A Message from MCC Chancellor, Mark James

Dear Students and Colleagues,
As we push past what was a very challenging week for us all, I am pleased to report to you that Dean Dimmitt returned home late last week and is recovering well. I would like to say he is resting, but showing his usual dedication, he insisted on participating in a meeting by phone with his colleagues very early Friday morning. We are grateful he is doing so well and anxious for his return to MCC-Penn Valley.
As we get back to our regular activities we will continue to be vigilant in reviewing our safety processes and plans. I am personally heading a top-down review of all of our security plans, technology, and notification processes. This week, I will also personally lead an after-action “hotwash” of the pre-event planning and actions taken in response to the Penn Valley incident.
My goal is to develop action items to enhance MCC’s security through a series of plans extending from improvements we can make within the next 30, 60, and 90 days. Some actions may take longer to implement. We are reaching out to external safety, security, and mental health experts to ensure we receive objective input and benchmarks for our activities. We will also be convening student leaders as well as the governance group leaders for their input. I am receiving comments and ideas and remind you that you can email them to Denise Prather in my office at Denise.Prather@mcckc.edu.
In the end, the best safety and security measures a public institution can have are those which are simple, communicated, known, understood, and most importantly - regularly rehearsed. We will not “knee-jerk” react or impose an armed encampment mentality hiding behind metal detectors but will focus on ensuring student and employee awareness of what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for pulling together as one MCC community. This is a great place to work, study, and train.
Sincerely,
Mark