MCC Daily Tribune

Message to the College Community from Drs. Semmer and Gantt

To the College Community:

Dr. Semmer and I wanted to immediately express our regret on behalf of the President and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) regarding the Employee Recognition Ceremony that took place on May 17, 2023 and address some of the concerns and frustrations that have been expressed. As members of the ELT, we reiterate our commitment to being transparent and addressing concerns as they arise. Please allow this email to serve as our best effort to do so quickly and with the respect that we believe that all members of the college community are owed.

We are aware that the Employee Recognition Ceremony did not meet the expectations of members of the college community, nor did it meet the expectations of the President and ELT. Among the concerns were: (1) the mispronunciation of names; (2) not allowing time for processing the shock and pain that became even more evident as we paused briefly for a moment of silence for Associate Professor Matthew Hachee of the English/Philosophy Department, and (3) a more formal recognition of retirees who have reached the various years of service milestones recognized in the program. We heard you and we acknowledge that all three of the items outlined above could and should have been addressed with more sensitivity and we are committed to ensuring that we have protocols in place moving forward that are reflective of the care, support, and admiration that we should have displayed in honor of each of our employees for their achievements. That is a failure that will not be repeated.

We will continue to offer open lines of communication so that we can hear from members of the college community who wish to express their concerns or their recommendations for how we celebrate and recognize Chancellor Award Recipients, retirees, and employees with 5+ years of service, and that we take into consideration unfortunate circumstances that can impact not only this ceremony but any of the various celebrations we hold at the College. One such effort will be the establishment of a committee (like that of Commencement), consisting of members of the college community who can aid with the Employee Recognition Ceremony, including the phonetic spelling of names. We encourage members of the college community who are skilled in this area to lend your support to improve our program. Please reach out to me and Dr. Semmer if you are interested in serving in this capacity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and know that that the ELT is committed to making corrective actions whenever they are needed with the goal of creating and maintaining a community where all members feel valued and appreciated. Dr. Semmer and I welcome your feedback and thank you for all you do for MCC students.

Calvin Gantt
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability
05/19/2023