September 7, 2003

From John J. “Ski” Sygielski, President

Greetings!         

As we welcome the fall semester, I present to you the first of many “Ski Grams.”  I propose this communication tool as a focus for many of my initiatives and/or concerns and keep you informed on a variety of college issues – as you requested. (In the near future, “Ski Grams” will be located on our new website which will also include minutes from President’s staff meetings and many of my other meetings/activities involving members of our college community.  Printed  copies of “Ski Grams” will also be delivered to people unlikely to access it through the Web.)

Findings from Staff and FT/PT Faculty Meetings 

Over 100 members of the LFCC community completed the “ranking” forms summarizing our meetings since I’ve arrived three weeks ago.  Below you will find the top five areas constituent groups recommended I/we visit and respond to in the near-term.  (Administrators will meet soon and their rankings will be released shortly after that meeting.)

Community Cultural Center Update and URGENT REQUEST!!!!

As you are aware, the LFCC Educational Foundation has been working on a capital campaign in support of the construction of the Corron Community Cultural Center on the Middletown Campus.  Many of you have contributed to this campaign over the last several years.  It was understood that once construction had been completed, the State would take over the building, and be responsible for its operating costs.  More recently, we have received documentation from the State indicating that operational funding may not be available for this building.  Consequently, as the final stages of design are at hand, the Foundation Board has authorized a brief, yet comprehensive study to be conducted soon to ensure the current design of the building will meet student and community needs while being self-sustaining. 

The Educational Foundation Board will hold its annual planning retreat Thursday, September 11, 2003 from 1pm until 5pm at Mr. Kummili’s farm.  I will facilitate the meeting to assist in developing its goals and objectives for the remainder of fiscal year 2003-04.  However, Robin Weaning (LFCC Director of Institutional Advancement) and I would be interested in receiving your suggestions on what the Foundation should acquire funds for (other than the Community Cultural Center ) (i.e. scholarships, staff/faculty development, new equipment, physical facilities, etc.)   If you have any suggestions for funding needs, please let Robin (lfweanr@lfcc.edu) know by Wednesday morning, September 10.

“Juice with John”

While I have attended numerous early morning and/or late night meetings and events throughout our service region to date, I eagerly look forward to learning more about our students and our internal/external community through a variety of meetings with our business, education and government leaders. 

Since I have met most of the full- and part-time LFCC faculty and staff and would appreciate the chance to listen and talk with you further on a regular basis, I’ve randomly invited a few full- and part-time faculty, staff, administrators, college retirees and (traditional and non-traditional) students to join me in a small group setting (with food and beverage) on pre-determined mornings throughout the academic year to discuss  suggestions for me and the College as I begin my presidency.   Watch your electronic mailbox for an invitation.

Last Wednesday, eight of us participated in the first “Juice with John” and I heard some of the following: LFCC is a good place to be; investigate physical fitness opportunities; review the new telephone system; ensure people have a voice in decision making activities to include room design; enhance communication mechanisms; evaluate classroom utilization methods; provide professional development in a variety of areas (i.e. eVA, SIS, etc.).

Select Recent Celebrations   

IN THE NEWS: Elaine Cassel (Psychology) was recently quoted in the Northern Virginia Daily ( 8/9/03 ) regarding her work on why adolescents join gangs and their connection with crime.  Joseph Callahan will be presenting at an international conference in Canada next month. 

POSITION CHANGES: Kathy Howard (Workforce Development Coordinator, Fauquier) , Patricia Leister (Workforce Development Assistant, Fauquier), Liz Branch (Receptionist, Fauquier), and Laura Leftwich (LRC, Fauquier).  NEW PERSONNEL: Pam Simmons and Ricky Stickley (Building and Grounds)

CONGRATULATIONS: To our friends at ODU (Nancy Rudolph and company)!  LFCC currently supports the largest ODU enrollment in our system.  Four hundred and forty-four individuals are in attendance at LFCC/ODU! 

FAREWELLS: Todd Jamison (Institutional Research) to Dennison University (OH), Faith DeWarf (Human Resources) Retired,  Jimmy Stewart (College Board member representing Winchester ) and Dick Viets (College Board member representing Fauquier) resigned.

PARKING LOTS: Thanks to Bruce Armstrong and his staff for directing traffic on the first few days of class and for creating many new “parking lots” for the overflow of student vehicles.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Kay Dunkley (Instruction and Student Services) was selected to participate in the League of Innovation’s Executive Leadership Institute for aspiring presidents in December.

Select Meetings with Groups and Individuals                      

I have scheduled numerous meetings with internal and external constituencies.  The goal of these meetings is to learn how we can assist each other and our external community and how our external community may be able to contribute to our efforts.  If you would like me to meet with someone who would help me learn more about our college and its communities, please email me.

