Week of March 4, 2024

Hi Clovis Fam,

I must start that week’s reflection by telling you that I have been walking around beaming with pride. I want to thank every one of you for just simply being you and for doing what you do so humbly and passionately. Outside of my being ill last week and then wanting to take out my smoke alarm this week with my shotgun (it was going off every night between 3 am until I left for work Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights), I had an extraordinarily outstanding week.

Last Friday evening, I attended the CTE Crush Community Advisory reception fundraiser. It was an evening of professional elegance and ya’ll know how to throw a high-class “shindig”. There was wine, an exquisite charcuterie board, mint water, and a live jazz group made up of our students and former students. There was a silent auction to raise scholarship money for our CTE students and the community advisors were pleased to be invited. I enjoyed the community vibe and the opportunity to spend with each of you and our community partners hearing about ways to partner and grow our offerings. Great job Deans Laura, Ruben, James, and Whitney. I was especially happy to see all of the cross-collaborative support from the student services team. The Vice President of Student Services and both the Deans of Students were there. Nice job everyone. My heart was filled with joy seeing the collegiality.

On Saturday morning, I started my day at the college. When I got to the college, the parking lot was filled with people getting help with their FASFA. People were here on a rainy Saturday morning! Now you know that says a lot about how Rebecca and her team do things. Over 200 people (families, returning students, and high school students) attended the FAFSA application event throughout the day. High school counselors from our feeder schools came and once again my heart was all swollen up with joy when I saw everyone, the VPSS, the outreach team, and student ambassadors working together to provide an incredible experience for our community. At the same time, we had people on campus getting tax assistance. It felt like a college on Saturday. I stayed and talked with parents and they were all so very thankful for the support and assistance.

After I left the FASFA event, I went directly to an invitation-only event for a Meet-and-Greet with Congressman Adam Schiff. Board President Gomez invited all the Presidents and SCCCD Board members to attend.

On Monday, I attended the College President’s Council and Chancellor’s Cabinet meetings. I ended my day by attending the Ag Tec Leadership Executive meeting.

On Tuesday, I attended Communications Council meeting and spent the remainder of my day finishing up items for the President’s State of the College Address. I spent the afternoon serving as ACCJC Vice Chair as the Peer Review Team conducted our Meet and Greet with the ACCJC team and the college’s leadership team. We then held an open forum for the entire college and team. I learned a lot from this process and I must say, I am so very proud of our Accreditation Steering Committee. Please don’t take for granted the work you are doing to succinctly yet thoroughly tell our story, address the standards, and provide supporting evidence.

As you know, Wednesday was my first State of the College address. This is an opportunity for the college to showcase all that we do and all that we are at Clovis Community College. It gave me great pride to tell and showcase all that we do from our academic excellence, our athletics excellence, our community and giving spirit, and the Clovis Spirit I get to see every day in everyone. I enjoyed seeing the look on their faces as Gurdeep talked about Math, and especially their faces as Michelle and David talked about Europa and our collaboration with NASA and JPL. I also enjoyed hearing James’ students cheer as James and Natalie talked about them, as well as hearing Tony showcase the CCC choir. Most of all, I enjoyed seeing our students take front and center whether it was sign language, singing the National Anthem, Sgt Shane Armstrong leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and our ASG President, Jeremiah Lopez representing the students as such a strong leader. I want to thank all of you for setting up tables to highlight excellence in the Clothing Closet, Honors Program, Athletics, Basic Needs, Speech and Debate, PODER, Counseling, Academics, Music, and Research. The room looked fabulous and the print information was top-notch. Thanks for the ambassadors and everyone who helped in front and behind the scenes. Our community was impressed with all that we do and most importantly with who we are.

After the luncheon, I was able to spend time with the fierce Clovis women in the RAD meeting where I watched Rebecca Kinlow, Rosanne Susoeff, Vicki Cockrell, Monica Kong, and Renee Garcia demonstrate how to take care of themselves if attacked. Great job ladies. I was scared just sitting there watching them.

After I left the RAD meeting and Red Man exercise, I went to my CMAC Board meeting.

On Thursday, I spent most of the day in final interviews for the Biology Instructor position. I also attended College Council. On my way to College Council, I saw Tyler, Derek, and a few students in the courtyard area between AC1 and AC2. Now note, that I was alarmed when I saw both Tyler and Derek with goggles on and fire extinguishers. Nothing gives me more joy than to see teaching and learning in action.

On Friday, I met with Caryss and Tyler to start working on a process improvement model for the classified professional and management hiring prioritization process. And I had my regular meeting with Classified Senate leadership where we talked about the professional development process.

I don’t seem to have anything major on my schedule this weekend, but I will be preparing for the Board meeting on Tuesday and a presentation with the Clovis Chamber of Commerce.

I hope each of you have a great weekend. Get lots of rest and as always enjoy your time with family and friends. Please also know that we have members of our family who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Please show them love and support. We also have members of our family who have brought a new life into the family, please also show them love as well. It is the way that we take care of each other that makes me most proud.

Thank you for all you do, unselfishly to take care of our students.

In service,

Kim E. Armstrong, Ph.D.