Dr. Monaco’s Spring 2025 Colloquium Speech

Spring 2025 Colloquium Speech
Dr. Pamela Monaco, President
January 16, 2025

How to offer words about the state of the college when we have just heard about the hard work, energy, and dedication of so many of our peers? These individuals’ commitment to the college and our students provides one of the best measures of the state of the college. Nonetheless, please allow me to provide an update on the following items:

Highlights from the Fall
Strategic Plan Updates
Facing Our Future

Fall seemed to bring a renewed energy to the campus. Students shared with me that they felt more connected with the college and one another. Many students expressed appreciation for the dedication of faculty and staff to students, and many students were specifically grateful for the excellent teaching they received. The Student Government Association actually had to hold an election for the first time in some years rather than divvy up positions among those who expressed interest. Although students still struggle with getting work completed or submitted on time, and despite the challenges presented when most of our students work, often full-time or multiple part-time jobs, they are more visible on campus and seem more engaged—thanks to all of you for providing opportunities to participate in active learning more fully. To help all of us appreciate what faculty and staff offer our students in terms of activities to learn or our community to engage with the campus, I asked the deans and staff from academic affairs, student affairs, the Foundation, and the Grunin Center to share initiatives and offerings. The list is truly impressive. Thank you to College Relations for putting all of these items into slides. I won’t read each slide but will call attention to a couple of items:

School of Arts and Humanities: Banned books, sold-out performances, ASL course partnership with the Prosecutor’s office, incredible end-of-semester music student performances.
School of Business and Social Sciences: guest speakers on the election, and open to all, social work energy, 3+1).
School of Nursing and Health Sciences: ACEN, 63 completers, dental hygiene.
School of STEM: Open Textbook work, career exploration, student research presentation at a professional conference.
Workforce and Strategic Partnerships: Title II—99% retention—party energy, career exploration; greatly expanded our ESL instruction through creative partnerships; work with high schools for students who do not want to go to college, Center for Adult Transition grant program.
GRANTS: Highlight the importance of Strengthening CC Training—we are the lead—18 colleges nationwide, we are only one in NJ; FIPSE—the need; Lumina-influencer.
Library and Academic and Tutoring: Continuing with the Peer Language program, collaboration, course champion with STEM continues to yield positive results.
TRIO: 21 graduates—where they are going; 92% persistence rate.
EOF: Read about the award—17 students with 4.0, twice additional funding.
Student Life: JBJ, Mystery in the Library.
Counseling: Increased usage.
Helping Hands: Astonishing increase.
Athletics: Athletic Hall of Fame—what astonishing careers—and no more talk about dumb jocks.
Foundation: $1.2 M in support of students, new website.
Grunin Center: Outstanding offerings—Nobuntu, Mariachi—packed this year, Planetarium—create educational climate change content for Planetariums. Also, Grunin may be closed, but events will continue. Please check the website

When we met at the fall colloquium, I shared with you the initial drafts of our mission, vision, and values of the strategic plan. Since that time, you have had the opportunity to provide feedback, and we strategically reached out to students, high school partners, alumni, and members of the community, including employers. These perspectives profoundly shaped what we included in our values, our word choices, and our understanding of how others view our mission, our vision, and our values.

Mission: Everyone appreciated the use of “diverse” and “community.” The word “goals” recognizes that not all students are degree-seeking or transfer-seeking, and this statement reminds us that we work with a variety of communities. Respondents appreciated that the mission is succinct and easy to remember.

Vision: The word “discover” was well-received, as it implies vast opportunities and appeals to a range of students, including high school graduates and those seeking second careers. This vision captures our understanding of the opportunities not only with students but in forming relationships with our communities through our offerings in the Grunin Center and the Planetarium, being a space for high school faculty and administrators to meet and learn, through our summer camps, partnerships with the Prosecutor’s Office, and so forth.

