TO:
DCCCD Board Members
FROM:
Dr. Wright L. Lassiter, Jr.
DATE:
October 17, 2008
RE:
Weekend Memo #119
RESPONSES TO MONUMENTAL CHANGE
Last week this commentary addressed the pertinent topic of how to
negotiate the sometimes rocky waters of complaints. For this week I want to
return to the issue of change that I have addressed extensively in past
commentaries.
The seasons in Nature are changing in our midst – the trees are dropping
their leaves, the grass is turning brown, all to make room for new growth.
Sometimes in our lives, just like in Nature, we must allow some things to die
and drop some things from our lives that have held us back, or are no longer
needed.
My working mantra is to always embrace the changes in your life,
because “change” is the gateway to new growth and opportunities. We are
experiencing unprecedented change all around us. The financial markets on a
global basis are in a state of crisis, recession is either on the horizon or already
here. In case you haven’t noticed, a new world of business is being created all
around us. Old boundaries and borders are disappearing. Global change is a
major reality for everyone on earth today and that includes me and you. So how
should we respond to such monumental change? I offer these four suggestions
for your consideration.
Point #1 – Refuse to whine about it. In his book “The 12 New Rules for
Living,” author Frederic M. Hudson states: “Rule: Don’t whine! Pursue the
benefits of change. They outnumber the problems.” Of course, lots of people
would dispute that statement. In fact, most people envision a successful life as
a secure one. However, outside of your spiritual faith, there is nothing and
there is no one who can assure you of security. As psychologist Denis Waitley
notes, “The only truly secure person is one lying horizontally, six feet
underground. Life is inherently risky.” So whining about change is about as
useful as complaining that a rock is hard. It’s a waste of time. Take the advice
of consultant Mitch Carnell: “Spend no energy lamenting the good old days.
They are not making a return visit.”
Point #2 – Recognize the fact that nothing is impossible. How many times
have you heard people say, “That could never happen!” or “That’s impossible.”
Look at what people were saying back in 1955 and look at what happened.
People were saying:
“I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be
impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.”
“Have you seen the new cars coming out next year?
$2,000 will only buy a used one.”
It won’t be long before
“If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. A quarter a pack is
ridiculous.” (I stopped smoking when I could not afford to pay a quarter.)
“Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a
letter?”
“If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at
the store.”
“When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29
cents a gallon? Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”
“I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric.
They are even making electric typewriters now.”
“There is no sense going away for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay
in a hotel.”
“No one can afford to be sick anymore; $35 a day in the hospital is too rich for my
blood.”
In retrospect, those thoughts sound kind of silly. But in reality, it’s not
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silly. It’s deadly serious if you fail to recognize or anticipate change in the
world of work or in your personal life.
Point #3 – Recognize the serious consequences of change. Author Bill
Bryson says: “Change – and rapid change at that – is not new and has always
had serious consequences for the unprepared.” The history of the world is filled
with stories of people who lost out because they weren’t paying attention to the
changes taking place in their arena of work or their personal lives and
relationships.
Take the case of the Pony Express inaugurated in 1860, it was designed
to carry mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Riders rode
in relays, each averaging 50 to 80 miles a day. On an average run, 75 riders
would cover the 2,000 miles between Missouri and California in ten and a half
days. It was a fabulous achievement, but economic folly. Setting up and
maintaining riders, horses and way stations was an exceedingly costly
business. By late 1861, barely nineteen months after starting, the Pony Express
was out of business, a victim of the newly installed telegraph.
Yes, change always brings consequences – some good – some bad – but
always serious. To avoid the negative consequences of change consider point
#4.
Point #4 – Prepare for change. Look for ways you can do your job more
efficiently or more effectively. Look for ways you can serve your work group,
students, faculty and staff better than ever before. Take fifteen minutes a day –
to think – and then list – the ways you could improve your professional and
personal life.
When you focus on these four points you will be able to agree with
Frederic Hudson “that the benefits of change outweigh the problems of
change.”
Take 15 minutes next week to think about how you can prepare yourself
for the changes coming your way.
