4CS Connections November 2012 1

Inside Connections

4CS Executive Board Directory ...................................................................2 Statewide Senate/Leader Directory ...........................................................5-7 Senate News From Across the State .........................................................8-9Meet the New Chancellor ..........................................................................10A Retrospective of 4CS ..............................................................................13South Region Retreat .................................................................................15

A newsletter for the Classified Senates

of the California Community Colleges

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12There have been 20 extraordinary years in

which 4CS have successfully accomplished its Vision and Mission. Congratulations to

all our classified senates throughout California that have supported and continue to support our legacy.

We continue our tradition of holding the Classified Leadership Institute Conference annually every June. During the past two years, we held the conference at the Ventura Beach Crown Plaza Hotel. Our 20th anniversary was celebrated with a black tie affair at this great venue. The conference was a complete success! For June 2013, we will be at the Red Lion Woodlake Conference Center in Sacramento. Please review the “Save the Date” flyer included in this newsletter and plan on attending.

In addition to our annual conference, we have spearheaded the South Region Leadership Retreats. These retreats meet twice a year and provide a multiple array of topics and discussions to support the healthy functioning of the classified senates. The fantastic response to this new format has enriched and created new senates -- Congratulations to Coastline Community College on their fairly new senate! The South Region Retreat is scheduled for January 11, 2013 hosted by Miramar College. The North group is excited as they are planning their first retreat in early Spring.

Our job is to assist you and your college administration to understand the importance of “Shared Governance”. Please check our website www.ccccs.org for detailed information regarding 4CS. In addition, please feel to contact your local representative for any questions that you might have. We have a very dedicated staff at 4CS that will try to help you in any way possible.

I am looking forward to seeing you at any of our conferences or conventions throughout the year.

Keep up the great energy, the fantastic ideas, and the great representation state wide! 4CS is here to serve you!

Sincerely,

Russell Hamilton, Sr.

President 4CS

Congratulations to 4CS on Our 20th Anniversary!

4CS Connections November 20122

4CS Executive Board DirectoryOFFICERS PRESIDENTRUSSELL HAMILTON, SR.Saddleback College (949) 582-4902 rhamilton@ccccs.orgPRESIDENT-ELECT MAUREEN CHENOWETHFoothill Community College (650) 949-7235 mchenoweth@ccccs.org

NORTH VICE PRESIDENTKAREN SMITHFoothill Community College (650) 949-7027 ksmith@ccccs.org

SOUTH VICE PRESIDENTANGELA MAHANEYIrvine Valley College (949) 451-5515 amahaney@ccccs.org

SECRETARYCARI PLYLEYButte College (530) 879-6106 cplyley@ccccs.orgTREASURERNORMA TALLEYButte College (530) 893-7503 ntalley@ccccs.org

PAST PRESIDENTMONICA SOUZASacramento City College 916-558-2486msouza@ccccs.org

4CS ASSOCIATES JOSE HUESOSan Diego CC District jhueso@ccccs.org

LEO LIEBERDiablo Valley College llieber@ccccs.orgPAT MURRAYGrossmont College pmurray@ccccs.org

BARBARA SALMON (ret.)Pasadena City College bsalamon@ccccs.org

KELLY WILKERSONChaffey College kwilkerson@ccccs.org

REPRESENTATIVESNORTH 1TEEJE JAMISONButte College (530) 895-2256 tjamison@ccccs.orgButte College, College of the Redwoods, College of the Siskiyous, Feather River College, Lassen College, Mendocino College, Shasta College

NORTH 2VACANTAmerican River College, Consumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, Los Rios CCD, Sacramento City College

NORTH 3VACANTLake Tahoe CC, Sierra College, Yuba College, Woodland College

BAY 1JAMES BLAKELaney College (510) 464-3230jblake@ccccs.orgBerkely City College, Chabot College, Chabot Las Positas CCD, College of Alameda, Contra Costa CCD, Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Laney College, Los Medanos College, Merritt College, Peralta CCD, Solano CC

BAY 2DEBBIE WEATHERLYSanta Rosa Junior College(707) 527-4505dweatherly@ccccs.orgCañada College, College of Marin, College of San Mateo, Napa Valley College, City College of San Francisco, San Mateo CCD, Santa Rosa Jr. College, Skyline College

BAY 3MY LOIMission College(408) 855-5196mloi@ccccs.orgCabrillo College, De Anza College, Evergreen Valley College, Foothill College, Foothill DeAnza CCD, Gavilan College, Hartnell College,

Mission College, Monterey Peninsula College, Ohlone College, San Jose City College, San Jose Evergreen CCD, West Valley College, West Valley Mission CCD

CENTRAL 1VACANTColumbia College, Merced College, Modesto Jr. College, San Joaquin Delta College, Yosemite CCD

CENTRAL 2 VACANTCollege of the Sequoias, Fresno City College, Reedley College, State Center CCD, West Hills College

CENTRAL 3 VACANTBakersfield College, Cerro Coso CC, Kern CCD, Porterville College, Taft College

SOUTHWEST 1VACANTCompton College, East Los Angeles College, El Camino College, Los Angeles CCD, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Trade Tech, Los Angeles Valley College, Santa Monica College, West Los Angeles College

SOUTHWEST 2VACANTAllan Hancock College, Antelope Valley College, College of the Canyons, Cuesta College, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Santa Barbara CC, Ventura College, Ventura CCD

