December 31, 2003

From John J. “Ski” Sygielski, President

LFCC Re-alignment Approved by VCCS

Within the next two weeks, an ad will appear in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Washington Post (tentatively) for the following redefined, vacated or two newly created (*) administrator and/or classified staff positions:

INSTRUCTION: Vice President of Instruction (for both campuses); the Coordinator of Health Professions will now report to the Vice President of Instruction.

STUDENT SUCCESS (formerly Student Services): Vice President for Student Success (for both campuses); Director of Enrollment Services (formerly Registrar); Director of Student Success (MC* and FC. The FC position will also serve as the resident administrator.). We will also advertise the following vacant positions: Coordinator of Student Activities on the MC (now a full-time position); Coordinator of Student Outreach on the MC (formerly Recruiter).

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT: Vice President for Institutional Advancement (Foundation*); Coordinator of Public Relations; part-time wage position for Grant Development. We will also advertise the following vacant positions: Web Developer and Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness (formerly Institutional Research).

Harry Papagan and John Piazza will submit faculty position requests and George Hoffman will submit staff position requests to Cabinet soon for consideration in the 2004-2005 budget planning process which will focus solely on supporting our new strategic plan.

As we begin the healing process associated with organizational realignments, I asked the CARE committee to investigate programs they can offer/facilitate to help us deal with the stress associated with personnel and programmatic changes. For those who waited for over a year for some of these positions to be defined, approved and advertised - accept my sincere gratitude for your efforts and patience. I know it was not easy on many days when your workload expanded and your compensation did not. Finally, as we try to create career paths within LFCC, I hope you will consider applying for at least one of the available positions.

2003-2004 Contingency Budget Requests Submitted

Attached you will find requests from all units within the college for over $1MM from our 2003-2004 contingency budget which is funded at less than $400,000. Within the next two weeks, Cabinet will decide on how to allocate these dollars. If you have not had an opportunity to voice your opinion on how these funds should be allocated, please contact John Piazza, Harry Papagan, KW or any member of Cabinet within the next week.

Strategic Planning Process Continues

Over the next two weeks, the Strategic Planning Team will review draft measures developed by four teams to support LFCC’s four goals: By 2007,

(1) LFCC will define, develop, and implement a nationally prominent teaching and learning environment;
(2) LFCC will enhance student success through nationally prominent programs, services, and accessibility;
(3) LFCC will receive national recognition for community outreach and partnership;
(4) LFCC will have a comprehensive resource development program to support the mission.

LFCC “Heritage” Luncheon Scheduled

As part of our planning process, and to assuage my curiosity about LFCC’s “heritage,” we will be assembling a group of individuals who’ve worked at LFCC for at least twenty years to describe LFCC’s history. In addition to using the information and insights we gather at this session to inform our planning process, we’ll also take copious notes so we can update the History of LFCC written by Kim Lewis (FC English faculty).

The meeting luncheon will take place on Friday, March 5, 2004 in a special location to be announced soon. So, if you’ve worked at LFCC for over twenty years, please contact Judy Rinker at lfrinkj@lf.vcs.edu or at 540-868-7101 by March 1, 2004 if you plan to attend. I look forward to celebrating all the good LFCC experiences today because of your early efforts. Please pass this invitation on to anyone who recently retired.

LFCC – Cosmetic Image Changes

Gail Price, our Acting Director of PR, will be working with us until a Coordinator of PR is hired within the next few months. Of her many tasks to enhance our PR efforts throughout our service region, she will be responsible for updating the design of our college catalog, web site and summer and fall schedules. She will also submit several new “LFCC looks” for us to consider over the next several weeks. Thanks to an overwhelming response, we adopted the tag line – Your Future. Our Focus. Watch for it on billboards in our service region soon.