Values: This changed quite a bit in terms of the acronym, going from CARES to OCEAN—but the core values have not changed. We heard a lot of good suggestions from our various constituencies that led us to embrace OCEAN. I’d like to spend a couple of minutes on the word “comfortable” and other specific feedback.

Students prioritized feeling “comfortable” at OCC, preferring it over “collaboration” and suggesting it be emphasized within the College values.
As per student feedback, the comfortable learning environment is a priority to promote and references to technology and innovation were minimized. Students stated that innovation and advanced technology are implied in education – it is absolutely expected in higher education – comfort is not.
- Students view comfort as a fundamental aspect of their educational journey at a community college.
When students shared what THEY value most about OCC, the majority value OCC as a stepping stone – especially when you don’t have a clear path ahead. Therefore, COMFORT is key to taking that first step.
- Much credit was given to faculty, staff, and administration for providing a welcoming, safe, and comfortable space to learn. The beautiful campus, active security, nurturing faculty, and supportive staff were routinely mentioned in focus groups and classroom feedback.
Additionally, the locations of OCC and OCC Manahawkin are key factors to feeling comfortable – close to family, work, and home – so this educational opportunity in their community close to their support systems is valued.
They debated terms like “challenge,” preferring comfort as a motivator over being challenged.
They analyzed the word “affordable,” ultimately favoring “accessible” over affordable to avoid implications of “cheap” or low-quality education.

Everyone will have the opportunity to respond and provide more input throughout the next few months as we host Town Halls. In addition, the strategic planning team is now working on goals and objectives. You will receive an announcement tomorrow or next week about the dates for the upcoming Town Halls. I also want to remind you of the people serving on the Strategic Planning Taskforce.

Preparing for Our Future

Ocean County College is stable. But like most colleges and universities, we must adjust to a changing landscape: the population of college-going students is shrinking, more potential students are interested in short-term programs, and job preparation programs that lead to employment quickly are the primary drivers of student interest. This is a nationwide shift. Let me share with you some data about our industry, starting with our own:

Enrollment

Our enrollment is down in all categories—new, continuing, credit hour
Very few academic appeals—90 to 40 to 10—students giving up? Okay with just two classes?
Reasons Kate Mohr and her team hear about students not registering: “ I have work. I have a new job. My hours have changed.”
FDW appeals used to be primarily for medical or death in the family. Now, many students also include housing problems and work hardships.

We see people who do not necessarily see college as the next—or any step—in their life’s journey. It is clear, too, that the students we serve are fitting college into complicated lives. Our students do not have the luxury of not working. If they don’t work, the family suffers. And students want to see the payoff of their education quickly in terms of a job.

Nationwide: We are not alone. Let me share some facts:

Last fall, each week a college or university either closed or merged. Predications are that this rate will accelerate.
According to the Pew Research Center findings, falling enrollment has been made worse by a decline in perception of the value of a college or university degree. One in four Americans now says having a bachelor’s degree is extremely or very important to get a good job. That is a low percentage of Americans who see the value of college.
Among high school graduates, the proportion going straight to college has fallen, from a peak of 70% in 2016 to 62% in 2022, the most recent year for which the figure is available. The only way this decline will lessen and we will see stability in the higher education sector, says Emily Wadhwani, a senior director at credit-rating agency Fitch who works on higher education, “is a renewed sentiment that it’s worth it.”
Demarée Michelau, the president of WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education), calls these trends “the most perplexing set of issues to face higher education planners and administrators in a generation.”
Georgetown University will soon publish research that forecasts major shortages in teaching, health care, and other fields, as well as some level of skills shortfalls in 151 occupations. At this point, the United States has fallen to 9^th among developed nations in the proportion of 25- to 64-year-old people with any postsecondary degree. As Jeff Strohl, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, says, “If we don’t keep our edge in innovation and college-level education, we’ll have a decline in the economy and ultimately a decline in the living standard.”
We must adjust to these new conditions and prepare for a different future. As the Hechinger Report stated, with the “staggering number of variables facing colleges and universities, you’ve got to evolve and adjust, or die.”