SOUTHWEST 3VACANTCerritos College, Citrus College, Glendale CC, Mt. San Antonio College, Pasadena City College, Rio Hondo College

SOUTHEAST 1ROCIO SANDOVALSan Diego Mesa College(619) 388-2764 rsandoval@ccccs.orgCuyamaca College, Grossmont College, Grossmont Cuyamaca CCD, Imperial Valley College, Mira Costa

College, Palo Verde College, Palomar College, San Diego CCD, San Diego City College, San Diego Continuing Education, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, Southwestern College

SOUTHEAST 2DENNIS GORDONIrvine Valley College (949) 451-5272 dgordon@ccccs.orgCoast CCD, Coastline Community College, Cypress College, Fullerton College, Golden West College, Irvine Valley College, Long Beach City College, North Orange CCD, Orange Coast College, Rancho Santiago CCD, South Orange County CCD, Saddleback College, Santa Ana College, Santiago Canyon College

SOUTHEAST 3VACANTBarstow College, Chaffey College, College of the Desert, Copper Mountain College, Crafton Hills College, Moreno Valley College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Norco College, Riverside City College, Riverside CCD, San Bernardino CCD, San Bernardino Valley College, Victor Valley College

PRESIDENT EMERETICARI PLYLEYButte College cplyley@ccccs.orgTONY PRESTBYSanta Monica College prestby_tony@smc.edu

MARY THOMPSON (retired) thompsonml@hotmail.comJULIE WHITINGSan Joaquin Delta College jwhiting@ccccs.orgJIM WILSON (retired)jwilson@ccccs.org

4CS Connections November 2012 3

Welcome New 4CS Board Members!

News From 4CS

Rocio joined the staff at San Diego Mesa College in July of 2007 as a Mail Clerk and in 2009 was promoted to Lead Production Services Assistant. Rocio joined her Classified Senate as Secretary in 2011. Prior to that,

she was involved in organizational committees to help with things like Classified Staff Hiring Priority, Classified Appreciation Week, and many more activities on campus. “I decided to join 4CS because I thought it would be a good experience and a great networking opportunity. Not to mention that I would be working with other classified staff to make their campus stronger by helping build new/stronger Classified Senates on campus. I also aim to learn more and improve upon my own Classified Senate on our campus.”

Rocio is mother of 2 wonderful munchkins Areli, 8, and Dominic, 3, and is married to husband Pedro. She loves to scrapbook, travel, and be with her family.

Rocio SandovalSoutheast 1 Representative

Rocio Sandoval

Southeast 1 Area Representative

Debbie WeatherlyBay 2 Representative

Debbie Weatherly, newly elected representative for Bay 2 has been serving on the Santa Rosa Junior College Classified Senate for the last seven years and has been the president for the past two years. She is currently running for another two year term.

When asked why she was interested in joining the 4CS Executive Board, Debbie stated, “I would like to be an encouragement to my fellow classified employees from other colleges. Although I am nervous about stepping forward, I know if we don’t serve we will lose ground on what we have accomplished already …and it is time to step out of my comfort zone and to broaden my horizons. I look forward to meeting with other classified leaders.

James BlakeBay 1 Representative

Biographical statement unavailable at time of printing.

4CS welcomes Rocio, James, and Debbie

to the 4CS family!

James is the Classified Senate president at Laney College.

4CS Connections November 20124

News From 4CS

September 4CS Board Meeting Held at Las Positas College

The 4CS Fall Executive Board Meeting was hosted at Las Positas College on September 14-15, 2012. The LP Classified Senate not only provided a conference

room for the two-day meeting, but provided a great sandwich lunch, a tour of the campus by Classified Senator Julie Thornberg, and a “shopping” trip to the Bookstore. 4CS President Russell Hamilton expressed his thanks to the college for their hospitality, “Las Positas College has been a 4CS member since 2001 and the Board was thrilled to be able to meet on their campus.”

College President Dr. Kevin Walthers greeted the 4CS Board on Friday morning welcoming them to the campus and thanking 4CS for their work at the state level. Dr. Walthers also praised the local classified senate for doing an excellent job and being one of the best classified senates in the state. “This semester Las Positas has added back about 400 seats back to the classroom and the staff have been instrumental in that effort.”

Thanks go to Classified Senate co-presidents Todd Steffan and Frances DeNisco for their support and special thanks to Renee Pegues and Julie Thornberg for their assistance and efforts in bringing the 4CS Board to Las Positas.

4CS holds their September and March yearly Board meetings at campuses across the state with 4CS member senates. If you would like to host a future 4CS Board meeting at your campus, please contact a 4CS board member in your area.

For All the Unsung Heroes: Classified LeadersBy Cari Plyley, 4CS President Emeritus/2012-2014 Secretary

The last few years have been difficult for colleges, students, and classified employees. Though working in California community colleges is a cycle of funding woes and classified employees are resilient, we have now seen the impact of being asked to do

everything with little. As we lose colleagues to budget cuts we are asked ever more often to take on their duties as well as our own. Our stress levels are high and our worries real – but we have now what we did not have when I came to work for Butte College in 1985 – Participatory Governance.

Younger classified employees may not know of the struggle by classified employees across the state for the opportunity to have input into the decision making process in California’s community colleges. Those who sacrificed their personal time and resources to promote classified participation at the local and state level, and those who still do. Retired classified employees continue to promote the benefits and importance of classified staff involvement in the governance process. They understand the importance of having an impact at their local level, in their own community and for other community college classified staff, that the best decisions are made with all of the players, all of the employees, all of those with the knowledge to make good decisions.

