February 12, 2012
Happy February and Happy Leap Year:
Since February is a short month, I will try to make this a short update for all of you. Much has
happened at our college, in our district, and in our state since my January Connection.
Most importantly, the spring semester has begun! Students, in record numbers, arrived on
campus on January 23rd. I appreciate that each of you has gone above and beyond to welcome
them with our well-known Cuyamaca College hospitality. Our numbers are great for the spring
semester, as well as for the 2011-12 academic year. Our full time equivalent student (FTES)
target for the year was 5,256. For all intents and purposes (or intensive purposes, as I used to
say as a kid) we have HIT A BULLSEYE with our estimate for the year at 5,260. This type of
accuracy in the prediction and management of FTES is going to become even more critical in the
next few years. My hat is off to all who play a part in the delivery of an instructional program
that is sound on all fronts.
I would be remiss to fail to mention the budget situation. Since my state-of-the college address
on January 18th the State has unexpectedly reduced funding to the community colleges, even
beyond what we refer to as the “Tier 1 and Tier 2” cuts. Those tier cuts were expected and
GCCCD budgeted conservatively and appropriately. We did not know about the additional midyear cuts and because of the additional budget reserve that was budget for such exigencies, our
college and our district has mostly weathered any storm for the 2011-12 fiscal year. This is not,
and will not be the case for the 2012-13 year. The huge problem is that while demand for
classes is up and annual expenses for the college and its employees continue to rise, the State is
reducing the number of FTES for which we will be paid. Our revenue, or apportionment, is
calculated on an FTES basis. When the state gives us more money, the number of FTES for which
we are paid goes up, and vice versa. The preliminary budget impacts for 2012-13 most likely will
include another dramatic reduction in the number of sections we will be able to offer, a
reduction in the number of non-contract hourly classified and non-contract hourly faculty, a
possible elimination of services that are non-essential and that do not tie directly to our mission,
a potential freeze on supplies, travel, equipment, and a reduction in the number of vacant
contract positions (both classified and faculty) that we are going to be able to hire. This is not
pretty, but please know that we will be able to develop a budget that will maximize the
continued vitality of our college and our instructional program. After all, to do so would be to
actualize The Cuyamaca Way. Working together, we have done it before and we can do it again.
I promise to keep you posted regularly on the budget situation and I will be seeking your help to
maintain the integrity of Cuyamaca College.
Our work on accreditation continues on track and with great participation campus-wide. THANK
YOU to all who are working on standards, writing and assessing student learning outcomes
(SLOs), focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs), and attending the seemingly countless,
but very productive meetings that accompany this work. I want to direct you to the link on our
intranet that will provide you the opportunity to see the most up-to-date work that is being
accomplished on our 24/7/365 accreditation journey:
http://www.cuyamaca.edu/in/accreditation/. Feel free to dig as deeply as you desire into this
important work.
In case you missed it, a number of awards were received at the state-of-the-college address
assembly in January. The Cuyamaca College Academic Senate honored Associate Professor Chris
O’Byrne, of the Business and Professional Studies Department, as the 2011-12 Outstanding Fulltime Faculty awardee. The Senate also awarded the 2011-12 Outstanding Part-time Faculty
recognition to Steve Schlichtenmyer from the Art Department. There were many deserving
nominees which brings credit to the quality of instructors we have here at Cuyamaca College.
Also, the premier winners of “The Cuyamaca Way” Award were recognized. They were Cynthia
Bourget, Instructional Media Services Coordinator, Connie Elder, Dean of Learning and
Technology Resources, and Michael Wangler, Professor of Geography and President of the
Academic Senate. Each is now in possession of the coveted Cuyamaca Way coffee cup.
Congratulations to each of you!
I am going to conclude this month’s Connection (so much for the short version that I promised
you above!) with an appeal. Driven by student interest and energy, the Cuyamaca College
chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, has been revitalized. Phi Theta Kappa is the national student honor
society for academically outstanding community college students. I applaud the work that has
been done to expand the interest in this organization on our campus. Not surprisingly, there are
a number of Cuyamaca College students who qualify for membership, who are interested in
joining, BUT, who lack the $80 that is required to join. I have committed to the Phi Theta Kappa
students, that no qualifying Cuyamaca College student will be barred from joining by financial
need. Presently, there are four students who lack the resources to participate. I am asking that
we come together as a campus community to provide the funds needed for these students to
participate. If 32 employees donated $10 each, the need would be met. Please consider
bringing your contribution to my office at your earliest convenience. In advance, I thank you
for your generosity.
I wish you the best for the upcoming long holiday weekend that honors President George
Washington and President Abraham Lincoln.
Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in
proportion to your purse.
---George Washington
The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high
with difficulty, and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew,
and act anew. We must disentrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country. ---Abraham
Lincoln, December 1, 1862, In his message to Congress
Be safe.
Mark J. Zacovic, Ph.D.
President
900 Rancho San Diego Parkway
Office (619) 660-4221
Fax (619) 660-4393
Cell (951) 537-9384
[email protected]