Legislative Update

The Senate (including Russ Potts and his fellow senators) seems to be very supportive of some type of tax reform which will benefit higher education and LFCC! After speaking with Russ today, he indicated at least 30 Senators were very supportive of some type of reform but we needed to inform our House members why it is still important for them to support. After speaking with him, Bev Sherwood and Joe May (all three are on a finance committee) today, I sent them an email which included the following:

(1) vote to sustain the levels of financial support to allow LFCC (and the other 22 community colleges) to meet the growing needs we face on a daily basis;
(2) make you aware of, and support, the following VCCS projects which require NO FUNDING but language amendments only:
a. Lease/Surplus Property Language
b. Dateline 2009 Fund Carry Forward Language
c. Technology Project Exemption Language
(3) make you aware of, and support, the following VCCS projects, which have been submitted to the General Assembly as budget amendments:
a. Expand Distance Learning with Old Dominion University.
b. Expand Middle College to bring recent high school dropouts onto VCCS campuses and help them earn a GED and an associate degree.
c. Expand Participation in Dual Enrollment Programs allowing local high school students receive both high school and college credit.
d. Fund the VCCS Endowment Matching Program to provide incentives to increase fundraising opportunities for community colleges.
e. Restore Funding for Workforce Development to meet the increasing training demands of our employers (i.e. DuPont, Poly-One, H.P. Hood, etc.)
f. Fund the Medical Education Campus of Northern Virginia Community College so LFCC can access and utilize state-of-the art equipment to train our growing health professions programs in the Valley.
g. Endorse plans to move community college faculty salaries to the 60th percentile over the next four years. Also, to investigate ways to endorse plans to increase staff salaries before late 2005.
h. Endorse funding to support the VCCS Six Year Capital Outlay Plan.

Part-time Faculty Meetings

Part-time Faculty Meetings are being scheduled at the Middletown and Fauquier campuses for the current semester. Watch for further details.

LFCC Library Statistics

LFCC Library Statistics
January 2004 Comparisons

Special thanks to Bill Harrison and his “A” team of information specialists!

LFCC Smoking Discussions Continue. Input Requested.

Please provide Judy Rinker (Chair, First Impressions Committee) or Brenda Byard (Chair, Smoking Sub-committee) your comments on this topic by February 13, 2004.

Land Usage – Middletown & Fauquier campuses

On Saturday, February 7, 2004, I attended the Vision for the Future of Middletown in the year 2040 held at the Middletown Fire Station. While only in the preliminary planning stages, discussions centered on the desire to retain Middletown’s sense of community and “small town character.” It is their hope the town establishes distinct and beautiful community “gateways” at the main entry points from the north and south and maintains a very clear edge that distinguishes the town fabric from the surrounding countryside. The character and fabric of Main Street would be extended north so the College becomes a part of the town’s Main Street. Trails, walkways, and open spaces connect all areas of town with each other, including the new areas (extended on the south edge of town) to the older community. [Maybe we can resurrect our campus walking/exercise path to connect with the proposed paths?] Everyone agreed to have the town build upon its major economic resources – including LFCC. There was discussion about developing a Technology Park east of our college across I-81.

Over the past several weeks, I have been keeping an eye open for available spaces within a two mile radius of the Middletown campus for temporary sites for the “Malinowski Wellness Center” (MWC), a day care center or additional classroom/lab space. Regarding the MWC, I made four inquiries at properties in Middletown and Stephen’s City and am currently waiting word from the trust officer of Tri-Mountain Winery on Reliance Rd. to determine if they would let us “use” the space temporarily for any of the above programs. I am also exploring ways we can partner with local Middletown concerns (The Tot Spot, United Methodist Church, etc.) to offer childcare opportunities and programs. As I learn more, I will keep you posted.

Bob Sowder and Tom Fluery (Foundation Board members) will be working with the developer to determine if LFCC can purchase the land to the south of the college (except the white house & cemetery which are not for sale – but wouldn’t it make a great day care center??? I met the owner recently and will speak with him to determine his interest in selling us the property for that purpose! Thoughts?).

VCCS DATELINE 2009

Dateline 2009, the VCCS Strategic Direction Statement, is a vision statement with seven key strategic areas that provides forward-looking direction and speaks to an exciting future for the VCCS. The statement ensures that within six years, the VCCS will be at peak performance – functioning as a world-class, effective institution. The statement positions the VCCS to become the premiere state resource for meeting important, and often critical, unmet education and training needs throughout Virginia. Coupled with the goals of the Chancellor, the vision also provides the blueprint for how community colleges in Virginia can impact real lives – those of students, parents, employers, and the public generally. To learn more, go to the following URL: http://www.vccs.edu/dateline2009/index.htm. Join the Chancellor on Monday, February 23, 2004 at the Fauquier Campus to learn more about Dateline 2009. He will join us for lunch at noon and speak to the FC employees while broadcasting to the MC at 1pm for one hour. Additional information will follow shortly.