So during these difficult times, I write to you, the unsung heroes at your campuses who do their best to continue to provide the best services you can to your students and still work harder to make sure classified staff continue to participate in governance – especially at this most important time when their voices are the most important. You deserve our thanks and respect for your commitment and perseverance. You are the leaders of today and the future and I am proud to serve our community colleges with you.

These are worrisome times. But we will get through them. Not in the same condition as when we began, but education will continue to be an ever-evolving landscape and we will continue to adapt and actively participate in our community colleges. We proudly support education and we will continue to do our very best to support the education of those who ask for it and those who need it.

Thank you, Classified Leaders, for all that you do!

Cari Plyley

4CS Connections November 2012 5

News From 4CS

College President Name President Phone President EmailAmerican River College Ana Lukawski 916-484-8568 lukawskia@arc.losrios.edu

Berkeley City College Ramona Butler 510-981-2803 rbutler@peralta.edu

Butte Community College Peter Dahl 530-879-4027 dahlpe@butte.edu

Cañada College Jonna Pounds (650)306-3201 pounds@smccd.edu

Cerro Coso College Angela Sellers 760-384-6256 asellers@cerrocoso.edu

Chabot College Yvonne Wu Craig 510-723 6810y wu-craig@chabotcollege.edu

Chaffey College Trisha Albertsen 909-652-6033 trisha.albertsen@chaffey.edu

City College of San Francisco James Rogers 415-239-3097 jrogers@ccsf.edu

Coastline Community College Ann French 714-241-6204 afrench@coastline.edu

College of Alameda Paula Armstead 510-748-2100 parmstead@peralta.edu

College of Marin Alice Dieli 415-457-8811 x7540 alice.dieli@marin.edu

College of the Canyons Patrick Backes 661-362-5479 patrick.backes@canyons.edu

Columbia College Doralyn Foletti 209-588-5111 folettid@yosemite.edu

Contra Costa CCD Linda Kohler 925-439-2181 x3984 lkohler@losmedanos.edu

Contra Costa CCD Office Georgette Stewart 925-229-6847 gstewart@4cd.edu

Contra Costa College Shondra West 510-691-7800 x4340 swest@contracosta.edu

Copper Mountain College Jolie Alpin 760-366-3791 x5310 jalpin@cmccd.edu

Cosumnes River College Breanne Holland 916-691-7370 holland@crc.losrios.edu

Crafton Hills College Michelle Riggs 909-389-3391 mriggs@craftonhills.edu

Cuyamaca College Avelina Mitchell 619-991-4270 avelina.mitchell@gcccd.edu

DeAnza College Reza Kazempour 408-864-8907 kazempourreza@fhda.edu

Diablo Valley College Ann Patton 925-685-1230 x2209 apatton@dvc.edu

Feather River College Connie Litz 530-283-0202 #317 clitz@frc.edu

Folsom Lake College Rochelle Franco 916-608-6546 francor@flc.losrios.edu

Foothill College Erin Ortiz 650-949-7060 ortizerin@fhda.edu

Foothill-De Anza District Central Services Craig Gawlick 650-949-6202 gawlickcraig@fhda.edu

Fresno City College & SCCCD Ernie Garcia 559-442-4600 x8596 ernie.garcia@fresnocitycollege.edu

Fullerton College Catherine Parks 714-992-7000- x25525 cparks@fullcoll.edu

Glendale Community College Jenny McMahon 818-240-1000 x 5305 jmcmahon@glendale.edu

Grossmont College Joe Balestreri 619-644-7437 joe.balestreri@gcccd.org

Grossmont-Cuyamaca CC District Office Yvette Macy 619-644-7511 yvette.macy@gcccd.edu

Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD Wendy Corbin 619-644-7643 wendy.corbin@gcccd.net

Hartnell College Joanne Trevino 831-755-6830 or x7830 JTrevino@hartnell.edu

Classified Senate/Leaders Directory 2012-13

4CS Connections November 20126

Irvine Valley College Dennis Gordon 949-451-5272 dgordon@ivc.edu

Lake Tahoe Community College Pat Leonard-Heffner 530-541-4660 x234 leonard@ltcc.edu, strain@ltcc.edu

Laney College James Blake 510-464-3230 jblake@peralta.edu

Las Positas College Todd Steffan 925-424-1571 tsteffan@laspositascollege.edu

Los Medanos College Linda Kohler 925-439-2181 x3984 lkohler@losmedanos.edu

Mendocino College Jayme Johnson 707-468-6471 jjohnson@mendocino.edu

Merced College Wilma Prine 209-384-6302 prine.w@mccd.edu

Merritt College Molly Sealund 510-436-2418 msealund@peralta.edu

MiraCosta College Tim Dow 760-795-6776 tdow@miracosta.edu

Mission College Sarah Randle 408-855-5218 sarah.randle@wvm.edu

Moorpark College Maureen Rauchfuss 805-378-1531 mrauchfuss@vcccd.edu

Mt. San Antonio College Deejay Santiago 909-594-5611 x5242 classifiedsenate@mtsac.edu

