Dear Faculty and Staff:

Welcome to the Fall 2020 Semester!

I hope each of you had a wonderful summer, and despite the challenges of a pandemic, found time for rest and relaxation. Certainly, this fall semester is unlike others as the majority of our courses are being delivered virtually, with some in-person classes spread throughout the campus. I wish to recognize the extra effort put forth by faculty, staff, and administrators who rallied during these difficult times to implement organization and schedule changes needed to continue meeting the needs of our students. In addition, special thanks to the teams who have prepared the campus for our return and to those who are screening visitors at each building entrance.

    

Proposition Community College Passes

It was gratifying to receive overwhelming support from the community in passing our bond initiative on Aug. 4. A significant part of our budget is supported by the citizens of St. Charles County; as such, it is always a good thing to reaffirm their support. Recognizing that it is unlikely the state will provide new funds within the next few years for any capital projects, the $30 million will help us move forward in updating and expanding facilities to meet the needs of our students.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

During our All Faculty Welcome Back program last week, in addition to the expected college updates, we dedicated much of the program to a discussion related to diversity and race and how we can work together to overcome racism and social injustices. I would like to offer appreciation to Dr. Chris Hubbard-Jackson for helping increase our awareness and understanding of the impact of microaggressions and to Ms. Martha Kampen for her good assistance in facilitating a panel discussion on race. In these days where acts of violence and racism against African Americans fill the news, as a community of educators, we must work together to identify opportunities for overcoming racial injustices. I appreciate all of your efforts in advancing our work with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Wishing you all a good first week of fall.

Best regards,

Barbara