So, what are we doing?

Workforce Development and Strategic Partnerships

You have heard how this unit of the college is aggressively developing new programs to serve a growing population of multi-lingual learners, is supporting through scholarships students who can’t afford to go to college and work but are eager for new skills, and is working with employers and other entities to develop new pools of students.

Grants

Kayci Clayton’s team is working hard to identify and then help us prepare competitive applications for large grants. Our TRiO program is awaiting news on some additional grant programs for which we applied. We look forward to Title III and continue looking at enrollment for a potential opportunity to apply for Title V funding.

Partnership

As you may know, the Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Pre-Nursing program was relocated to the Russell Building last fall, and we are continuing to deepen our partnership. In the fall of 2025, the OCVTS Academy of Law and Public Safety, called ALPS, will relocate to the Russell Building. This partnership allows VOTECH to repurpose its space to accommodate additional students in those programs with long waiting lists, such as welding. Both the Pre-Nursing and ALPS programs are high school initiatives that offer students the opportunity to earn dual credit through OCC courses, generating revenue for OCC. We are currently collaborating with OCVTS staff to align the ALPS program with the PAA, enabling students to graduate with both a high school diploma and an OCC degree. This partnership is mutually beneficial, as it will reduce OCC’s campus operating costs and provide OCVTS with much-needed program space.

In addition, we have a core group of people who regularly meet with VOTECH to explore areas that might offer new opportunities for us to expand our reach. One example is working with their culinary program to offer specific hospitality and business courses that will enhance these students’ skills and employability.

New programs

Dental Hygiene and Radiography

OCC is in the process of developing new degree programs in Dental Hygiene and Radiography, which will be part of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, under Dean Tracy Walsh. Consultants have been engaged to begin developing the programs and preparing for accreditation. Preliminary plans have been prepared by an architect that shows the labs being housed on the first floor of the Hovnanian Building, which is currently under-utilized. FY2024 and FY2025 Chapter 12 funding will be used to fund the project, and additional funds for equipment will be pursued through grants and a possible allocation from the County. With new deans, we hope to have more conversations about additional certificates and short-term programs.

Efficiencies: Facilities Master Plan

The College has engaged Colliers Engineering to develop a new Facilities Master Plan for the Toms River and Manahawkin campuses. The last Master Plan was published in 2016, and the new plan will focus on two main goals:

Improving opportunities for new programs through re-configuration or sharing existing space.
Maximizing space utilization to support the development of new partnerships while supporting today’s on-campus enrollment.

The project will include the following:

The current condition, accessibility, and functions of the seven oldest buildings on campus will be evaluated. The evaluation is to present valuable insight into the present condition of the identified buildings, to serve as a reference for strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
A building structural assessment will include a full inspection of the exterior envelopes, roofs, and ADA accessibility of the 17 buildings.
All structural and geographical transformations from 2015 to the present day will be updated and documented.
Evaluated methods to mitigate the impact of power outages will be reported, offering prioritized recommendations, estimated timelines, and budget considerations.
The College’s existing sustainable design principles will be assessed, and recommendations for implementing various sustainable design programs across both the Main and Manahawkin campuses will be proposed.

This means that we will work with the schools to determine how to maximize when and where to offer classes. We know that we will continue to have smaller student populations, so how can we maximize our buildings and spaces for efficiencies.

In other Facilities news, the construction contracts for the new Administration Building and the new Grunin Lobby are expected to be awarded at the January Board meeting. This will mark the beginning of an approximately 18-month construction period, which will become visible in the coming months of 2025. In addition, Parking Lot #1 will be updated and repaved. A new ADA-compliant parking lot will be placed near the Gateway Building. The project will include lighting, landscaping, striping, underground pipe repairs, signage, pedestrian access in Lot #3, and a feasibility study on solar panels and/or EV (electric vehicle) charging stations. This project is funded by FY2023 Chapter 12 and is expected to be completed in FY2025.

