Communication Coordinator

I am so ready to return to campus and establish a new norm. I sometimes think I am so absorbed in in my own now, that I forget there are many essential workers who continued to work on site or hybrid during this pandemic time.  Not only are we learning new and innovative skills and new ways to complete our tasks, some are also involved in training for the next implementation of CTCLink.

So let me shout out to the following that I have personally worked with this summer.

COVID Volunteers:  The open house and ribbon cutting for the new Workforce Education building was postponed due to the 2020 pandemic. However students used the labs to finish their summer courses. Julia Gamboa has worked hard to rally volunteers who filled the schedule and helped screen anyone who entered designated buildings.

Maintenance and Operations: As other departments continue to work from remote locations, M&O are keeping the campus looking nice and safe every day. With limited interruption of any immediate emergencies, they can also work on other projects like inventory, building repairs and updates.

Big Bend Technology (BBT) & Library Team: Without all of your expertise we wouldn’t even be able to function. In the urgency of pandemic change, our campus was better prepared than others. Additional computers were ordered, your check-out system was in place, and all hands were on deck. Not to say there weren’t some glitches, but your teams were ready and willing to help expedite quickly.

Student Services: They are always front line personnel and continue to expedite calls and respond to live chat inquiries. They greet students on campus for placement testing, help them enrolled or register for classes and even schedule one-on-one sessions when there is a hiccup on their funding sources. As we prepare for an updated website, documents are reformatted, then reviewed and tested, with more updates as needed.

Business Office: They too are front-line personnel who have frequent interruptions while continuing to serve an important role. The main phone line is directed through their office and they are closing out fiscal year, setting up files for a new year and paying the bills to keep our campus running.

Personnel/Payroll: They work effortlessly to complete hiring processes for new employees as well as making sure we all keep record of professional development and training hours and pay the employees on time.

College Foundation/Alumni: Although their fundraising auction was postponed, they are preparing for an online auction in September as well as complete scholarship awards and distribution for students enrolling in the 2020-2021 academic year.

Others: To anyone that I missed, it wasn’t intentional. Everyone is working together and I am looking forward to when we can all be on campus and have a grand celebration!

Submitted by Barbara Collins
Region D Coordinator
Big Bend Community College

I had opportunity to congratulate Nancy Leach last week as we both dialogue about our journey at Big Bend Community College and the upcoming STTACC conference. She has so much history and knowledge in her 45 years and she reminded me how exciting it was when Washington State began planning for STTACC. It was primarily a way to provide professional development and networking to classified staff. I asked that she share her story through the STTACC blog. Here is her thoughts.

After receiving notification that I was the winner of the Region D 2019-2020 Exemplary Award, I stopped to reflect. I am so honored and humbled. I never imagined being nominated, let alone being chosen.

I remember the start of STTACC (1979-1980) and how Big Bend was instrumental in getting the organization started thru the hard work of two employees (Mollie Buche & Terri O’Neal) for helping draft the original constitution and bylaws. I believe there were also several staff from the Spokane Community Colleges who were involved but names escape me. It took many hours to create the draft and then in May of 1980 classified staff (Big Bend took a group of 10-12) from across the state traveled to Wapato Point in Manson, WA and voted to approve the constitution and bylaws. I believe Big Bend hosted an annual conference the next year.

I always enjoyed the annual conferences that I was able to attend and to see each of the other campuses. I always brought something back with me that I could use on the job and many new ideas to incorporate for training here on campus. So if you get the chance take advantage of the opportunity!

I was an active member of our campus Staff Development Committee for many years. I was never involved in any of the offices, regionally or statewide, but I saw on many occasions how employees who were able to do so gained leadership skills in a nurturing environment. They went on to continue their education earning an Associate, Bachelors and some onto a Masters as they gained confidence and then position advancements.

I firmly believe in being a lifelong learner. Each of us can always use new information and as we learn and grow we become better employees both with new skills and confidence.

Now here we are 30 years later. So, if you are new to higher education then you really need to know about STTACC. Not only is this a great avenue for professional development, but it is also an excellent resource for networking and learning about best practices shared with other colleagues who have similar roles. Even if the conference this year isn’t face to face, I believe the STTACC Board and conference planning team are making every effort to make this conference an event to remember.

Submitted by Region D Coordinator, Barb Collins, on behalf of Nancy Leach
Big Bend Community College