Select Recent Celebrations:

IN THE NEWS: Jim Husband, Director of Distance Learning, was on the front page of the Winchester Star on Friday, February 6, 2004.

“At the Fauquier campus, Brenda Byard, coordinator of [LFCC’s] teacher education preparation welcomed representatives from George Mason University, James Madison University, Mary Washington College, Old Dominion University, and Shenandoah University and those students who had come to learn first hand about becoming a teacher.”-Fauquier Times Democrat (12/24/03)

LICENSE PLATES: Are you interested in celebrating LFCC by having our own license plates made available through DMV? If so, please sign the proposal outside the Middletown cafeteria on the PTK bulletin board.

Bragging Rights:

I received the following LETTERS OR EMAILS regarding our LFCC peers:

Andrea Ludwick, Brent Kendrick, & the MLK Planning Committee - I would like to commend them for the very fine Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities hosted by LFCC. A special commendation goes to Prof. Ludwick who began planning for this observance during the summer when she went to Atlanta to the King Memorial Park, where she met Rev. Graham H. Williams and engaged him as a speaker for this year’s observance. By early October Prof. Ludwick had distributed all materials to teachers and instructors for the essay competition to be conducted on the elementary secondary and college levels. After the contest deadline arrived, Dr. Kendrick, assisted by Dr. Beth Guiliano, had the task of selecting and notifying the winners, securing the prizes, preparing the certificates, and completing all of the last minute planning with the hosting committee. This is the second year that Prof. Ludwick and Dr. Kendrick have volunteered to take on these duties. I was so proud to witness that outstanding presentation which further demonstrates the quality of leadership we at the college provide our service areas. –Wilhelmina F. Santiful

Roger Wooddell and Liz Branch - I wanted to make sure you knew about the superb efforts of Roger this morning at Fauquier…he pulled off a near miracle in getting the campus opened this morning. The parking lot was a total sheet of ice when I arrived about 10, an hour prior to opening. Roger was hard at work and he was able to spread sand, get trucks to the campus, and make it safe…all accomplished in a steady cold rain. What a great job! Superb dedication, too, to make it safe for others.

Also, Liz Branch was so dedicated when she arrived today that she came into the building, grabbed salt bags and went immediately back out into the parking lot to help make things safe for our employees and students…again in a steady, cold rain. Such wonderful dedication! - John Piazza

Elaine Cassel - I really learned a lot from this class and enjoyed it thoroughly, but what is any class without a great teacher? I am very grateful to [Ms. Cassel] for being so understanding of me! THANK YOU! –Emily Holt – on-line student

Nellie Manning did an outstanding job in completing all spring contracts for our part-time faculty. She came in early and stayed late to ensure everyone had their contract in a timely fashion. Kay Dunkley

Kathleen Knight - We hope that you know how much appreciation and gratitude we have towards you and the rest of the staff in the Business Office for everything you have helped us with over the last several months. You’ve truly been a Godsend. May God bless you as you’ve been a blessing to us. -From Two MC Students

Bruce Armstrong and his team of B&G professional - Whomever did the stripping/waxing/buffing of the floors over the holidays certainly did a very nice job. The floors all around campus look great. Please share appreciation with the person or persons who worked so hard to get our buildings looking sharp.”-Doug Cumbia, MC Workforce Services

Butch Austin - A student came in last week to return his BIO 141 books, he couldn’t find you so he asked that I give you a message that ‘he thinks you’re a terrific instructor and will seek out your section the next time he can take BIO 141. Nice compliment coming from the son of a university professor! As you know from previous conversations you receive the most positive student comments.”- Sandi Pope, FC Bookstore

Bill Brabson - Recently, I met a clerk at a pharmacy who indicated she has taken two classes from Bill Brabson stating, “he is the best science teacher I’ve ever had.” – John Ski [Belonging to a local health club, I learn a lot about our college through many of the members. Without exception, their comments are always positive. Congratulations!]