North Lake College
North Lake College values our students, our employees, and our community. The new North Lake College North
Campus, located in Coppell, will host the official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on
Thursday, October 23rd at 9:00 a.m. This is a milestone occasion marking the first completion of one of
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the DCCCD Bond Program projects. North Lake College President Herlinda Glasscock and North
Campus Executive Director Marco Hinojosa will welcome Chancellor Wright Lassiter, DCCCD Board
Members and college leaders, Coppell and Irving community leaders, employees, and students. Musical
entertainment will be provided by North Lake College faculty musicians and music students. A
continental breakfast will be served. Visitors will have an opportunity to walk through the new structure
and examine the educational offerings of the campus. The North Campus is located at 101 S. Royal Lane,
Coppell, TX (at the southeast corner of Sandy Lake Road and State Highway 121).
North Lake College values our community. The North Lake College department of career services will host its
fall job fair on Thursday, October 23rd from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. Over 60 employers
will be available to interview and accept applications for positions. Job fair sponsors are UPS (Platinum);
Volt Workforce Solutions (Gold); Denton Fire Department, Electronic Security Industry, Extra Space
Management, Inc., First Cash, and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (Silver). Employer sponsorships and
registration fees allow the college to provide four $500 scholarships to students and community members
who attend. In addition, the radio station K104 Street Team will be broadcasting live from the college.
North Lake College values our students. It is always great to hear good things about former North Lake
College students. Shane Chapman, a former basketball player (1998-2000), is now a fireman in Orange,
Texas. Shane was recently featured on “Good Morning America” for his work during Hurricane Ike. The
Orange County-Port Arthur area was hit pretty hard by the storm. Shane and his fellow firemen worked
for five straight days, fought fires in waste deep water, and rescued over 125 people stranded by the storm.
North Lake College values our employees. All college cost center managers will gather at the new North
Campus on Friday, October 17th for the annual North Lake College “Budget Kick-Off” meeting. This daylong event will include a three-hour morning session on performance management documentation
presented by Sandra Carpenter, an attorney with Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Schulze and Aldridge, P. C.
The afternoon session will focus on overviews of the 2008-09 budget, a new intranet design, new planning
software, and a report on the CQIN Summer Institute at the Ritz Carleton on Outstanding Customer
Service. A review of the Control Self-Assessment survey and other business topics finish out the
afternoon. A planning conference in February each year is the first step in the integrated budget
development and planning process.
El Centro College
Jim Berish, Technology Assistance SBDC director of the North Texas Small Business Development
Center (El Centro College), was appointed the newest board member of the Dallas African Chamber of
Commerce on October 8, 2008. The African Chamber housed, at the Bill Priest Business Incubator, has a
mission of bringing business and commerce (import/export) from emerging African nations to the Dallas
business community. In the Dallas/Forth Worth metro area, greater than 150,000 native Africans now
call DFW home. For additional information, please contact Jim Berish at 214.860.5860.
Sondra Flemming, LaCheeta McPherson, Dianna Drury, Gretchen Riehl, and Rachel Cullum attended the
annual conference for the National Network of Health Career Programs in Two Year Colleges (NN2). The
meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland October 8th-11th. LaCheeta participated on a panel presentation
on accreditation updates, representing the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education
Programs. El Centro College is slated to be the host college in 2009 for the NN2 national conference.
Two staff members at the Bill J. Priest campus of El Centro College are making names for themselves in
the community. In addition to working for El Centro College, Adrienne Thompson and Shahaadah Royal
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are Girl Scout troop leaders making a difference in Dallas. Adrienne, who has a family member fighting
breast cancer, decided to have 20 fellow Girl Scout troops make crystal-bead bracelets for breast cancer
survivors at the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. She also enlisted the help of Shahaadah, who is her
co-worker and fellow scout troop leader, and is a 14-year breast cancer survivor. Together, on October
6th, the women were selected by Clarice Tinsley of Fox Channel 4-TV, as Clarice’s Hometown Heroes, for
their leadership and work in the Susan G. Komen project.
Mark Langford and Jeff Blatt, of the North Texas Small Business Development Center, spoke to a state
department sponsored delegation from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela on October 8, 2008 at
the Bill Priest Center. The delegation learned about the small business development center programs and
services offered to small businesses. The delegation also toured the business incubator and met several
tenants. The group was hosted by the International Visitors Program department at the World Affairs
Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.
Cedar Valley College
Student Success – The Cedar Valley College men’s basketball team recently traveled to El Centro College to
host a practice for El Centro College students interested in playing college-level basketball. In addition to
the practice, Ron McDowell, head coach, spoke to the group about National Junior Collegiate Athletic
Association eligibility criteria, transfer policies, healthy eating habits, and how to condition to be an athlete.
