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Community Colleges of Spokane Fall Quarter Update

submitted by Paula Truman

Two classified staff winners, Ashley Schultz, ACT 2 Program Coordinator, won the SCC Classified Staff of the Year, and Christine Burge, SCC Registration Office Support Supervisor, won the STTACC Classified Staff Exemplary Award … congratulations to Ashley and Christine for their work with students.

CCS Human Resources offered a strong training schedule for staff this fall, with both old and new sessions, including Supervisor Series Parts 1-3, How to Get the Most out of your Work/Life BenefitsFERPA, New Lean Recruitment Training, Sexual Harassment/Discrimination, Monthly Supervisor’s Roundtable, Creating Equitable Learning Environments: Addressing Microaggressions, Search Advocates Training, Being a CCS Ambassador: Help Boost the CCS Image and Enrollment, The Ethics Act: Following the Law, Leave Management, Interview Skills for Internal Applicants, P-Card & Travel, Central Receiving/Facilities/Purchasing, Awkward: Relearning Communication Rules, and Active Shooter.

A new training session that really enhanced the actual well-being for staff and focused on both the work and personal sides of life for both classified and exempt was the How to Get the Most out of your Work/Life Benefits session; staff across the spectrum, from lower paygrades through deans, discussed how to access tuition waivers and how they benefited from the opportunity to use the waivers. It can be a great resource for every employee, and I would strongly urge staff to check it out!

Two upcoming CCS Classified Staff Training and Development training sessions are scheduled for Nov. 19 and Nov. 22; topics include training on Microsoft Teams and the TLC, Teaching and Learning Center, What We Offer Classified Staff.

Although SCC was never closed, we did have a short period of time with no students on campus. The campus is finally echoing with the sounds of students with approximately 50% of our classes in person. Programs requiring in person labs, such as Welding, Cosmetology, Culinary, etc. resumed on campus classes earlier in the Pandemic season with other programs following later. On the service side, culinary offerings resumed first with the opening of the bakery and Orlandos, opening on limited schedules about a year and a half ago. Divisions such as Horticulture/Greenery and Cosmetology resumed business later last year. Sodexo resumed service this quarter, providing coffee, sandwiches, salads, and catering services.  The Allied Health students are getting back into the public volunteer business too, offering free cardiac and vascular ultrasounds to volunteers before their students head out into the community for their clinicals; volunteers see a glimpse of their health, and students get to practice on someone other than the same classmates, day after day!

Saying Farewell

Submitted by Barbara Collins, Region D Coordinator

Please note – this post has been delayed approximately 6 weeks due to unforeseen circumstances.

Summer is over and there is a chill in the air. This will be my last submittal before I retire in October. The past weeks have been a whirlwind of organizing processes and preparing to say goodbye, I will miss my BBCC and SBCTC colleagues. The relationship building over the last 25 years remains important to me and through the pandemic; I am not alone when I say that I miss day-to-day connections with those we care for so deeply.

Last week, President Tweedy presented a new 5-Year Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles for BBCC that focuses on community, communication, and accountability. I believe we are all lifelong learners, and BBCC is doing an excellent job including all employees (new hire to veterans) so they understand each is a valuable contribution to success for teaching and learning.

Prior to the 2021 graduation ceremony, BBCC took time to celebrate personnel who announced their 2020-21 retirement and/or received awards. Here are the classified staff employees. Retires also receive a handmade quilt by our talented group of employees.

Nancy Leach, 46 years
Aviation Pilot Program, TRiO Upward Bound
2021 Presidential Award for Meritorious Service
Jim Tincher, 35 years in Jim’s memory awards accepted by Jeff Robinett)
Maintenance & Operations
2021 Presidential Award for Meritorious Service
Karen Girone, 26 years
HR/Payroll, Student Activities, Instruction
Robert “Joe” Russell, 11 years
Maintenance & Operations

The word goodbye sounds so final, so for now I will just say farewell. I wish the STTACC Board success in the coming year. Vacancy notifications for the STTACC Board will come through your email from a college contact or another board member. We need STTACC to continue their success as a foundation for mentoring, teaching, and training for all classified staff leadership opportunities. Please consider how you can help.  If you are interested in leadership, talk to your department director and contact president@sttacc.net soon so the leadership team can begin planning for the 2021-22 year.

Walla Walla Community College Summer Update

Submitted by Corinna Whitehurst, College Contact

Update from Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla Community College celebrated the return of in-person services by holding an Open House on June 24th.  The event featured information tables from several WWCC programs as well as some of our community partners such as WorkSource & Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC). Staff were on hand to share general WWCC information and program information for Nursing, Culinary, Computer Science, TRiO – Student Support Services, Bachelors of Applied Science programs, Workforce programs, and Transitional Studies. Visitors were able to pick-up free WWCC logo items and go on a tour of our new Student Recreation Center. The event was such a great success that a second Open House will be held in August.

