Message from the Chancellor - Budget Website Launched

Dear MCC Colleagues,

As you know, MCC’s current budget outlook is challenging. While the officers, with the input of individuals and teams from across the district, are working to find solutions to our sizable budget deficit, I want to be sure all of you are informed about the various factors related to budgetary decisions.

We have created a website called MCC Budget Source where you can access all of this information. If you have questions about changes related to the MCC budget, take a few minutes to look through this site, which includes an FAQ section. If you have additional questions, email them to budget.source@mcckc.edu . While we cannot respond to each question individually, you can watch for responses to frequently asked questions to appear on MCC Budget Source. Also, please continue to direct feedback and questions to your Budget Response Team representatives, who are listed by name on the MCC Budget Source site.

As additional budget information becomes available, we will continue to update the site, so feel free to check back often for additional information.

Please use MCC Budget Source to stay informed and provide input into these important decisions. I believe that we can meet the challenges we now face and continue our mission of preparing students, serving communities and creating opportunities.

Mark James

Chancellor

Countdown to tobacco-free MCC

Effective August 1, 2011, MCC will become tobacco-free. Chancellor Mark James made the announcement at the Chancellor Cabinet meeting on Nov.9, 2010.

This aggressive timeline will be implemented for the purpose of creating healthier campus environments for students, employees and visitors.

Tobacco-free refers to all types of smoking and smokeless tobacco products. Once implemented, all areas of MCC premises and grounds will be tobacco-free, as well as all MCC vehicles being used for MCC business. All students, employees, visitors, contractors, vendors and delivery personnel will be required to follow this initiative.

Chancellor Mark James congratulates MCC-Longview students, encourages more campus success

Chancellor Mark James and MCC-Longview president Fred Grogan listen to questions and stories from faculty, staff and students during a special Tuesday lunch meeting in the Mel Aytes Education Center.


Meeting with faculty, staff and students Tuesday afternoon, MCC Chancellor Mark James said he was thrilled to see the dozen or more students who turned out to ask questions and share their own success stories from the classroom.

Students from the honors program, Phi Theta Kappa and even student government shared their individual stories about how a dedicated faculty and staff at MCC have helped launch them into new academic heights.

"These are the stories I love to hear," James said in his lunch meeting with MCC-Longview faculty, staff and students. "I love to hear about those successes and achievements directly from our own students. It is what keeps me going here."



The meeting was part of James' overall effort to visit all five MCC campuses and answer questions.

On Tuesday he sat down at MCC-Longview over wraps and chips to not only hear about some of the great milestones from students, but did answer some tough questions.

Faculty members questioned why it took so long for adjunct faculty to get paid at the beginning of each semester - sometimes six to seven week after classes start.

James admitted that the answer to the question was not perfect, but did spend a good amount of time trying to explain the whole process and how Vice Chancellor Tuesday Stanley and her staff were working to correct it.

Faculty members also asked about new ways to hire adjunct faculty members, which has become more difficult over time. Vice Chancellor Paul Long said the administrative staff have started a process that will pool all of the adjuct faculty from all five campuses into one database divided by subject. This will give department heads and hiring committees a chance to see all of the candidates from around the Kansas City region and possibly even find a few from other campuses that could fill in from time to time.

That process, Long said, is still in the works, but is moving forward steadily.

In the end, James spent close to two hours answering questions and hearing stories at MCC-Longview. James also promised to return to Longview for more Q and A sessions.

"We will be back," he said. "Believe me this is not just a one and done kind of commitment."

For more photos from Mark James's visit, click through to our Flickr page.

United Way - Message from the Chancellor

Good morning MCC,

Just a quick reminder that our United Way Campaign will soon be drawing to a close and unfortunately we are not where we need to be in terms of our goals for this year. I know many of you have done yeoman's work this month with all kinds of fundraising activities and I appreciate the time and effort you volunteers have put into this worthwhile cause.

There are still a few more days left in the month if you have not yet made a decision or pledge commitment. This is a great opportunity for us as a group to give back to our community and help those who are in need. Even $5, $10, or $20 a month collectively adds up to a significant amount if enough people chip in. Thank you for your consideration of this request and thank you to those who have already contributed.

Have a great day,

Mark
I'm committed to creating opportunities - are you?