The session was a very positive experience for both the Cedar Valley College men’s basketball team and
the El Centro College students.
The Student Programs and Resources office (SPAR) at Cedar Valley College held their popular Men’s Coffee
House this week. The Coffee House provides an opportunity for students to engage in open dialogue about a
host of current issues of interest with an emphasis on males. The SPAR office hosts coffee house
discussions each semester.
Employee Success – Dr. Diane Minger, coordinator of management, marketing, and business administration
at Cedar Valley College, has been invited to speak at the Women’s Initiative for Networking Success Lunch &
Learn Series on October 23rd in DeSoto, Texas. Dr. Minger will engage participants in a lively discussion
focused on creating successful teams. Those interested in attending may contact Brenda Jaquez at
[email protected] or by phone at 469.567.5250.
Community Development – The 2009 Leadership Southwest class visited Cedar Valley College this week as
part of their class day dedicated to economic development in the Southern sector. The class participated
in a bus tour that highlighted the growth and development in the area. Members of the college staff
shared information regarding the construction of the Industrial Technology and Science, Vet Tech, Allied
Health buildings.
Brookhaven College
Students on the fall 2008 Voter Registration team were recognized as the Brookhaven College ServiceLearning “Students of the Month” for September. The team members, students enrolled in Professor Ahad
Hayaud-Din’s government course, include Omar Roberts, Dipesh Gautaum, Doris Reyes, Megan
Murchison, Adam Railsback, Emily Railsback, Alok Upadhaya, Will Tucker, Sasha Marchant, Rahish Gil,
June Wardrup and Elisha Karki. In approximately one month, these students registered more than 500
students and other individuals to vote.
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The Texas Association of Environmental Educators (TAEE) has honored Brookhaven College’s Ellison
Miles Geotechnology Institute (EMGI). The TAEE presented the Environmental Recognition Award, the
group’s highest honor, to the EMGI at the association’s fall conference in Austin, October 11th. The
award honors the EMGI’s sustained educational outreach led by Diane Brownlee, director of the institute.
The TAEE gives the award to honor the ongoing nature of programs, collaboration with community
organizations, applicability to other locations and situations, innovation in the program, and length of time
and number of people in the program.
October exhibitions at the Brookhaven College School of the Arts galleries include works by the varied
and talented faculty members in the college’s art department and an exhibition by Dallas artist Susan
Barnett. The annual faculty exhibition is an opportunity to see the breadth of professional practices the
college art faculty brings to the classroom. The art faculty exhibition is in the forum gallery. Faculty
members in this annual exhibition are: Betsy Belcher, Chris Blackhurst, Barbara Brault, Jim Burton, Du
Chau, Chong Chu, Kandace Davis, Lisa Ehrich, Elisabeth Hurtado, Sara Luxen, Corey Johnson, Natalie
Macellaio, Rick Maxwell, Margaret McDowell, Cynthia Mills, Susan Mollet, David Newman, Michael
O’Keefe, Chancellor Page, Rebecca Swann, Lianne Krueger Sullivan, Don Taylor, Erik Tosten, Dave Van
Ness, Jeff Yerger and Marla Ziegler. Art faculty members will discuss their work in an informal gathering
in the gallery on October 22nd from noon to 1:30 p.m.
At the invitation of Dr. Herlinda Glasscock, president of North Lake College, a group of Brookhaven
College administrators visited North Lake College’s new North Campus October 13th. Dr. Marco
Hinojosa, executive director of the North Center, conducted a tour of the facilities after a discussion about
the possibility of North Lake College home-hosting courses or certificates from approved Brookhaven
College programs in areas such as emergency medical services, the medical front office program and
geospatial technology. Drs. Glasscock and McCrary agreed to share information about two substantive
SACS changes recently filed by Brookhaven College. Possible cooperative programming also was
discussed along with agreement upon the continuation of a joint marketing publication featuring unique
and common programs of the two colleges. Others in attendance from North Lake College were Paul
Kelemen, vice president of community and economic development; Liz Cornelius, coordinator of evening
and weekend education for the North Campus; Teresa Isbell, director, institutional research; and Candace
Castillo, vice president of planning and development. Attending from Brookhaven College were Vernon
Hawkins, associate vice president for workforce and continuing education; Marilyn Lynch, associate vice
president for career and program resources; Teri Walker, dean, planning, research and institutional
effectiveness; Carrie Schweitzer, assistant to the president; Terri Edrich, executive director, human
resources and professional development; and Monica Taliaferro, college director, marketing and public
information.