We are also working with the Senate to provide assistance and guidance on program assessment. If a program has shown no growth but status quo or an enrollment and completion decline, how do we evaluate this program and make recommendations for the future? We cannot afford to do everything, so what will be pragmatic approaches to decisions about academic programs? We are looking to faculty and staff through the Senate to help guide discussions.

Finally, I would like to share some updates on additional initiatives that are moving us forward in our evolution:

Hispanic Serving Institution

Monthly meetings of a large group with stakeholder interest.
Some accomplishments: phone tree with Spanish language, the use of the student ambassadors to help with students and parents who need to speak with someone who speaks Spanish; dedicated effort to hire multilingual skills, engagement with organizations that serve this population—Cultural Heritage at Toms River East, Lakewood Community Coalition, work with local churches.
Convening

CAB
Achieving the Dream

Although we live in challenging times, we should take comfort and strength in our ability to continue to serve Ocean County. We can do this by continuing to build relationships with one another here at the college and in our relationships beyond our campus. This past week, Vivek Murty, our current Surgeon General, published an outstanding document, My Parting Prescription of America. In this document, he makes a compelling argument that we individually and collectively grow and thrive through our connections with one another. I urge us all to continue to work on being a strong community and realizing we are better individually when we connect with others. I leave you with a quote from Dr. Murty:

These core pillars of community—relationships, service, and purpose—are powerful drivers of fulfillment. Community also gives us strength and resilience when facing the big challenges and countless paper cuts that come with moving through the world.

Best wishes to us all for an enjoyable, productive, and community-enriched semester!

2024 Awards for Years of Service and President’s Awards for Excellence

It is my pleasure now to recognize long-time employees for years of service at Ocean County College. As I call your name, please come up front to receive your service award certificate and remain here until all certificates are presented and a photograph is taken.

For Twenty Years of Service
Dr. Maysa Hayward, College Lecturer II in English and Literature
Ralph Hayward, Adjunct Associate Professor of English and Literature
Allison Irwin, Senior Student Services Technician, Student Life
Charlotte Langeveld, College Lecturer II in Social Sciences
Anthony Mastromarino, Associate Professor of Economics
Antoinette Plewa, Part-Time Professor of Social Sciences
Renee White, Adjunct Associate Professor in History

For Thirty Years of Service
Patricia Leahey, Adjunct Associate Professor of History
Walter Lukas, Craftsworker I, General Mechanic, Facilities
Christine Pericone, Assistant Professor of Science

For Forty Years of Service
Maryann Birdsall, Professor of Mathematics
Carolyn Showalter, Interim Dean of STEM

Congratulations to all! We appreciate your many contributions to the College for all these wonderful years!

And now, I am delighted to present the President’s Awards for Excellence to recognize employees for their outstanding contributions to Ocean County College.

The purpose of this program is to acknowledge and express appreciation for exemplary accomplishments at the department, division, and College-wide levels that do not fall entirely within the scope of regular duties but, instead, clearly indicate efforts above and beyond expectations. Employees are nominated based on their achievements in one or more of the following criteria, all of which support the College’s Strategic Plan. The categories are:

Outstanding Service to Students
- Efficiency and Innovation
- New Markets, and
- Work Environment

The award recipients were nominated by their fellow employees, and all nominations were reviewed and considered by the President’s Cabinet.

Each recipient receives a monetary award, an engraved crystal trophy (which you will receive again after it is engraved with your name), and lunch with the President’s Cabinet. Additionally, engraved cups for each award level will reside in the Administration Building in a showcase, where, annually, awardee names will be added and displayed.

Without further ado, we are proud to recognize the outstanding performance of the recipients of the President’s Award for Excellence for the year 2024. As I call your name, please come to the stage to accept your award and have a seat until all award recipients are announced.

The President’s Award at the Department Level for Efficiency and Innovation goes to Kevin Molnar, Planetarium Technician in the Robert J. Novins Planetarium.