Chancellor Mark James looks to the future at in-service presentation

Chancellor's in-service presentation 2010

View more presentations from mcckc.

Message from the Chancellor: United Way Campaign kicks off

Dear MCC Colleagues:

Throughout October, MCC joins thousands of other businesses in the annual United Way Campaign. I suspect that we all have friends, neighbors, and family who have faced perilous challenges. While I know there are many demands on your resources and many requests for your generous support, I hope you can consider helping our community through the United Way.

United Way allows us to make a single contribution benefiting over 400 programs provided by more than 150 agencies in our region. 100% of our contributions stay within our community. We also have the option of tailoring our contributions to specific agencies, or the types of services we prefer. As you consider making your United Way pledge/contribution, you should know that your pledge can be directed to three funds that will specifically benefit MCC students. These three funds are prominently displayed on the MCC pledge form for your convenience as follows:

1) MCC Health Science Institute Fund – Supports specialized equipment, medical labs and programs necessary to operate a state-of-the-art facility for training nursing and allied health students.

2) MCC Student Book and Emergency Fund – Assists students at any of MCC’s campuses when emergencies occur, including financial assistance with books and other related expenses.

3) MCC Rainbow Kids Fund - Financially assists students who have child care expenses at the Francis Child Development Institute.

MCC Foundation – You can also “write-in” MCC Foundation on the line in Section D for a general contribution to the MCC Foundation to be used as needed for the benefit of our students.

In closing, United Way is an effective way for us to share our resources. As “One MCC” our individual contributions become one significant larger contribution that truly impacts those in our community who are in need. Thank you for considering this request.

Mark

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

Chancellor's Response to MCC-Penn Valley Assault

Dear MCC Students and Colleagues,

Yesterday, MCC was the victim of one random act of violence but was the benefactor of many random acts of courage and kindness. By now, I am sure you have seen the news accounts and heard the rumor mill concerning the assault that occurred on the Penn Valley Campus.

Let me first say that from all the information I have, Dean Dimmit is expected to make a full recovery and for that, I am most thankful. I will look forward to welcoming him back on campus soon. In the mean time, please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Secondly, I want to say how proud I am of our employees and students who showed heroic courage and compassion during yesterday’s incident. From people who put their personal safety at risk to personnel who responded from other MCC campuses, please accept my sincere thanks for what you did.

While I am grateful that the measures we had in place minimized the consequences of the unfortunate incident, I am determined to learn what we can from this situation and take appropriate action to enhance our security and post-incident procedures. From my 30-years experience in law enforcement I have learned that real-life incidents will always test and reveal adjustments and adaptations that need to be added to operational plans and procedures. I have already spoken with the Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol who oversees the Governor’s Security Detail, as well as federal agents investigating the assailant, and we will exchange information and observations from this incident.

Along with other measures, we will review our timetable for converting the MCC Public Safety Department into a state certified campus police department. I think yesterday’s incident clearly shows that our campuses are no different than any other public venue where a random crime can occur so like any other public venue, our students and employees should have the benefit of police protection specifically trained to operate in the open atmosphere of an academic institution.

We will review MCC’s critical incident communication plan, classroom security issues, and post-incident response plans. We will also revisit the operations of our Behavioral Intervention Teams to determine if there is anything we can do to enhance their effectiveness. Yesterday, I attended one of two informational briefings for MCC employees conducted at the Penn Valley Campus and received good input, concerns, and suggestions.

Effective immediately, I am expanding the effort for gathering your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions relating to campus security. I am asking anyone who has input to please email that input to Denise Prather of the Chancellor’s Office at Denise.Prather@mcckc.edu. I will personally ensure all input will be examined as I work with the review team.I want to remind all of the MCC community, employees and students that we have counseling available at the Penn Valley Campus. Additional counselors are also available at Penn Valley through our new partnership with Truman Medical Center. Employees may also access counseling through the Employee Assistance Program. I encourage all students and employees to avail themselves of these services, if they are experiencing any distress from this incident. As someone who has been through a number of these incidences, distress, fear, and anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction that can be quickly mitigated with professional help.