Group photo of FFA student reps in front of the WWCC Enology & Viticulture Center

On July 26th, WWCC hosted a group of 43 student leaders representing Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters from all over Washington State.  The FAA students came to visit WWCC as part of their Washington Agricultural Leadership Experience (WALE) and District Officer Training (DOT) Training Event activities.  

WWCC Student Life was excited to announce that the new Student Recreation Center is scheduled to open this Fall.  Construction for the new student-funded center was completed in 2020 and our students are eager to begin using the facility for health activities, to be around other students with similar interests, and for general well-being. 

In addition to the gym facilities, the center contains a common area, basketball court, and dance studio. WWCC employees will be able to gain access to the Student Recreation Center facilities by signing up for one of the physical education classes on campus. The Walla Walla Campus has also been able to offer monthly COVID-19 vaccine clinics for July, August, and September in the Student Recreation Center. The clinics are open to all WWCC students, staff, and the Walla Walla community.

2021 STTACC Conference Recap

One week after the 2021 STTACC Conference, the STTACC Board is happy to report that we had a great turnout and have received excellent feedback regarding this year’s (virtual) conference!

Here’s a bit about the conference, “by the numbers” ”

  • 58 – Number of people who registered for the conference
  • 11 – Board Members who facilitated and hosted the conference
  • 10 – Unique Presentations
  • 10 – Number of Presenters
  • 6 – Session times
  • 5 – Exemplary Staff Award Winners
  • 1 – Fantastic Keynote presentation

Thank you to all who attended and/ or helped facilitate this amazing conference! Stay tuned for more from STTACC this fall!

Care Bear Awards at Olympic College

Each year at the Classified Connection, Care Bears are awarded to deserving Classified Staff members and Part-time Hourly staff at Olympic College. These individuals make a genuine difference at Olympic College. They go the extra mile day after day, and are genuinely concerned about student success and the success of Olympic College.

Every year, care bears are selected for one part-time hourly member, and two classified members. This year, an added the Rookie of the Year Bear was incorporated for a new member.

This year’s Care Bear Awards, descriptions and recipients are listed below:

Rookie of The Year Danessa Gray

Since starting at Olympic College 6 months ago, Danessa has become an invaluable member of the Early Childhood Program. Danessa has been able to set up data bases for faculty that have allowed for certificate or graduation complete of over 140 students. Danessa is a gifted artist, hard worker and has strong customer service skills.

Classified Staff Jaymie Cox-Garcia

Jaymie has been a powerhouse with a deep commitment to the students of Olympic College. Throughout the pandemic her skillset, her motivation, and her commitment have created so much support for student at a time when it was much needed. Behind the scenes, there are hours of work, far beyond the call of duty, writing funding requests, organizing cookie kits, and marshalling faculty to begin and expand programs like Mental Health First Aid on campus. As an instructor for Mental Health First Aid, Jaymie has taught faculty and staff how to recognize when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, and the steps to take in order to ensure the individual receives the help they need.

Classified Staff Katie Guarin

Katie joined the Finance team as a student employee, was hired as a full time Fiscal Analyst 1 In-Training and has recently become a permanent employee. She is graduating in June with high marks, earning her Associates Degree.
Katie goes the extra mile daily and genuinely is concerned to help each student to succeed. At Go Live this recipient developed procedures for students to follow in the new system. In addition, she recognized students were incorrectly calculating funding requests and proactively developed a Third Party Funding Request Tool to help.
Katie is becoming the Student Financials CTC Subject Matter Expert for student accounts receivable, often answering questions and troubleshooting with other departments. The State Board Student Financials training team recognize this recipient as a Subject Matter Expert, giving her credit for a new QRG and inviting her to present her new group posting process for more efficient posting of Third Party Contract payments at an SF training for all colleges. She worked with SBCTC to develop a third party payment reconciliation query that is now available to all CTC colleges.

Part-Time Hourly Care BearCamren Bleiler

Outside the plexiglass window, through which this recipient greets students and faculty, there is a tiny pink box. The cover says, “The most wonderful thing in the world.” When one opens the box, the message, “You!!” is inside! It is typical of this recipient to greet everyone with a positive, enthusiastic yet professional approach.

On behalf of the STTACC Board, we sincerely congratulate each and every one of these recipients, and we’re celebrating together with them (from a distance)!