Dear Faculty and Staff:

St. Charles Community College and Harris-Stowe State University are partnering to create a joint admissions program for students in the region. This is the first such agreement between a community college and an historically Black college and university in Missouri. An official signing ceremony between the two higher education institutions took place on Thursday, Dec. 10, on the SCC campus. This historic partnership will allow students to leverage the resources and programs offered at both institutions as they prepare for their future. Students will be able to enroll in coursework at SCC and HSSU at the same time, first earning their associate degree and then a bachelor’s degree in the discipline of their choice.

Men of Color Summit

African American/Black males have traditionally lagged in their college persistence, retention and graduation rates as compared to white students. This year’s pandemic, enhanced by the increasing awareness of systemic racial injustice, has shone a light on the inequities faced by this community. For this reason, SCC is planning to host its inaugural Men of Color [virtual] Success Summit in February 2021. This summit will launch the SCC MOC Success Program which will include scholarship, mentorship and academic support to African American/Black freshmen male students who commit to the program. A task force has been assembled to support this endeavor, which is planned to become an annual event. The goal is to help support and prepare these students to their full academic achievement. A web page is under construction on the SCC site, and will provide more information soon.

Planning Retreat

On Friday, I hosted a planning retreat which included representatives from faculty and staff. The day began with a look at the future of higher education and how SCC can respond to the needs of our students and employers. Following the presentation, the group engaged in a discussion related to a new structure for college committees. Please look for more information and opportunities in the new year as the President’s Council finalizes and launches the new committees.

Holiday Message

As the year comes to an end, it is difficult not to reflect on the challenges that will forever define the dawn of a new decade. A year of things that did not happen, of plans and traditions halted, lives disremembered. But, despite the disruptions of 2020, our accomplishments as a college were abundant. We came together as a community, reinventing our work as we continued our extraordinary service to students. In just a few weeks, we will celebrate a new year and will take a step forward towards the recovery of things.

Thank you for your dedication to our students and for your commitment to our college. I hope that each of you will enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday break.

Warmest regards,

Barbara