Mt. San Jacinto College Elaine Eshom 951-639-5500 eeshom@msjc.edu

Napa Valley College Valerie Exum 707-259-8959 vexum@napavalley.edu

Oxnard College Karla Banks 805-986-5808 kbanks@vcccd.edu

Pasadena City College Gary Potts 626-585-7520 gnpotts@pasadena.edu

Peralta CCD Office David Reed 510-464-3537 dreed@peralta.edu

Reedley College Juan Tirado 559-638-3641 x3440 juan.tirado@reedleycollege.edu

Sacramento City College Jake Kattan 916-650-2951 kattanj@scc.losrios.edu

Saddleback College Don Mineo 949-582-4965 dmineo@saddleback.edu

San Bernardino Valley College Cassandra Thomas (909) 384-8241 cthomas@valleycollege.edu

San Diego CCD Continuing Education Neill K. Kovrig (619) 230-2895 nkovrig@sdccd.edu

San Diego City College Terri Jackson 619-388-3936 tjackso@sdccd.edu

San Diego Mesa College Angela Liewen 619-388-2734 aliewen@sdccd.edu

San Diego Miramar College Joyce Allen 619-388-7873 jallen@sdccd.edu

San Joaquin Delta College Debora Hernandez 209-954-5899 dhernandez@deltacollege.edu

Santa Rosa Junior College Debbie Weatherly 707-527-4505 dweatherly@santarosa.edu

Sierra College Thad Selmants 916-660-7212 tselmants@sierracollege.edu

Skyline College Linda Allen 650-738-4123 allen@smccd.edu

Ventura Colleges Peder Nielson 805-654-6400 x3251 pnielson@vcccd.edu

West Valley College Laurel Kinley 408-741-2473 laurel.kinley@westvalley.edu

Notice something missing or incorrect? Contact cplyley@ccccs.org for changes to this information

4CS Connections November 2012 7

News From 4CS

Recent legislation that affects professional development opportunities for classified staff – Senate Bill 1456 The Student Success Act of 2012 - was approved in May of 2012. Part of the recommendations included language that demands a better

system of professional development opportunities for all California Community College employee groups, including classified staff.

The Chancellor’s Office then convened work groups to address the new requirements, one of which is designed to specifically address professional development. Three goals were readily evident: 1. Overhaul the Flex Program to include classified staff and administrators. 2. Create a central clearinghouse of professional development activities for all employee groups. And 3. Secure funding for these initiatives. The work groups are scheduled to finish their tasks by the end of this fall and the Chancellor’s Office is hoping to see additional legislation to go before the legislature by February of 2013 that will secure a stable source of funding for professional development.

4CS sent out a simple survey over the list serve to solicit your input. 1,032 individual classified staff from 63 of the 112 community colleges and 18 community college district offices responded. We asked you to rate current professional growth activities (the range and the quality) and we asked your approval or disapproval of the proposed Vision Statement for the new professional development program. 90% of the respondents approved of the Vision Statement and 315 individuals suggested some changes and commented on the current professional development programs at their respective colleges. It was very clear that classified staff have an important role to play in student success. It was also clear that classified staff care about how professional development contributes significantly to institutional effectiveness and that it is equally important for individual growth and mobility. A very disappointing 40% of respondents are dissatisfied with their current professional growth programs. However, it is not surprising given the devastating effects of the last several years of budget cuts.

We were also heartened by the reconnection with friends and colleagues. Most notably is the 4C/SD organization that has continued to provide professional development activities for all employees in the California Community College system despite devastating budget cuts. In addition, we were so pleased to hear from the State Center Community College District group that for the last 12 years has operated a very successful and comprehensive professional development program for classified staff.

We will continue to keep you updated on this important initiative through the 4CS listserv. In addition, we hope you will “Save the Date” for the Classified Leadership Institute, June 13-15, 2013, at the Woodlake Inn, in Sacramento, California. At this time, we will have at least one information session (but probably multiple sessions) that will include all details, not only about the initiative, but how you can be a part of implementing these very positive changes on your campus! We hope to see you there!

Great Leadership Quotes

Professional Development and Classified Staffby Maureen Chenowith, 4CS President-Elect

Maureen Chenowith

The task of leadership is not to put greatness into

people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already.

—John Buchan

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become

more, you are a leader.

—John Quincy Adams

The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.

—Harvey S. Firestone

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4CS Connections November 20128

News From Across The State

Irvine Valley CollegeClassified Senate Campus and Community OutreachBy Vincent Cooper

Irvine Valley College Senate members Carol Danna, Robert Flournoy and Vince Cooper have

been instrumental in leading their peers in making a difference on their campus and in the local community.

Carol has organized IVC employees to participate in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. “Two years ago I went to the distribution center by myself and was so moved that I wanted to take my friends the following year to share the joy of giving to children in need. Last year, I took 20 classified staff members and friends with me and this year I’m confident we will have 50” said Carol Danna. Our goals for this season are to donate 100 filled boxes for boys and girls and provide 50 volunteers to spend one evening filling and loading shoeboxes for shipment. The boxes are typically filled with toiletries, school supplies, hard candies and a toy. They are shipped worldwide to needy children around the globe.

