October 20, 2023
Hello, WVC Community,
Moments of realization may come when we least expect them. As we are nearing the end of October, I hope everyone’s semester is going well.
My daily campus walks center me, reminding me of all we have to be grateful for as we come to work each day enjoying our 143 acres. Thank you to the many people who often are not acknowledged or seen but who play an instrumental role in our successful college operations – facilities, public safety, and IS teams. And thank you, faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and students for your day-to-day work in making West Valley College a great place to learn and grow, compete, and perform.
Recently, a faculty member asked me what my highlights for the semester have been. I immediately thought of how I appreciate working with all of you in myriad ways, building professional relationships, and connecting with community partners. Your hard work and genuine care for the institution and students inspirits me.
First 100 Days
Vision, hope, and action must begin with listening. I am thoroughly enjoying listening and learning about the institution, its important role in the community, our campus culture and character, and our take on participatory governance processes and organizational structure. Attending art, music, and athletics events reveal to me the many talents of our students. I am excited to share more of my observations in December—at College Council, senate meetings, and my campus communications. Speaking of College Council, I encourage all of you to come, so we can have more voices in the room, more voices contributing important ideas, insights, and experiences to our decision-making. You will be heard.
60th Anniversary
As we approach our 60th anniversary, April 2024, the planning has begun. A college celebration committee led by Tina Vossugh, Director of Marketing and Communication, will design the festivities, and organize events in the lead-up to the main celebration. I welcome everyone to participate in recognizing and celebrating our college and history.
Vlogs with a Cause!
I am excited to launch Viewpoint and Community Connect, two vlogs designed to help keep both the college community and external partners informed about the great work at WVC. Please watch the inaugural president’s Vlog Viewpoint, which shares the program review resource request process and provides information.
All-College Meeting and Holiday Party
Our executive leadership team is excited to host the first all-college meeting of the semester, Tuesday, November 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Campus Center. Topics include among others: facilities and construction, free college program, enrollment management, and marketing. The meeting, most importantly, provides us a time for fellowship and checking in.
Please hold the date for the Winter Wonderland Holiday Party, Wednesday, December 6, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Kirkorian Room and Pavilion.
Education Master Plan
Thank you, to everyone who participated in the creation of the Education Master Plan (EMP). I have enjoyed reviewing the principles, objectives, updates, and stated goals—Partnerships, Integrated Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, Capacity Building, Program and Enrollment Management, Institutional Alignment and Operational Excellence, and Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion.
Reflecting on what I am learning, I plan to share with all of you in the appropriate venues some thoughts I have for refocusing aspects of the EMP. Through an integrated planning lens, we may consider moving away from “initiatives” heavy language to recenter core processes serving the college mission, affirm a holistic approach to serving students (as opposed to siloed efforts), affirm our role as the community’s college destination, focus on cycles of improvement and measurable outcomes, and promote fiscal transparency in aligning budget to values.
Antiracism Action Plan and Next Steps
Belonging, social justice, liberation, inclusion, and equity, begin and continue with us. I applaud the long list of participants and thank the workgroup leads: Murrell Green, Chris Dyer, Meg Farrell, Kristen Jackanich, Victor Castillo, Gretchen Ehlers, Ana Lobato, Philip Severe, Michael West, Marta Mora Evans, Virginia Marquez, Michelle Francis, Joe McDevitt and Elizabeth Flynn, who stepped up to draft and enact the Antiracism Action Plan, 2020-2023. As you may be aware, the plan ends December 31, 2023. What an opportunity we have collectively to begin phase 2 of the Antiracism Action Plan by using an integrated approach and meeting the objectives in the Student Equity and Achievement Plan. Both plans rely on the participatory governance process. I look forward to your continual support and participation as we co-create a community that expresses our common benevolence.
Climate Survey
The last Institutional Effectiveness Survey was conducted in 2021. The institution has experienced many transitions in the last three years. As president, I felt it necessary to conduct a climate survey immediately. All WVC employees will receive an email invitation next week to participate in the PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges. Please complete the survey so we can incorporate your perspective.
Campus climate is an essential part of our planning and wellness. As we look forward to next semester and subsequent years let’s identify what is working well and consider opportunities to improve. The results of the survey will be shared in spring 2024 and inform our work at the June summer leadership retreat which includes faculty, classified professionals, students, and administrators.
See you on campus and please join me for a campus walk and talk meeting! My walking office hours are Thursdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please get in touch with Elizabeth%20Tablan to schedule a 30-minute time slot.
In unity and hope,
Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, Ph.D.