Meetings/Interviews: Full- and part-time LFCC faculty, staff, foundation board members and students received most of my focus; Winchester Chamber of Commerce; Page County High School; Fauquier WIB; Bi-monthly VCCS ACOP Meeting (Richmond); New Teachers Dinner (Fauquier) and Breakfast (Winchester); seven “official” classroom visits (Martin, Bambera, Christiansen, Guiliano, Ward and Lambert, Gonzalez) and numerous “quick hello” classroom visits; Consultants to assist us in our strategic planning activities; LFCC Educational Foundation Board and Executive Committee; Winchester-area media representatives; Science Building Architects; President’s Cabinet (individually and collectively); LFCC Ambassador’s Club (Fauquier) and LFCC Finance staff.

Focus Group: Conducted Winchester Government/Education Focus Group to learn successes and needs (i.e. EMT, Law Enforcement).  This is the first of five external focus groups I will conduct to learn more about how our communities value us and what they may expect from us.  The first internal “Juice with John” occurred Wednesday.

Individuals: Bob Lee (Fauquier County Administrator), David Martin (Fauquier County School Superintendent), Joe Winkleman (Member, Fauquier County Board of Supervisors), Hutton Tiffany (Chairman, Fauquier Bank), Jerry Schiro (Page County Administrator), Arlene Keifer, Rosalee Batton and Dick Dovell (Retired faculty members), Bob Sowder and Byron Brill (LFCC Foundation Board members),  Edith Barnet (ODU-Teletechnet), C.R. Suddith, Jr. (College Board Chair)

Interviews: Fauquier Democrat, Northern Virginia Daily, Winchester Star

(I am on the Fauquier campus Tuesday and Friday from 7am until ?? and can be reached at 351-1513 and at the Middletown campus Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7am until ?? at 868-7101.)

Students and Community

One of the many aspects I have been impressed with in my interactions and conversations with faculty and staff at LFCC is how important student learning is.  In walking around and talking with many of you and our students, it is evident our students learn from ALL of us, no matter what our role at the college.  To see current and former students interacting with Eileen Rexrode, Liz Brashear, Linda Harper, Lucy Weber, Robbie Clem, John Piazza, Linda Bursey, Julie West, Barbara Greeen, Elizabeth Martini, Claudia Mazurkiewicz, Sandi Pope, Andrea Ludwick, Laura Leftwich, Meredith Funkhouser, Michelle Coleman, Brent Kendrick, Roxanne Orndorff and Nancy Rudolph (ODU) confirms to me we ALL play a role in helping our students raise their goals and see themselves in new ways.  Keeping the quality of their learning experience as the touchstone for our decision-making is vital and needs to be honored and applauded.   

Even though the idea of becoming a learning college has become cliche lately, I believe that is what LFCC is striving to become.  It is a goal that every one of us can contribute to.

Since we live in an ever changing world, we must pledge to provide each and every student with the content, skills and service which support success and prepare for a challenging future – while guarding and passing on to our students that which is enduring in value.  To our students and our internal/external community we teach and model integrity, respect for others, critical thinking, intellectual growth and the value of lifelong learning.

I believe none of what we do matters if it does not result in positive changes and improved life chances for the students and community who turn to us.  After meeting with numerous external community members over the past two weeks, I’ve heard first-hand how vital LFCC is to the communities we serve.  In fact, it is through your hard work, professionalism and caring for our students that LFCC has earned its outstanding reputation in the community.  Therefore, it is indeed a privilege to SERVE you, our students and the community as your new college president.

President’s Work Goals

Within the next three weeks, I hope to share with you five to ten work goals I will set for my first 180 days at LFCC.  These will be a list of broad tasks which I can use to focus most of my day-to-day leadership activity on campus and in the community until we have a new strategic plan to structure my (our) efforts.  Since I have been gaining useful information from all of you over the past three months, you’ve provided me with a few ideas for my work goals already (i.e. develop a strategic plan, establish/maintain a college community based on mutual respect and full involvement of all constituency groups, enhance communication, provide SIS consulting/training, evaluate the leadership needs for Student Services (Middletown), investigate ways to better integrate Middletown and Fauquier, reinforce the comprehensiveness of the LFCC educational mission, identify and procure sources of funding for a variety of educational initiatives, etc.).  Let me know if you have any ideas by writing me at johnski@lf.vccs.edu

Evaluation of “Ski Gram”

Please let me know if you found this communication tool helpful and how it can be enhanced by writing me at  johnski@lfcc.edu or prezearLFCC@aol.com.  All information will be kept confidential.  Also, do you find the request for college calendar information necessary? Please let me know at johnski@lfcc.edu . Thank you!

Thanks to Kelly Pelkey for creating the letterhead.  This edition was written by John Ski during non-work time.