Robert and Vince are doing outstanding work providing food for veterans and E.O.P.S. students and their families at Irvine Valley College. Fresh vegetables, fruit, canned goods, rice, beans and cereal were collected from college employees, local food banks and farmers. It was a team effort to collect the various food items, sort the goods into boxes and distribute them to the recipients. Each family received approximately sixty pounds of food and other basic necessities. Returning veterans from the war currently attending college are going through a difficult time in this economy. They do receive financial assistance for their tuition, but it is difficult for veterans to find work to help make ends meet. Robert and Vince, with the assistance of the Classified Senate, have created a team effort to collect, sort, and distribute donations to those who need help the most. IVC will be hosting another food drive with a distribution scheduled for Friday, December 7, 2012. In

addition, Robert also coordinates with local farmers to glean their fields of fruits and vegetables that are transported and donated to local food banks for needy families.

As stated by IVC Classified Senate President, Dennis Gordon, “One of our goals as a Classified Senate has been to increase our awareness of the needs of individuals and families on our campus and in our local community. Our participation and volunteerism is not just a way to give back to the campus and local community, but also provide our members a spiritual feeling of doing well for others who are less fortunate.”

Shoeboxes ready for delivery!

Operation Christmas Child

Sorting items

4CS Connections November 2012 9

News From Across the StateGrowth of Professional Development: Butte College Roadrunner Tracks Special Edition: Professional Developmentby: Ruth Ann Hanson, Shirleigh Brannon, Carol Stanley-Hall, and Corinne Martine

Butte College has a rich and valued history with Professional Development. The program, known as Staff Development until the fall of 2009, began in 1985

under the leadership of then Vice President of Instruction, Ernie Matlock. The Staff Development Program received national recognition in those early years for its impressive achievement.

Though the program initially originated from the Chancellor’s Office with a faculty focus, the Butte College Program became more and more inclusive of classified staff and management in the late 1980’s. All Campus Retreats were held in those years in addition to the all faculty Great Teacher’s Seminars. The first “Classified Day” was held in 1995 at Durham Park. Constituent groups each had their own sub-committee which awarded monies for participation in various projects.

Faculty provided the overall leadership and coordination of the program beginning in 1985-87. Each faculty leader introduced innovative new programs and ideas. Many of these programs are still in existence, or have provided the building blocks for what is in place today.

In the fall of 2009, the program was reorganized and renamed Professional Development. Rather than one coordinator managing all of Professional Development, coordinators were selected among each of the three groups; faculty, classified staff, and management. Oversight of the three coordinators is now provided by an instructional dean. The three coordinators together make up a 1.0 position, with faculty at 50%, and classified and management at 25% each. The faculty coordinator, per BCEA contract, chairs the Steering Committee, Faculty Flex Committee and oversees the budget. From 2009-present Ruth Ann Hansen has served as the Classified Coordinator at Butte College.

Classified Staff Professional Development. When the District first created a Professional

Development Coordinator’s position for classified staff, the

search for a name for the classified program and subcommittee began. It wasn’t a Flex committee with Flex activities because Flexible Calendar is a Faculty thing. Or is it?

The program was initially called the Classified Activities program/committee. After the first year, and some

discussion, the coordinators realized that using the term Classified Flex is appropriate because classified employees need to ‘flex’’ their time away from their regular work to participate in Professional Development workshops.

Classified Flex Week was held during Spring Break in both 2011 and 2012. Two to three workshops a day were scheduled for each full day of Spring Break. Topics ranged from customer service skills and time management, to basic and advanced Word and Excel. The Classified Flex committee will continue to work to bring varied and useful workshops targeted for classified staff but open to everyone.

Third Thursdays- Professional Development is implementing a brand new schedule for regular workshops

3:00 to 4:30 pm on the third Thursday of every month beginning February 21, 2013.

Butte FYI- The current Butte FYI (For Your Information) program started out as a New Employee orientation covering campus information beneficial to all of the new faculty and staff living, shopping, and interacting in the college’s representative counties of Butte and Glenn. Butte FYI has been reorganized into a comprehensive program broken down into four half-day sessions held in the Center for Excellence. Participants have consistently related this program as a ‘great value’ and the District is asking all employees to attend

upon receiving an invitation. It is worthwhile way to become more intimately aware of all that Butte College has to offer, the way in which the college operates, and how the input and involvement from our employees can create more of a community environment rather than just the place we come to work.

Butte Classified Development Team: Magian Smith, David Danielson, Jack Lemley, Carol Stanley-Hall, Ruth Ann Hansen,

4CS Connections November 201210

News From Across the State

Dr. Brice W. Harris was unanimously selected as the 15th chancellor of the California Community Colleges by the system’s Board of Governors in September 2012. He will assume the position on Nov. 6, 2012.

Prior to being selected as the leader of the largest system of higher education in the nation, Harris served 16 years as chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District which is one of the largest multi-college districts in America serving 85,000 students each semester and covering more than 2,400 square miles of central California. In his former role, Harris provided leadership and guidance to four community colleges – American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake and Sacramento City. Harris was also the president of Fresno City College, and a faculty member and vice chancellor in the Kansas City, Mo., community college system.

Harris has spent much of his career working to improve student success and access at community colleges. While with Los Rios, Harris was instrumental in the passage of two local bond measures that helped modernize area campuses to ensure students receive a quality education in top-notch facilities. He also led the charge to expand access for thousands of valley students by overseeing the establishment of the district’s fourth college,

Folsom Lake, and developing educational centers in Davis, Elk Grove, Natomas, Placerville and West Sacramento.

The Sacramento City College Davis Center, developed under Harris, is the first community college extension to be located on a University of California campus. This was especially important to Harris because he believes that by providing transfer students the opportunity to experience campus life at UC Davis through access to clubs, speakers, events, and research facilities, they will be more likely to achieve their higher education goal of successfully transferring and integrating into the four-year university system.

