September meeting of the BOT: Nancy returns (to Reaganville), CSEA carps (about Edwards), for-profits get dinged (by Jemal)--as Glenn squirms (but feints with still more 9-11 piety)

 

[Be sure to check out Tere's Board Meeting Highlights]

     OK, it's 5:28, and the room's seats are relatively filled up here in the infamous Ronnie Reagan meeting room (that's the name, I kid you not).

     Interesting. No sign yet of the trustees, who are scheduled to start the open session at 5:30.

     It appears that the classified union is making its presence felt. I see lots of blue CSEA [classified union] shirts here. Earlier today, a source told me that the classified would come to speak at tonight's meeting, to complain about the IVC Director of Facilities and Maintenance, I think. Not sure. We'll see. [Yep.]

     It's 5:31 and still no trustees. A woman is collecting those yellow "speaker" slips. She seems to have maybe ten of them.

     5:34: a classified employee just came up to shake my hand. He said, "You ready for some juice?"

     Yes, I am.

     5:37: Again, the room is relatively full--mostly with blue-shirted CSEA members. The Faculty Association (union) made an effort to get their folks to tonight's meeting, too, but that seems to have produced a meager three or four, as usual.

     On my way in, I noticed that the rounded outside wall of the Ronnie Reagan room is all patched up. Maybe they're having it painted. Not sure. Looks like shit.
     5:41: I'm looking over tonight's agenda, and I see that Chancellor Poertner "will introduce IVC Live Sciences Building..." Introduce a building?
     5:46: some trustees just walked in and the room hushed right up. That might be, of course, because Nancy Padberg looked out into the room, scaring us half to death. Wow, she seems lots better than reports suggested. Marcia Milchiker has yet to arrive. Bill Jay is also absent thus far. Here comes Marcia, but still no Bill.

     5:48: The meeting begins.
     5:49: reading actions in closed session: Marcia: 6-0 voted faculty decision, change termination to resignation.
     Invocation by James Wright. "Our father who art in heaven...." Really.

IVC Director of Maintenance
John Edwards

PUBLIC COMMENTS:
     Jenna Schaeffer: Prof of English. Faculty advisor for Wall lit journal. Will be hearing about a student later. Invitation to board to reading from Wall. Oct. 16.
     Jan ?: CSEA matter. Matter of concern, impacts enrollment. "Unpredictable shift changes." No accommodation to employee schedules here. Workers never know when their shifts will be changed. We are vulnerable to our lives being changed upside down, 20 days notice. Trying to make grad school plans, then this happens and it's back to square one. "It's time to change." Many people here have second jobs, do community outreach. They experience much stress with these shift changes. Thank you Tod Burnett for your help on this. Refers to the President of US, Elizabeth Warren. "We need to make this gear shift."
     Cameron L: castodial dept., IVC. Dept meetng in July, Director told us he would discuss changes he deemed necessary. Day shift was being uncooperative, refused to use sign-in sheets. He said that was resolved. There had been complaints from neighbors about motor cycle noises in morning. Had to stop. Next: one hour lunch schedule, day shift only. Said would move day shift one hour forward. "To be fair" others shifted too.
     We tried to understand this "heavy handed distribution of punishment" as fair. It still remains a mystery to us. He asked grounds crew, et al., to return to regular hours. But swing shift employees have not been moved back. Is that fair? This is the third time I've been switched. (Applause.)

     Robert Flournoy: wants to go over statistics. 34% of people in OC can't meet their needs. 1 out of 4 children come from families in poverty. Etc. Discusses his organization's donations to help. Provides statistics. Honored by senate, etc. Has fought hunger. First toy drive at IVC, etc. Shows resolution he received from a Caifornia senator. My ability to make morning meetings have been affected by schedule change. "The lives of others do matter." These unpredictable schedule schedules do harm to employees and their families. Please support new concept of 21st century work week. (Applause.)
     Steven Woodard: works at ATEP as groundskeeper. My shift has been changed 8 different times during my time working with district. It's hard to have a life with these many changes. (Applause.)