Kevin has been a driving force on the planetarium team, consistently demonstrating exceptional technical expertise, creativity, and dependability. He is the go-to authority on high-technology operational equipment, providing immediate and reliable support during events.

Kevin performs a wide range of critical planetarium responsibilities. He maintains planetarium equipment, operates many shows, creates events in the ticketing system, and develops innovative programming to engage new audiences.

Kevin noted the rising popularity of pop-culture-based shows offered by other planetariums, such as those inspired by Harry Potter and Star Wars. He has become adept at creating laser songs for special events, most notably the Astronomy of Harry Potter Show, which has engaged 2,400 patrons to learn astronomy while casting spells on the dome.

Kevin’s recent original contributions include the Laser Bon Jovi Show, the Not-So-Scary Halloween Laser Show, and his rearrangement of laser love songs used in conjunction with the Valentine’s Day Star Talk. These programs brought in new audiences, boosted revenue, and enhanced the planetarium experience for patrons and staff alike.

Recently, Kevin saved the planetarium significant costs by troubleshooting an issue with the Zeiss star projector—an intricate system that projects 7,000 stars and celestial bodies. Through months of detailed photo and video correspondence with the vendor, Kevin fabricated a specialized tool to access an obstructed area on the projector and successfully replaced the part, avoiding expensive overseas technician visits.

Kevin’s daily efforts contribute to the planetarium’s growing reputation as a hub for learning and entertainment. By developing new content, attracting new markets, and embracing creative solutions, he has played a pivotal role in generating new revenue and inspiring audiences of all ages. He has made an enduring impact on the planetarium, the college, and the community. His efforts embody excellence and continue to inspire growth and success.

The President’s Award at the Department Level for Efficiency and Innovation goes to Joe Rua, Assistant Director of Institutional Research.

Joe consistently enhances the effectiveness of data-driven initiatives. His proactive approach to optimizing data processes and facilitating effective survey implementations has addressed data collection and analysis challenges, supporting the college’s efforts to leverage technology and data for informed decision-making.

Joe has transformed the management of data requests. He provides tailored guidance to stakeholders, ensuring requesters fully understand their research needs. Joe’s leadership in survey research and design demonstrates his ability to streamline processes, making data collection more efficient and impactful.

Joe has taken on the unofficial role of the college’s “survey guru,” becoming the go-to expert for survey-related projects while mentoring requesters. He continues to stay updated on best practices in survey design, and he is engaged with the American Association for Public Opinion Research. His expertise in survey design has led him to become the main point of contact for major surveys, including collaborating with external partners like the Ocean County Tourism and Business Advisory Council on a county-wide tourism survey.

Joe embodies the College’s values through his extensive community service. His volunteer efforts in Manahawkin and surrounding areas reveal his deep compassion and commitment to others. For years, he has been a driving force behind charitable initiatives through his church and the Knights of Columbus, organizing and cooking Christmas meals for families in need and coordinating annual toy drives that provide gifts to approximately 400 children each holiday season.

This year, Joe helped to organize the delivery of 150–200 containers of toys and essential items to families in Asheville, North Carolina, even driving one of the trailers himself. Joe’s volunteer work represents his unwavering dedication to service, exemplifying how one individual can make a profound difference. His selfless contributions strengthen the College’s ties to the community and serve as an inspiring example of compassion and commitment to others.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Service to Students at the Division Level is presented to Mary Granahan, Television Production Director, in the Department of Media Services.

In under three years, Mary’s leadership revitalized the TV20 Studio, its programming, and the Viking Video Club, transforming a program struggling with minimal staff and a pandemic-induced project backlog into a model of efficiency and innovation.

Mary plays a central role in the broadcast and dissemination of nearly every major event at the college, including commencement, the annual gala, and multiple programs. Mary has set a new standard for the studio’s output by spearheading the transition from decades-old standard definition content to modern high-definition programming.

