A while ago, I wrote in the Wednesday Message about the need for more voices around the table and referenced the recently formed Budget Resource Committee (BRC) as one example of steps taken to make college discussions both wider and deeper in their scope of participants. Last week the BRC met to share their recommendations with President’s Staff, and the effort, thought, and diligence put into these recommendations was immediately evident. It was also apparent that the BRC took ownership, in the best possible sense, of the priorities they had established: the group described significant and sometimes difficult discussions that led to the final report being one that they all could support. In many ways, this is exactly what a diversity of voices at the table promotes—an inclusive dialog that puts ideas to the test. As I shared with the BRC, I was intentionally “hands off” on this process and resisted the temptation even just to learn where the discussion was heading. The goal was for these priorities *not* to come from my office but from the collective experience and wisdom in the room.
So, what priorities percolated up through the group? In ranked order, here are the five college-wide priorities recommended by the BRC (in their words):
1) Student and Enrollment Services that support student success and retention, including evaluation of enrollment processes from recruitment through completion in view of changing demographics, marketplace pressures, and student expectations
2) Human Capital, including professional development, data driven assessment, faculty/adjunct mix, position assessment/appropriate complement/alignment of faculty and staff
3) Maintenance of Technology infrastructure and sustained technology funding streams to support current/future priorities
4) Sustainability/Maintenance, including funds for handling mandates/compliance/liability matters (e.g., safety issues, SICAS 008), capital and maintenance funds to manage effectively current and deferred maintenance, and green/energy initiatives
5) Fund Development/External Relationships/Community Partnerships, including support for work force development, external funding initiatives, and economic development
In discussing the rank order of the list, the BRC noted that items one and two emerged nearly in a tie and could be seen almost as co-first priorities. The group also saw all five priorities as fundamentally linked and interdependent. For example, to realize priority one, we likely need priority three.
As I shared with the BRC when we met, the level of thought and care put into these recommendations is truly impressive, and the fact that this group came together so quickly and so well demonstrates the incredible spirit of collaboration and innovation at MCC. Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services Darrell Jachim-Moore deserves to be recognized for his leadership of the BRC, which included more than 30 faculty, staff, and students. Their work will definitely inform the resource allocation process and will serve as a guide as we identify initiatives in the coming year.
What are your thoughts about the priorities put forward by the BRC? Share them on the Wednesday Message blog at https://www.monroecc.edu/blogs.
Anne Kress
President's Office
02/10/2010 |