that day so everyone can participate.

To this end, it is important to remember that innovation and culture are not a destination. They are a transformational process -- a mindset and a heartfelt conviction. As I have said before, my belief is that colleges need to be student-ready and not to expect students to be college-ready.

By fostering a culture of caring, respect and trust, we will be creating spaces in which all students can thrive, have the opportunity to reach their personal goals, and be able to engage with us -- where all students belong. This is retention. This is equity. When we help our students transform their paths and those of their families, then we as a community thrive through economic mobility. A rising tide lifts all boats, and Pima exemplifies this.

Thank you for joining me in being committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive teaching and learning environment where education and workforce development are the keys to individual and community success.

 

With gratitude,
Dolores