The studio now produces regularly scheduled original programming, including Shore of Support, a 30-minute program showcasing nonprofits in Ocean County and their charitable efforts. With more original shows in development, the station’s schedule also features a refreshed syndicated programming lineup.

Mary has rebuilt the Viking Video Club from just two members to a thriving group of over 20 engaged students. She designs video projects aligned with student interests, creating meaningful learning opportunities. Students now produce their own film anthology series, which provides experience in various film crew roles and adds original content to TV20’s programming.

One of the hallmarks of OCC’s digital mass media program is its hands-on approach and access to industry-standard equipment. Mary has created an effective platform for connecting students both within and outside the program to explore the possibility of pursuing a career in the TV industry.

The modernization of Ocean TV20’s visuals and brand standards elevate the college’s image. Her push to upgrade the channel to HD broadcasting—a long-standing challenge—has finally succeeded, thanks to her efforts.

Mary helped advance the studio’s infrastructure by contributing to the design and implementation of permanent broadcast control rooms in the Grunin Center and the Gateway Building. She also led the design and implementation of a new, industry-standard LED lighting grid and spearheaded the Studio Cleanout Initiative, which removed outdated, broken, and unused equipment.

Mary’s dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence have enhanced the TV20 Studio and its programming, provided transformative opportunities for students, and elevated the college’s reputation in the community.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Service to Students at the Division Level is awarded to Allison Noone, Student Support Services Program Director in the Department of Student Support Services/TRIO.

Alison has gone above and beyond in ways that have a tangible impact on students. She has taken the lead on implementing the Tepper Grant in cooperation with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. This initiative includes hiring student navigators to assist students with applying for food stamps directly on campus. Alison is collaborating with Dr. Racioppi to prepare the college’s submission as a vendor for the SNAP E&T program, a move that could result in the college being reimbursed thousands of dollars spent supporting SNAP recipients.

Alison serves as a backup student conduct investigator, stepping in whenever needed to ensure cases and complaints are handled efficiently and professionally. She is passionate in her support of students to address the challenges they experience in meeting their basic needs. This year, she collaborated with the Grants department to expand OCC’s TRIO grant applications and applied for two student support services grants—one as an extension of an existing grant and another explicitly tailored for students with disabilities. Allison and her TRIO staff consistently met or exceeded the grant goals.

Alison completed all requirements for the Tepper Grant ahead of schedule. This proactive approach ensures that students employed through the grant will be ready to assist their peers in navigating the SNAP application process, increasing support for students in need. Alison co-leads the First-Generation Task Force. She is a valued contributor to the task force, its events, and its broader mission of recognizing the importance of supporting first-generation students, a significant portion of the student body.

Allison approaches every task passionately, ensuring students have the resources to persist and succeed. Her efforts demonstrate her exceptional commitment to student retention and success.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Service to Students at the Division Level is awarded to Jim Campbell, Program Manager, FIPSE Grant in the Department of Enrollment Services.

Jim oversees the FIPSE grant, which provides holistic, person-centered support and resources to promote student persistence and success. As the grant manager, Jim’s role is to fund approved students while working with community partners. He acts to bridge critical gaps between housing and homelessness, creating impactful solutions for students in need.

Jim volunteers as an advisor to the Community Ambassadors’ Club, which fosters opportunities for students to build community involvement and raise social awareness on issues such as homelessness, healthcare, immigration, and anti-bias/bullying initiatives. The club, launched in Fall 2023, hosted its first Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference, with 91 community members in attendance.

Jim is a Hispanic Serving Institution Committee member and has worked closely with Mary Guarin, founder of the nonprofit Community Ambassador Program, regarding undocumented student tuition and other services. This resulted in an MOU and a procedural change within Records and Registration, allowing undocumented students residing in Ocean County to qualify for in-county tuition rates.