Harris is renowned for his relationships within the community college system, the Sacramento community and the Legislature. He has served on a host of local, state and national boards and commissions. He is also a recognized leader on national education issues and currently serves as a board member of the American Council on Education (ACE) in Washington, D.C. He is past chairman of the board of the California Community College Chief Executive Officers, and a former commissioner of the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges. Harris currently serves as a member of the ACE National Commission on Student Attainment and previously chaired the Task Force on Leadership in California Community Colleges and the Community College Task Force on Global and International Education. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the American Association of Community Colleges and the California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force.

Harris is also active in the arts having served on the board of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, as board president of the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, and a board member of the Kansas City Museum.

Harris did his post-doctoral study at the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management, received his doctorate in education at Nova Southeastern University, his master’s in communication from the University of Arkansas, and his bachelor’s in communication from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

He was named “Sacramentan of the Year” for 2010 by the Sacramento Metro Chamber, and was recently honored as the “Humanitarian of the Year” by United Cerebral Palsy of Sacramento.

Harris resides in Fair Oaks, California with his wife Barbara who is an elementary educator and has three adult children also in the state.

New Chancellor for California Community Colleges

Photo and text reprinted in part from http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/ChancellorsOffice/ MeettheChancellor.aspx

I was not surprised that LRCCD recently retired Chancellor Harris moved over into the

position of Chancellor California Community Colleges. My

experience under Chancellor Harris’s leadership has been positive. I look forward to his continued support of

classified’s participation in the participatory governance process

and in staff development.—Monica Souza, 4CS Past President

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4CS Connections November 2012 11

News From Across The State

 

California Community Colleges Classified Senate (4CS)

Classified Leadership Institute (CLI)

Capitolizing

Shared Governance

to Ensure Student Success

June 13-15, 2013

Red Lion Woodlake Conference Center, Sacramento, California

Registration Online via CCLC www.ccleague.org - will open in early December To reserve rooms for additional nights prior to or after the conference, attendees should contact the Woodlake Inn directly and request the Community College League block. Price $89 per night plus tax/fee. Please contact the hotel directly for this supplemental reservation: (916) 922-2020 Fees ¥ On-Site: Double Occupancy $615 ¥ On-Site: Single Occupancy $710 Registration fees include: conference fee, room accommodations for 2 nights, and most meals. NEW for 2013: Awards and Recognition Dinner Guest and Local Events Options. Presenters: $30 discount! Application on-line at www.ccccs.org from early December Workshop Strands ¥ Campaign 2013 - Promoting Stronger Constituent Involvement: Team, Committee and Senate Building ¥ Diplomacy - Advocating through Collaboration: The Role of Classified Involvement in Governance and Leadership ¥ Hot Off the Press: Communicating and Networking Practices that Move the Campus Forward and Create Community ¥ Leveraging Resources: Effective Uses of Technology and Fundraising ¥ Democracy 101 - Leveling the Playing Field through Education: Improving Professional Development Opportunities for Classified Staff ¥ Accountability: Accreditation and Implementation of Student Success Task Force Recommendations Scholarships Requirements/Application on-line at www.ccccs.org from early December Early Bird Deadline for Registration Discount January 18, 2013

Sponsored by California Community Colleges Classified Senate (4CS)

Community College League of California (CCLC)

Save the Date

4CS Connections November 201212

Our history, our past, provides us direction, wisdom, and energy for our future. The California Community Colleges Classified Senate (4CS) was formed in 1993,

with the ratification of its first set of Bylaws and Constitution by classified staff members from around the state. In those days, most classified wanted “respect” for their work, their ideas, and many contribution being made to support student success. Although represented by many different unions across the state, the classified professional voice wanting to participate more fully in support of our students and colleges was barely heard. Most campus committees did not include a true classified voice, ideas from classified staff were “trickled-up”, and the value of classified participation was generally not even considered as existing or significant. Classified staff wanted not to “run” the colleges, but just to participate, to provide our working knowledge to important campus discussions, and to make a positive difference for our community-based institutions. That was our “agenda”; that was all that we wanted then and now. In contrast to the past, it is now widely recognized by districts with active Classified Senates that wide participation in college and district governance by classified staff is more than just providing staff with respect. Classified staff and classified senate participation in institutional governance benefits each college and district’s decision-making processes by seeking and incorporating the unique classified perspective and expertise.

In 1990 Laura U’Ren from Irvine Valley College and a visionary group of classified staff started meeting and developing a statewide-classified senate to coordinate, elevate, and develop the classified staff of the state. Other community college groups had already formed professional leadership organizations, so the models for our future were available to serve as a base from which to grow. Over the next three years as this “4CS Development Committee” diligently worked, three main areas of need became apparent for the proposed statewide senate. What was largely missing across the state for all classified staff included (1) Leadership and personal development training for classified staff, (2) increased and effective participation by classified in local governance processes, and (3) statewide coordination and representation for all classified staff as a single, unified, professional voice that could advocate for our students, staff and districts.

