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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

President's Wednesday Message


Last fall, I shared information about MCC's initiative to Make Courtesy Common: to promote civility on campus and define expectations for what it means to be part of the MCC community. To help further this initiative, I recently asked Dr. Susan Salvador and Public Safety Director Lee Struble to develop a plan that identified best practices at similar colleges and set forth steps we could take to create a college culture and climate that supports the quality learning environment our students deserve.

As part of this process, they conducted focus groups with students, and last week, Dr. Salvador and I met with student leaders, including reps from the Monroe Doctrine, Student Government, and the Men of Excellence. We wanted to hear both their concerns and their suggestions. As will be little surprise, our students responded frankly, thoughtfully, and insightfully. They voiced the importance of students' role in setting the expectations. And, they underscored the need for students to work collaboratively with college faculty and staff on identifying ways to communicate the expectations that foster a true community of learners--especially as the size and diversity of this community grows.

The students suggested that one step would be for me to write an occasional column for the Monroe Doctrine on the principles behind Making Courtesy Common. I immediately agreed.

The students also identified an issue on campus: the presence of non-students. To be clear, their concern was not with individuals who were at MCC to visit before registering or to attend college events. Rather, they were concerned about non-students who seem to have no clear productive purpose at MCC. Their presence is becoming particularly disruptive as our hallways and gathering places are ever-more crowded with our registered (and tuition and fee paying) students.

At DCC, PSTF, and ATC, this is less of an issue. In fact, at DCC, all on the campus are asked to show an MCC ID before entering. However, at Brighton, the campus has over 20 entrances, so this is not an option. Here, the concerns are largely confined to the MarketPlace and surrounding areas. Space is simply at a premium. So, beginning this week, Public Safety will start checking MCC IDs in these locations. The goal is to assure that our students are able to make best use of the spaces designed to promote *their* engagement in college life.

As we continue to communicate and emphasize the expectations that support student success, I encourage faculty and staff to wear their MCC IDs. It's a small symbol of your sustaining membership in our learning community. Making Courtesy Count lanyards are available from Public Safety. I'll be wearing mine!

Your thoughts? Share them on the blog! <<https://www.monroecc.edu/blogs>>

PS: As promised last week, we've scheduled the first Message to the College Community--March 19. The sessions will run about 60 minutes, a bit longer if there are many questions. Two sessions at Brighton: 9 am and 3 pm; one at Damon: noon. We'll also videotape one session. Locations TBA.

Anne M. Kress
President
03/03/2010