     Scott Greene: classified employees, when they make a promise, they keep it. As local chapter prez, I got to know these people. They are dedicated to the students. They are contributing to student success. Respectfully requests: give us our own listening session, to hear our own issues. You need to know what is happening among employees who are proud and dedicated.... (Applause.)
     Margot Lovett: 18th year at Saddleback College. Chair of History Dept. A large department. Wants to speak to situation facing part-time faculty. As chair, I recruit part-timers. Enthusiastic, creative instructors. Committed to their students. I'm happy when I'm able to offer them a job. But I dread telling them how much they'll be paid for a 3 unit class. Between $3k and $3,200 per semester. I'm embarassed. Sometimes they just can't take the job. We pay far less than other districts. We should pay our part-time faculty what they're worth. (Applause)

COMMENDATIONS:

     Saddleback's Tod Burnett steps up. Presents Iman Moujtahed, who received a national award for her artwork for the WALL cover. Saddleback College literary journal. Digital photo manipulation, pictures of ancient Syria, etc. Gives her certificate. Lots of applause. She speaks. Very gracious. (Applause.)
     Chancellor Poertner comes up to "introduce" a building. The design was awarded gold status. Very good planning. Cooperative effort.
     Brandye D comes up to discuss how the project developed. Architect comes up. Dougherty and Dougherty LLP. All smiles. "It takes a really good client to make a really good building." Gracious remarks. Lead gold building certified (will be). Very exciting. Very resource efficient. A teachable moment. Also recognized by organizations: Pacific Coast Builders Conference. The best education building submitted this year. Priscilla Ross (who is teaching) and Kathy Schmeidler represent faculty input. We keep collecting certificates and awards, says Architecture Boy. Lots of smiles. (Applause.) Three plaques. (Photo op.) Very dog und pony.

BOARD REPORTS:
     Tim Jemal: participated in outreach meetings, local employers. Witnessed social entrepreneurship competition at Saddleback. Was a judge for phase 1. Thanks those responsible. Suggests should try to connect competition with what's happening at the colleges. He has concerns with our relationship with the for-profit colleges. Will have discussions in the next week or so. There's a place for the for-profits. But very different than our relationship with public institutions.... Excessive debt--a real, serious problems. Our polices vis-a-vis the for-profits need to be thought out further. (Background: Clueless Roquemore makes nice with the enemy.)
     Marcia Milchiker: thanks Wright for alerting her to event bringing Madame Curie impersonator to campus. Students were inspired: how to be a scientist. "Even I wanted to go back to being a scientist." Attended faculty benefit concert. Child prodigy played violin, etc. Beautiful music. OCCC leg task force: discussed bills. Issues concerning adult education: K-12 or community colleges? Please come to us with ideas.

Didn't say much;
glad to be back

     Nancy Padberg: it's great to be back. Gone for quite some time. Personal illness to deal with. Won't bore you with details. "Being here is so much better." Laughs. Excited about ccs offering a four-year degree. Press reports don't make clear how that will work, who will be involved.
     TJ Prendergast: no report whatsoever. Welcome back (to Nancy). We know it's been a journey.
     James Wright: welcomes Nancy also. Attended various events: IVC 9-11 commemoration. Extremely well done. Displays. First responders were there. Fiscal update: state is not as sound as should be. Attended football games. Visited College of the Canyons, was asked to be on a panel.
     Dave Lang: also attended 9-11 ceremony. Applauds Prez Roquemore and others for organizing this event. Occurred to me: disappointed by outside attendance, community members. We need to engage the public. Attended fiscal update along with Wright and Prendergast. Pleased by article in OC Reg about historic legislation signed by Gov. Brown, allowing CCs to award some bachelors degrees. Long overdue. Exciting. Looking forward to our district being involved. Welcomes Nancy back.
     Keefe Carillo: blah, blah, blah. 9-11 ceremony "very well done." (Boy is this kid full of himself.) Astonishing ceremony.

