March 29 Forum Notes
Liston Campus
Values Discussion:
- "Good" education (measurable)
- Value students as individuals
- Value our role to provide sound information and direction to students
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Fulfill students’ needs from each department
-
Each part working cooperatively to provide a supportive environment where students can reach their goals
- Continuous improvement through continual review (willingness to accept change)
- Need for improved communication between departments
- There appears to be "cast" system
- Lose students who don’t fit into the classic structure – needs flexibility to meet student’s individual needs
- Need reasonable expectations for each staff person - Staff over-stretched; prohibits going the extra mile for students
- Value the concept of Lifelong Learning (continuous professional development) for all of us, not just students
- Ensure students are receiving highest quality education possible
- More collaboration among departments is necessary
- More collaboration among FT & PT staff is necessary
- Communicated policies & procedures to ensure students can access available resources as needed
- Respect students’ barriers to learning / provide assistance (ex: cost of textbooks)
- Everyone at college touches students’ lives (M Milliron)
- Consider college as a whole, not individual silos
- Respect for each other and each other’s work as part of the whole
- Take pride in our work
- Value the daily struggles CCRI students face
- Value leadership – values start at the top
- Accountability
- Ramifications for non-conformity
- Standards & mandates that align with new mission statement
- Lack of participation
- Is input valued when people do participate?
- Apathy?
- Not informed?
- Ramifications for non-participation?
- Need Buy In
- Equal opportunity to participate on college-wide committees
(inclusiveness)
- Favoritism in selection process?
- Appointed vs volunteer?
- Accountability to follow through on participation
- Include part-timer’s
- Passion for what we do
- Success - not just students, but faculty and staff as well
- Not just "lip service", equity appears to be a myth
Why Do We Exist?
- To educate the RI adult population
- For the students
- To accommodate diverse student population
- Can’t use one-size-fits-all approach
- Diversity includes difference in campus cultures from location to location
- Students’ goals vary (work, degree, transfer, etc.)
- College readiness varies
- Minimal "traditional" students; students face barriers beyond some of our comprehension
- Are we ready to serve such diverse populations?
- More open dialog needed
- Respect differences
- Maintain professionalism
Vision for the Future:
- Employees are appreciated and recognized for their efforts
- Employees proud to say "I work at CCRI"
- Standards established for evaluation and accountability
- Employees have tools for success
- Positive work environment
- Education required for more and more employment opportunities across more industries
- Technology will continue to change/improve at a rapid pace and will be present in all industries (including education) – commitment to continuous learning ourselves
- Faculty & staff participate in continuous professional development toward raising our sensitivity to who our students are and the issues they face daily