Let me close by saying, this is a time for us all to pull together and ensure that we continue to carry out our important mission of preparing students, serving our communities, and creating opportunities. MCC will not be negatively defined by this event, but will be defined by our ability to come together as one MCC transcending this event. We will not become an armed encampment hiding behind metal detectors but will be a beacon of education and instruction secured by an ongoing commitment to the best processes in prevention, intervention, response, and mitigation. Our campuses are no less safe than any other public venue. Yesterday’s incident was the first of its kind in MCC’s 95-year history and we need to keep that in perspective as we emotionally process this event.

We are One MCC,
Mark

Chancellor James shares lunch with MCC-Blue River

Metropolitan Community College Chancellor, Mark James, launched the first of several campus tours at MCC-Blue River. The tours are an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to ask questions and chat with Chancellor James.

Chancellor James answered questions about a variety of topics including tuition costs, future revenue generating streams and other pertinent issues. The format was casual, friendly and team-oriented. Officers of the district also attended Blue River’s “Mid-Day with Mark."

Without a set agenda, Chancellor James shared information, updates and results from a recent survey. Chancellor James affirmed his commitment to bring about positive changes in the areas that impact MCC employees and students.

He also encouraged everyone to visit The MCC-Insider to stay-up-to-date on the latest happenings and events throughout the college system.

The chancellor remained after the session to answer questions one-on-one and share a laugh or two with the Blue River team.

Chancellor James to visit campuses throughout the year

Chancellor Mark James is planning visits with each campus throughout the year as an opportunity to get to know students, staff and faculty.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, James will be at MCC-Blue River for the "Mid-Day with Mark" lunch. The lunch will be held in the Education Center, room 110 from 12:30-1:30 Blue River employees and students are invited to attend.

Stay tuned to The MCC Insider for other campus visit announcements.

Message from the Chancellor

Dear Colleagues,

These are extraordinary times in Jefferson City in terms of the discussions and pending decisions impacting higher education in Missouri. The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) has provided a strong and reasoned voice in providing critical input regarding legislative decisions that directly impact higher education in Missouri.

The presidents and chancellors of Missouri’s community colleges have united as one voice through MCCA aggressively promoting our sector of higher education. MCCA has hired Zora Mulligan as its new Executive Director. Zora is a well-known and well-respected former senior policy advisor to the Commissioner of Higher Education. MCCA has never played a more important role in promoting our interests and defining our future. So what has this got to do with you?

As a professional association, memberships are the life blood of MCCA and membership numbers have declined. I have heard some MCC employees have dropped because there is a perception that they are not supported in going to the annual conference or serving on MCCA committees. I will work with the Officer Group and shared governance leaders to maximize such opportunities to the extent our budget will allow.

MCCA membership is a personal choice and the cost is $30 per year. My intent is to inform -- not twist arms. Please visit MCCA’s website at http://www.mccatoday.com/, or contact your membership representative as follows: AC/BP/FS – Darlene Burkhart; BTC – Sherry Skinner; BR – Kathleen Henrikson; LV – Margaret Berter; MW – Kim Sides-Steiger; and PV/PI/HSI – Brian Chasteen.

Best regards,
Mark

James appointed to Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee

Chancellor Mark James has been appointed by the chairman of the board of the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), Tony Cooley, to serve as an at large member of the Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee (RHSCC).

The RHSCC is a multi-disciplinary policy committee formed by MARC to oversee the region’s work in homeland security. MARC is the association of city and county governments and metropolitan planning organization serving the nine-county Kansas City metropolitan area.

The RHSCC oversees the investment of federal homeland security funds for the region, which supports community outreach, regional planning and protocol development, technology and communication system operation, equipment and technology system purchases, and a regional training and exercise program.

Message from the Chancellor - improving communication and collaboration

Dear Colleagues,
Faculty leaders and I have had considerable discussion about ways to enhance communication and collaboration between the faculty, staff and administration of MCC. Having considered ways to accomplish this, I have established a pilot faculty liaison position for the 2010-2011 academic year. A primary focus of the position will be to facilitate communication, collaboration, and problem solving between faculty members at all our campuses, staff leadership, and the administration of MCC. Additionally, the faculty liaison will work closely with the vice chancellor of educational services on special academic projects based on the needs of the institution like developmental education, assessment, and on-line education.