Select Meetings

I have met with many individuals over the past month, which include some of the following:

Select Meetings/Events since January 1, 2004: Full- and part-time LFCC faculty, staff, and students (and related committees) continue to be my first priority. Concurrently, I’ve met (or continue to meet) with many internal and external groups. Some of the groups/individuals I met with included: LFCC Strategic Planning teams; LFCC Foundation and College Board and individually with many board members; LFCC Martin Luther King, Jr. planning committee; MC “Juice with John” participants; LFCC First Impressions committee; Cabinet; individually with Cabinet members; faculty over a variety of issues (i.e. ESL, off-campus instruction, instructional issues, etc.); Glenn DuBois (Chancellor) and Marian Hassell (Director, HR, VCCS) to discuss our realignment and future staffing issues; VCCS Legal Counsel (Rita Woltz) on a variety of issues; Matt Erskine (Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade); VCCS State Board and several legislators and legislative aids in Richmond; Suzette Denslow (Chief Lobbyist for Governor Warner); Carl Mitchell (President, Virginia Economic Bridge) - linking businesses in NW VA with SW VA; Fauquier County Public School and County Government Board members; Winchester Host Lions Club (Speaker); James Madison University Admissions Office and related personnel (with Cindy Bambara); Interview with Washington Post; Attended two evening receptions to welcome me/LFCC into the community (both in Winchester); Attended Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting/Dinner; ODU Teletechnet representatives to discuss expansion at the FC.
Select Individuals by County:
City of Winchester: Jim Deskins (Economic Development); Ed Daley (City Manager); Patrick Barker (Director, Winchester-Frederick County Economic Development Commission); Jim Brinkmeier (Shockey Companies) to discuss covered walkway between two buildings; Tom Byrd and Andrew Martel (Winchester Star); Dixon Whitworth (President, BB&T); Dr. Anderson (SU Tourism); Tracy Fitzsimmons (VP, SU); Jim Gaynor (CEO, Grafton Schools)
Clarke County; Dr. Eleanor Smalley (Superintendent, Clarke County Schools) to discuss a potential co-staffing/locating within proposed new high school; Johnny and Jack Hardesty; Johnny Millison (President, Bank of Clarke County)
Fauquier County: Broni Lamberlet (FCPS Board Chairwoman); Bob Lee (County Administrator); Bill Downey (County Supervisor); Michael Hughes (Highland School)
Frederick County: Patrick Barker (Winchester-Frederick Economic Development Association); Dave Ziegler (Director, Our Health); Al Smith (former delegate); Russ Potts (Senator); Joe Sthulman (Director, United Way); John Lewis (President, WINC-FM); Barry Lee (WINC-FM) - 2 interviews; Elizabeth McClung (Executive Director, Belle Grove Plantation); Ron Hodgson (Owner, Sportsplex); George and Liz Bagley (Contributors to Corron Community Cultural Center); Mark Raines (Principal of Middletown Elementary School)
Page County: Gail Price (PR)
Rappahannock County: Fredy Kummli (Foundation Board member); Bob Chappel (Superintendent, RCPS)
Shenandoah County: Helen Cockrell (Director of the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging); Harry Smith (CEO, First Bank)
Warren County: Michael Hirsch (Warren Co. Public School), Colleen Snyder (LF Learning Community Student Disabilities)
(I am on the Fauquier campus Tuesday and Friday (351-1516) and the Middletown campus Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (868-7101). However, this week, I will only be on the FC on Friday morning since I will be teaching a two-day graduate class at UVA on M and T.

EVALUATION OPPORTUNITIES

15-15 REPORT

While I continue to host monthly ”Juice with John” sessions at both campuses, I will begin (soon) to also invite (on a monthly basis) the college community to invest up to 15 minutes to respond to two questions (listed below). In turn, I will take at least 15 minutes over the weekend to read your comments and respond to you. If your response is something that needs the attention of Cabinet, I will bring it to their attention at our next Cabinet meeting (usually scheduled every W from 10am until Noon). The two questions will be:

1. What is your level of morale at this time. Rate it on a range of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. If you have any comments explaining your number, please do so.

2. What improvement(s) would you like to see at the college to make it a better institution for our students, our communities and each other? Please describe.

(This edition was written and edited by John Ski on February 8, 2004.)