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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.