I am pleased to announce that following a competitive application process facilitated by the Faculty Senate and Human Resources, I have chosen Craig Bartholomaus to serve in this position. While Craig will be under the direction of Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Paul Long, he will have direct access to me. Craig brings a wealth of expertise and experience to this position. He is a passionate advocate for faculty and student needs and is committed to working in a spirit of productive collaboration with the staff and administration. Craig holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has been a member of MCC’s faculty for thirteen years and is currently the English Department coordinator at MCC-Penn Valley. He currently serves as MCC-Penn Valley’s Faculty Association president, is a member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and is a graduate of the Chair Academy’s Leadership and Development program. Craig will assume these responsibilities in addition to his classroom assignment upon his return from summer break and will soon be reaching out to establish the lines of communication.

We are an academic institution whose mission is to prepare our students, serve our communities, and create opportunities. I believe sometimes inadequate communication, lack of personal relationships, and posturing has created misperceptions distracting us from our mission. This position is but one step towards creating cooperative and constructive relationships between the faculty, staff, and administration of MCC. I will continue meeting regularly with all the governance group leaders, will work with the Officer Group to bring our Officer meetings to the campuses, and will work with Dr. Tom Vansaghi and his team to bring 21st Century communication tools such as the new MCC Insider to the forefront of our internal communication efforts to improve transparency. There are a lot of people doing great things in MCC and I want to make sure you know about it. I’ll shout it from the rooftops if that’s what it takes!

Thank you for all you do – we are One MCC, here to prepare students, serve communities, and create opportunities!

Mark

Message from Mark James - Transition

Good afternoon students and colleagues of MCC,

On July 1, 2010 I will assume the responsibilities of chancellor of MCC. As chancellor, I will become your biggest advocate. During a recent campus town hall meeting I was asked what my top priority would be. I gave a multi-part answer because of the intricacies of our many challenges. When I finished my answer, the astute questioner succinctly summarized for me that my job as chancellor will be, “to keep the doors open”. I readily accept the charge but I will go one step further--not only will I keep the doors open, but I will aggressively look for new doors for MCC to walk through.

While all public institutions are faced with significant economic challenges, MCC has unprecedented opportunities before us. However, before we can maximally avail ourselves of these opportunities, we have to get our house in order, and this starts with creating a culture of unity of effort. Working with the Chancellor’s Cabinet, I will challenge everyone to think and work beyond their immediate sphere of influence in making MCC fiscally sound for the future and more effective in preparing students, serving communities, and creating opportunities. We have some tough decisions ahead and we are going to tackle them together, not in organizational stovepipes or silos. While unity of effort will be the enabler, the following priorities will be my focus during fiscal year 2011:

· Identifying Revenue Growth Opportunities
· Budget – FY12 and Beyond
· Updating of Policies
· Communication

In the coming weeks, I will share more specific ideas within each of these strategic areas. As we move forward, I will work to ensure our workplace is civil, lawful, ethical, respectful, diverse, inclusive, responsive, enjoyable, and transparent. Helping me in this endeavor, will be my chief of staff, Kathy Walter-Mack. Kathy has served as the chancellor’s director of urban affairs and inclusion for the past year and has proven invaluable in resolving internal issues while improving MCC’s external relations. Kathy brings years of legal and policy experience in the field of education as she previously served as chief counsel for the Kansas City, Missouri School District as well as owned her own consulting business. Kathy has readily accepted my challenge to take on the “24/7” responsibility of serving as my chief of staff. Her skills and experience will serve MCC well. Please see her attached bio for further details.

These are challenging but exciting times for MCC. Together, we will excel, achieve, and remain a recognized cutting-edge leader in higher education. We are one MCC.

Sincerely,
Mark

Mark James speaks at Belton E.D.C. meeting

MCC Chancellor Mark James announces a new partnership between MCC and UCM that will establish a higher education presence in Belton, Mo.

A new partnership between MCC and the University of Central Missouri will give Cass County residents easier access to higher education. The partnership, which is still in the formative phase, will include continuing professional education, workforce training, associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs and other services.

MCC and UCM will open a joint temporary office at the Heritage office building in Belton, near MO-58 Highway. The current plan does not include building an actual campus in the county.
Additional information on this exciting new partnership will be forthcoming as it continues to develop.