April 5, 2021
Dear College Community,
Welcome back from Spring Break! It is my hope you got plenty of rest, spent time with family and friends, and are ready to engage in the second half of our semester. We have much to accomplish for the rest of the semester, but together we can get it done!
I want to take a moment to invite everyone to our first “Budget Forums,” starting this Wednesday, April 7 at 1 pm and Tuesday, April 13 at 4:30 pm. You do not need to register. You simply attend the forum on the time and date . In these forums Dr. John al-Amin will review our budget structure, how higher education HEERF funds compare to those received by cities, and most importantly, he will answer your questions. We understand there is a lot of concern for, as well as misinformation, on our budget and these sessions offer further opportunity to get the facts and provide clarity.
Based on numbers from the National Student Clearinghouse, we know that far fewer students transferred from community colleges to four-year institutions during Fall 2020. ȷ is actively participating in a study organized by The RP Group to learn about the unique issues that transfer-oriented students face during this time. This new study builds upon The RP Group’s ground-breaking transfer study, in which ȷ was a participant. A key focus is learning about how the four factors from the show up in students’ current transfer experiences. While statewide results and a full equity analysis will not be available until early summer, initial findings locally will undoubtedly be useful in supporting current students transition to four-year institutions during these challenging times.
I am pleased to announce that the “Listen and Learn Staff Workshops” are this week on Thursday, April 8 and Friday, April 9. These will offer insight into myRAM Registration Portal Training for Student Registration for Credit and Non-Credit. Attendees will gain an overview from start to finish of the myRAM Portal registration process from a student's viewpoint. You must register. If you want to register for Thursday's workshop register here (link removed, registration closed). If you prefer to attend Friday, April 9, register here (link removed, registration closed).
Finally, as COVID restrictions have softened, let’s make sure we stay healthy by continuing to wear a mask and maintaining 6 feet of distance. If we all do our part, we can continue to slow the spread!
Yours sincerely,
Rajen Vurdien, Ph.D.
Interim Chancellor