The first officers and board of 4CS was elected in 1994, not without some controversy. By that time, dedicated classified staff at many of the individual colleges had already successfully established individual classified senates. Most of these classified staff were supportive union members, but could visualize the strong advantages of having two collaborative organizations (a senate and a union) with complimentary purposes from which the classified staff could deliver their professional interests. The senates quickly became the “members” of the newly formed 4CS organization. According to our records, Chaffey College Classified Senate was the first real and recognized classified senate in the state. Prior to 1994 it appears Sacramento City, Sierra College, College of Alameda, Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, Laney, Los Medanos, Peralta, San Mateo County, Foothill, Hartnell, Mission, Ohlone, Columbia, Merced, San Joaquin

Delta, Fresno City, Reedley College, East Los Angeles, LA Southwest, Santa Monica, Moorpark, Ventura, Ventura County, Glendale, Pasadena City, San Diego City, and San Diego Miramar Classified Senates were all active and providing service to their colleges and districts. (My apologies if I missed anyone.)

Beginning in the early days, senates and 4CS have successfully worked together to increase the effectiveness of classified involvement in governance. For thirty (30) years, 4CS has worked closely with the Community College League of California to organize and offer the Classified Leadership Institute, a successful three day conference that includes leadership training, professional development, best practices for classified senates, and statewide networking for classified staff. 4CS has grown to effectively support senates, to provide regional and local workshops (4CS Speaker’s Bureau), to advocate for responsible and productive classified involvement, to develop the efficient use of technology for our students, to promote professional contributions by classified staff to our colleges and districts, to provide governance resources and assistance, to increase the sharing of ideas and best practices (4CS Listservs), to publish position papers, newsletters and other governance-related documents, to maintain an active Web site (www.ccccs.org) for news, current activities, governance resources, communication and networking, and post 4CS updates and contact information, and to promote a unified classified voice from our community colleges.

4CS is an example of what we advocate, where individuals can learn by participating, there is value in listening to all voices, and the future of our communities and the nation relies upon educated public. The community colleges are the most significant higher education asset we have to accomplish what is needed in our communities. 4CS is an extension of the individual strengths of our community colleges and their classified staff. Each college and district is unique, yet unified in an overall sense of purpose. Coming from those colleges, the board members of 4CS bring those experiences, values and passions into 4CS and its services. We are not only a professional organization supporting others, but have become a personal development and training institution for those who volunteer to serve within the organization. Each classified senate is unique having grown to meet the specific needs of the classified staff working at each college or district office. Across the state, the senates have similarities as well as differences in activities and accomplishments. Sharing information among us, allowing senates to be unique to meet local needs and assisting each other through 4CS has brought benefits to our students, colleges and staff.

Looking Back, Looking ForwardJim Wilson, 4CS President Emeritus

(Continued on page 15)

Jim Wilson

Sierra College Classified Retiree, 30 years

Sierra College Associate Biology Instructor

4CS Connections November 2012 13

I have worked for West Valley College since 1998, serving the learning and research needs of students in the library. In 2010, I moved to the President’s Office as the Administrative Specialist for Personnel, where I am able to work more directly

with faculty, administration and staff. This will be my ninth year on the Classified Sen-ate, my sixth as President. My interest in participatory governance grew from my involvement in SEIU, our classified staff bargaining unit, where I served as West Valley Vice President from 2001-2003 and later as Acting President of the Chapter during the “Furlough Years” 2003/2004. I realized during that time the importance of classified involvement in the decision making process at both the college and the district levels, and began to look for ways to become more actively involved in participatory governance. As Senate President, I represent the interests, needs and concerns of all West Valley classified staff at the highest levels of participatory governance, in matters that are not negotiated by our unions. I regularly attend College Council, District Council, and Board of Trustee meetings. My goal is to ensure that classified staff has a voice in matters that affect our work, our life, and our well-being, and to advance the college’s mission to support students along their pathways to reach transfer and career goals in an environment of academic excellence.

News From 4CSSenate Leader Spotlight:Laurel Kinley, West Valley College Classified Senate President

Laurel Kinley

Have YOUR Voice Heard-- Participate in the 4CS Legislative Efforts!by Monica Souza, 4CS Past President & Legislative Committee Member

Similar to the way you voiced your opinion on your recently casted vote on November 6th, you have the right to have your voice heard at our State Capitol. As a classified staff member you may be affiliated with an organization that

pays for a lobbyist to be your sounding board but not all of us do, and some may not represent your opinion. There are opportunities that do not take an official title, office, and/or organization to support classified staff and the community college mission, “…to empower the community colleges through leadership, advocacy and support.” It does not always take hours on a committee to provide input but sometimes it is as simple as filling out a quick survey. New legislative bills and a new budget for 2013-2014 will be considered and enacted throughout the spring. Find your opportunity to support and provide your valuable input. For a list of resources and their links go to the 4CS website.

Upcoming events: The League’s Annual Legislative Conference, January 27–28, 2013 in Sacramento – for more information please go to their website. 4CS Annual Classified Leadership Institute, June 13-15, 2013 in Sacramento – for more information please go to our website.

Monica Souza

(Continued on page 15)

4CS Connections November 201214

SAVE THE DATE

SAN DIEGO MIRAMAR COLLEGE10440 Black Mountain Road

San Diego, CA 92126

Hosted by the San Diego Miramar

Classfied Senate

Officers:

PresidentJoyce Allen

Vice PresidentTerrie Hubbard

TreasurerAnthony Novak

SecretaryShaunna Elmone

RSVP: Joyce Allen at jallen@sdccd.edu

SAVE THE DATE!!!Classified Senates

South RegionLeadership Retreat

January 11, 20139:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

The purpose of this retreat is to assist in the development of leadership skills in how to build your senate.