Recently, Jim identified the opportunity provided by the Martin Luther King Grant, which offers additional student scholarships. He shared this information with the Grants Department, which successfully secured the funding in November 2024. Through Jim’s efforts, the Ocean County Board of Social Services now visits OCCM monthly to assist students.

Jim’s actions have prevented several students from eviction from their homes. He is known for turning challenging situations into positive outcomes with his exceptional problem-solving skills. His initiative to address the Food Pantry’s limitations in storing personal hygiene products resulted in collaboration with Michelle Youngs. Students were given hygiene bags before the 2023 winter break, including essential items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo. In just two hours, 200 bags were distributed. Recognizing the demand, Jim increased the goal to distribute 400 bags this year.

Jim makes it a priority to understand and address student needs. His leadership, vision, and commitment to service and support have made a profound impact on our students.

The President’s Award at the College-Wide Level for Efficiency and Innovation is awarded to Melissa Bedford, Payroll Specialist in the Department of Accounting and Financial Reporting.

In 2020, Melissa began working in Human Resources and then transferred to the Payroll Department. In that time, she mastered the intricacies of the Colleague payroll system and complex federal, state, and union regulations that govern payroll processes. She has the knowledge and ability to clearly explain intricate payroll matters so employees can feel confident and informed about their concerns.

Melissa has contributed to numerous process improvements in payroll services, and her efforts resulted in new solutions that streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Her recommendations have been pivotal in improving workplace systems.

Melissa was key in launching Web Time Entry (electronic timesheets) for all non-exempt employees in 2020. Transitioning from paper timesheets to a fully digital system required months of meticulous testing, the creation of procedural manuals and training materials, participation in workshops, and countless hours addressing questions from employees and managers. Melissa’s efforts were critical to the project’s success.

When Human Resources introduced NeoEd, it included launching the Onboard system, which transformed the new hire orientation process and significantly changed how payroll manages critical forms like the W-4 and Direct Deposit. Melissa was pivotal in this transition by offering alternative approaches and advocating for process improvements.

More recently, Melissa took the initiative to prepare data for Human Resources to inform employees about significant 2025 health plan premium increases. She created a comprehensive spreadsheet detailing each employee’s current health plan costs, future costs for remaining in the same plan, and cost estimates for alternative plans. This huge and complicated task was outside her regular responsibilities, demonstrating her dedication to her colleagues and the college.

The data Melissa provided enabled Human Resources to send personalized cost comparisons to employees before the open enrollment deadline. As a result, more employees switched plans than in previous years, with 60% selecting more affordable options. This shift will save employees and the college significant costs in 2025.

Melissa’s initiative, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment to excellence have improved processes, empowered employees, and delivered meaningful cost savings to employees and the college, and her work will continue to have a lasting positive impact.

The President’s Award at the College-Wide Level for Outstanding Service to Students is awarded to Erich Carstens, Director of IT Support Services, in the Department of Information Technology.

Erich has consistently excelled in his role, demonstrating exceptional skill and strong performance in managing complex projects with multiple moving parts, showcasing his reliability and expertise.

A prime example of his outstanding performance was during the Library renovation project. Erich went above and beyond by successfully managing the ordering and installation of over $1 million worth of IT equipment and furniture and ensuring timely delivery and installation. He navigated challenges with numerous funding sources and provided thorough documentation to support the project.

Erich worked diligently to incorporate advanced technology to enhance the library’s capabilities, ensuring students can access the latest tools to support their learning experiences. The library now boasts state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge computing equipment that provide students with hands-on, interactive experiences that support diverse learning styles and enhance the understanding of complex subjects. This technology makes learning more interactive and engaging, encouraging collaboration and active participation, which can lead to better academic outcomes.

Erich’s dedication, exceptional project management skills, and unwavering commitment were crucial to the success of the Library renovation, making him a deserving candidate for this recognition. His efforts have ensured that students can access cutting-edge equipment, significantly enhancing the learning experience.

Congratulations to all our Excellence Award winners. Their recognition is well deserved for all they do for our students.