DCCCD Campus High Schools
Congratulations to Richland Collegiate High School (RCHS) seniors Kyle Bruner, Amamda Farage,
Nancy Tien, and Chris Wiseman who were recently named commended students in the 2009 National
Merit Scholarship Program and to RCHS senior Grace Chow who was named as a 2009 National Merit
Scholarship semi-finalist. Congratulations also go to RCHS seniors Ethopia Kabtimer, Jamil Walton, and
Sabrina Williams who were among the 3,100 students nationwide named outstanding participants in the
National Achievement Scholarship Program. This distinction is based on their scoring in the top four
percent of more than 150,000 Black Americans who requested consideration in this scholarship
competition when they took the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
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Students’ grades nine through eleven of the Early College High School at Mountain View College
were administered preliminary SAT exams on Wednesday, October 15th. The purpose of the testing was
to expose students to the college entrance exam as early as possible, and to give eleventh-graders the
opportunity to qualify for the National Merit Qualification Program.
Mountain View College
The Advanced Odyssey Leadership Institute at Mountain View College, a student programs and resources
initiative that immerses participants in a comprehensive program to master leadership theories, held an
engaging session that introduced students, staff, and faculty to the appreciative inquiry process on Friday,
October 10th. Mountain View College’s Rene Prupes and Dr. Deb Yoder, both certified Appreciative
Inquiry facilitators, led students in an inquiry into “Exceptional Leadership.” The workshop helped to
develop participants’ leadership skills, to create a stronger sense of community, and was linked directly to
their academic and instructional experiences.
Mountain View College celebrated its recent receipt of a Texas Workforce Trucking Training Grant on
Thursday, October 16th. The first class of student-drivers to complete the Commercial Driver’s License
(CDL) training class under the new grant were honored at the event, along with members of the incoming
class. The celebration also provided individuals considering obtaining a CDL an opportunity to meet grant
program recruiters and to inquire about upcoming classes, all of which will be free of charge to studentdrivers. Representatives from three companies (Covenant Transport, Werner Enterprises, and U S
Xpress) which regularly hire program completers were also present.
The Mountain View College admissions office held a degree plan/graduation fair on Tuesday, October
14th, and Wednesday, October 15th. Student service representatives were available to answer questions
and discuss a variety of topics related to academic success. Students were also encouraged to submit their
degree plans, as well as their applications for diplomas/certificates, for the 2008-2009 academic year.
As part of voter awareness campaign entitled, “Your Vote Counts”, the student programs and resources
office at Mountain View College welcomed Texas State Representative Rafael Anchía and Dallas County
Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet on Tuesday, October 14th. Rep. Anchía was elected in 2004 as the
representative of House District 103, which encompasses a western corridor of Dallas, including parts of
North Oak Cliff, West Dallas, La Bajada, Los Altos, Love Field, North Park, and portions of Irving,
Farmers Branch, and Carrollton. Sherbet, who is a Mountain View College alumnus, has served as the
Dallas County Elections Administrator since 1987.
Eastfield College
Johnnie Bellamy, Eastfield College associate dean of workforce technologies, attended the Texas Council
of College Instructional Leaders fall conference held in collaboration with the Texas Association of
College Technical Educators, the Texas Community College Instructional Administrators and the Texas
Administrators of Continuing Education. The three day conference theme, centered around “Community
Colleges-An American Innovation: Partnerships for the Future”, was held in Austin, October 1st – 3rd.
New and better ways to use technology was the focus of the 2008 Association for Computer Educators “Digital
Education Beyond City Limits” Conference held in Austin, Texas on October 1st – 3rd. David Danforth,
Eastfield College’s digital imaging program coordinator, joined Dr. Richard Lumadue, assistant professor
of educational leadership at TAMU-Commerce, and fellow grad student Richard Park, computer education
teacher at Mansfield ISD, in presenting at the conference. The students were selected through a peer
review process. They presented a 4-hour pre-conference workshop and a conference paper titled “The
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Online Classroom: One For-Sure Solution to the Problem of Sky-Rocketing Fuel Costs.” Their demonstration shared
software and hardware technologies proven useful in online teaching and addressed the use of no-cost-tothe-user, internet-based software for enhancing teacher/learner effectiveness. The audience was
professors from higher education institutions around Texas, including UT-Dallas, UT-Tyler, University of
Houston, TAMU-Commerce, TAMU-Corpus Christi, San Antonio College, UTEP, Sam Houston State
and others.