4CS Connections November 2012 15

Thank you to our 2012 Sponsors

4CS offers sincere appreciation and thanks to our supporting members and sponsors. Several

corporations, senates, colleges, districts and individuals have made financial contributions to

promote the activities and operations of 4CS.

Corporate SponsorsPlatinum Level

Sehi Computer Products, Inc.DeVry University

Gold Level Keenan and Associates

Foundation for California Community CollegesCollegeBuys.org

Inviting Light Photography

Silver Level Association of California Community

College Administrators. (ACCCA)

Bronze Level Strata Information Group

Individual SponsorsLeadership LevelDebi Miller Jim Wilson

Governance LevelMaureen Chenowith

Jose HuesoAngela Mahaney

Cari PlyleyMonica Souza

Classified LevelShelly CrabtreeDennis Gordon

Angela MahaneyKaren Smith

4CS Level Russell Hamilton, Teeje Jamison

Pat Murray, Rocio SandovalDebbie WeatherlyRichard Campbell

Supporting Members 2012-2013

Senate Level Butte College Classified Senate

MiraCosta Classified Senate

(Looking Back- continued from Page 12)

In addition to providing services to our members and colleges, 4CS has continued to internally refine and improve our own organization with the goal of better serving classified staff, students and educational communities.

We come together and meet four times a year, in addition to participating in community college conferences and meetings across the state as if feasible. Starting about twelve years ago, we took steps to become a state and federally recognized, non-profit, public benefit corporation, which has allowed us to continue to grow and become more effective. Like a tree growing from its roots, our three branches continue to grow and support our activities, promoting leadership potential, supporting our senate members, and being engaged in statewide governance related activities. We are financially supported by our senate members and by donations from sponsoring individuals and corporations. We are still an all-volunteer organization, led by an elected 4CS Board of Directors which represents all areas of the state. Since our beginnings, there has eight classified staff who have “stepped-up” and been elected to serve as President of 4CS and many others who have been elected to serve as officers and area representatives. Many of who continue to support and serve 4CS and our classified staff after their terms have been completed. Volunteers, who serve on the 4CS Board, have found it, personally, a worthwhile commitment and an excellent opportunity for leadership growth. As with other services, it is a remarkable opportunity to focus on the needs of others and to be a community advocate for the community colleges, classified staff, and the overall value of education for the people in our communities.

During these financially and socially difficult times, working collaboratively together, supporting each other as educationally related organizations, and working with unique missions to benefit our communities of which we serve, we must all ask ourselves what do we want for the future of our people, our state and the nation. What can we do to provide that future for the next generation? Although 4CS is an independent, public benefit, non-profit corporation, it is owned by its classified senates, which are a part of each college and district within which they belong. Classified Senates are college assets, not a separate body, and are responsible for effectively participating and assisting in the activities and planning of the districts. Serving on the Classified Senate, working on a governance committee, collaboratively contributing to improve the services of the college or district is the responsibility of each employee. Governance is the way we conduct our internal business and planning, and with other employees classified staff have a responsibility and duty to contribute, to recommend, and to assist our colleges and districts to become more effective, more responsive, and more valuable in providing educational services to the people who are our neighbors and community members and who need what we can uniquely provide.

4CS is dedicated to helping the classified staff be a professional part of governance, to contribute effectively toward the good for our institutions, and to assist the efforts of our colleagues to provide the best higher educational services possible to our communities and students. To that purpose, 4CS is always looking to be more effective, appreciative of assistance and support, and open to new and creative ideas, all which will help us better serve and assist our members, the Community College’s Classified Senates, in their efforts to promote overall student success and institutional improvements at each college and district.

4CS would like to see your name or company here. Go to www.ccccs.org/support/support.html

4CS Connections November 201216

June 2012

14-16 Classified Leadership Institute Crowne Plaza, Ventura, CA

16 4CS Annual Business Meeting, Ventura, CA

21 Consultation Council Meeting, Sacramento July9-10 Board of Governors’ Meeting, Sacramento19 Consultation Council Meeting, SacramentoAugust16 Consultation Council Meeting, SacramentoSeptember10-11 Board of Governors’ Meeting,

Butte Community College14-15 4CS Fall Meeting, Las Positas College 20 Consultation Council Meeting, SacramentoOctober18 Consultation Council Meeting, Sacramento

4CS Calendar of Activities and Deadlines 2012-2013

November13-14 Board of Governors’ Meeting, Sacramento

15 4CS Winter Meeting, Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore

15 Consultation Council Meeting, Sacramento15-17 CCLC Annual Covention and Partner

Conference, Los Angeles Millenium Biltmore

February 201327-28 CCLC Legislative Conference,

Sheraton Grand, Sacramento

March8-9 4CS Executive Board Meeting, TBA

June12* 4CS Executive Board Meeting & Training13-15* Classified Leadership Institute14* 4CS General Business Meeting Post-CLI Executive Board Meeting * All held at Red Lion Woodlake Inn, Sacramento

California Community Colleges Classified Senate2107 O Street Sacramento CA 95811

CONNECTIONS is published twice yearly, November and June, by the California Community College Classified Senate (4CS), 2017 “O” St., Sacramento, CA 95811.

Please submit your suggestions and/or articles no later than October 1st for the November issue and May 1st for the June issue to: Cari Plyley at cplyley@ccccs.org