Eastfield College Psi Eta Chapter joined other Texas Phi Theta Kappa chapters for the Texas Leadership
Conference at the University of Texas at Dallas, October 3rd – 5th. Advisors Tramaine Anderson, Katawna
Caldwell and Theresa Sternat joined Richard Brand, president, and Amanda Collins, executive vice
president in exploring leadership philosophy and developing leadership skills. Advisors participated in
separate sessions that enabled them to ask and answer questions and to network with colleagues across the
state. Eastfield College five star chapters are recognized throughout the state.
Eastfield College fall Diversity & Learning Series “Building Bridges Building Community” featured Dr. Mary
Lynn Crow’s presentation “Encouraging Student Creativity and the Utilization of Problem Solving Skills” on
October 14th. Dr. Crow is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor at UT-Arlington for over thirty
years. She has served as director of UTA’s Faculty Development Resource Center, the first center in
Texas and one of the five in the country devoted to improving instruction at the university level. Dr.
Crow encourages student creativity to design a better product, process or service. She encourages college
professors to do more than verbal encouragement. Her college-level classroom-tested strategies included
brainstorming and reverse brainstorming, synectics, scamper, attribute listing, and six thinking hats that
she shared with the 25 attendees.
Richland College
Community and Economic Development - Luz Villegas, Richland College educational transitions’ director of
community programs, has been actively engaged in planning and executing two first-time Hispanic heritage
events in September and October, in collaboration with Garland and Richardson ISDs and Chambers of
Commerce. Along with Educational Transitions’ Associate Dean Deb Somero, Rising Star Coordinator
Hilda Della-Sera, and numerous Los Patos Listos Richland College volunteers, Luz was instrumental, as vice
president of finance for the Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs, in planning Garland’s first-ever
Hispanic Heritage Awards Banquet, held October 4th in the Granville Arts Center atrium. Luz and her
team were also instrumental in coordinating two tables of Richland College faculty, staff, and students
representing the many Hispanic success stories typical of the college outreach to the Hispanic community.
GISD Trustee and Richland College Executive Dean Dr. Cindy Castaneda introduced Dr. Mittelstet, who
shared the keynote podium with GISD Superintendent Dr. Curtis Culwell. Dr. Culwell talked in tandem
of the many ways the GISD and the DCCCD are working together to showcase our community’s
common Hispanic heritage and to meet special education and career preparation needs of Hispanic
residents, including the opening of the new Richland College Garland Campus. Luz, who serves on the
Richardson Chamber Education Committee, and many of the same Richland College team are now
instrumental in planning a similar first-time Hispanic heritage event for the Richardson community.
Student Success - Congratulations to Richland College Art Club students, who recently put their talents to
work, designed unique T-shirt masterpieces to sell to aid their club’s fund-raising efforts. The funds from
sales of these colorful, one-of-a-kind T-shirts will provide funding for art supplies, as well as donations to
local charitable causes. Club members will also be volunteering in a college Los Patos Listos initiative
October 30th to help increase Hispanic and Latino enrollment, retention, and student success at the
college.
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Employee Success - Congratulations to Richland College grounds equipment operator Jose Resenes for being
honored by a vote of his work colleagues as Richland College’s facilities services employee of the quarter.
Since starting in the college facilities services division in 1988, Jose has developed superior skills in turf and
horticulture maintenance, and with his crew is directly in charge of planting all color beds and performing
all tree maintenance/replacement through the winter months. His special skills as a mason have also been
invaluable, and he willingly serves as a mentor for newer employees in the division.
Institutional Effectiveness - Fourteen doctoral students from Block 64 of The University of Texas at Austin
Community College Leadership Program visited Richland College October 13th-14th after participating in
an opening visit with Chancellor Wright Lassiter and visits to El Centro, the Paramount Building and Bill
Priest Institute led by El Centro President Paul McCarthy. Starting with a group tour of the campus led by
President Steve Mittelstet on Monday evening, on Tuesday the Block 64 members then joined a team of
key Richland college faculty, staff and administrators at the LeCroy Center for Educational
Telecommunications for a series of conversations. The conversations were based on advance questions
the students formulated after reading Richland College’s 2005 Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award
Application and a recently published article by President Steve Mittelstet. Conversation topics were
leadership and culture, teaching and learning, whole-person development of students and employees,
performance excellence, and strategy development and deployment.
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