Chancellor's report: colleges are continuing to pursue "student success." E.g., a student equity plan. In the plan, each college analyzes data about students. Identifying groups the need particular assistance.
     On tonight's agenda, item 7.3 will provide an overview of requirements concerning student equity. These plans are over 100 pages each. Will bring to board, one at a time.

College Presidents:
     Roquemore: welcomes back Nancy. Life Sciences Building: Brandye D deserves much recognition. She worked magic, which is "real." Our two colleges have joined with UCI NSF grant, intended to bring more students into computer sciences and engineering. We got $1.8 million award, one of the largest. Thanks trustees for attending 9-11 commemoration. "My heart was broken" as well, owing to poor community presence. We really try to bring our community out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
     Burnett: mentions Social Entrepreneurship thingy. Very successful "for our first year." Thanks faculty. Mentions all the "plans" that we're working on. "We're really working hard here at Saddleback" on these many plans (Yeah, and there's a planning committee to plan more planning.) We're thrilled to have Nancy Padberg back. "Don't leave us again." (Laughter.)

     VP of Saddleback student government speaks. Excited to work with faculty on student success, blah blah blah. Blood drive was successful. Free movie night. Showing "Lucy," (that silly Scarlett J movie).
     IVC student government guy has no report.

     Moves on to consent calendar: anything to pull? Nothing. Ah, 5.9 pulled. Vote: unanimous.

     5.9: amended conflict of interest code, blah blah blah, unanimous vote in support

General action items:

More smiles

6.1 IVC first building project, Design-build
     Brandye D comes up and yammers about that as she has, many times.
     Trustee Jemal: are the architects aware of what we need/want? (Not sure if that's the question.) D: Program needs have not been finalized. She has a draft, will provide that.
     Unanimous approval.

6.2 pay to absent trustee (Nancy). Always unanimously approved. Sheesh.

6.3 Switch to HP computers. Greater function, less cost. Approved.

6.4 ATEP land exchange demo. Contract for 2 and a half mil. dollars. Approved.

6.5 AC. Personel actions.
     Trustee Wright: 11 equivalencies here. A pretty large number. "I'm just bringing that to your attention." (He's concerned.) Schmeidler speaks: it really does mean equivalency. Approved. (I'm getting to think that Kathy and Jim aren't pals.)

6.6 Classified personel actions
     Lang asks for clarification, something on p. 7, c1, c2. Bugay: blah blah blah. Approved unanimously

6.7 Resolution, classified employee layoffs - approved unanimously

REPORTS:

7.1 Annual Accreditation reports
     Lang: I found these reports interesting. Seems like they came to us in a "little different format" this year. Saddleback Report: decline in headcount in enrollment, 3-year period. Trend in distance education good, going up gradually. IVC report (not Saddleback): job placement data.
what's with Saddleback? Any response?
     Burnett: re enrollment. Yes, we've had a gradual decline. We expected this. Many reasons. Will be down again this year. Expect turn around next year. Kathy Werle and Craig Justice come to podium. Werle: job placement data. Previous employee dropped the ball. Didn't get service requested and paid for. Will have that data beginning of next year.

What? No
presentation?

     Lang: IVC report: enrollment increase, but decrease from two years ago. Fairly flat over 3 year period. Distance Education went downhill moderately. Job placement info: digital media, web authoring--anomalies. Re enrollment: 2012-2011 - surge in enrollment because of cutbacks in neighboring colleges. But we had to cut back a year later. We're now more in line with our budget. Blah blah blah. Re online instruction: Course offerings not same as section offerings. Don't have data here with me. Placement: fluctuates (though overall very good). The Accred report is a snapshot, one year period. Don't get a clear picture of trend line.
     Jemal: interesting data. I think a presentation would have been useful. [He's pretty understated in his disappointment.] Didn't know that the number of degrees offered higher at IVC than SC. Would have been helpful to have a presentation of all this. [Awkward pause.] Prendergast agrees. "It is what it is." Jemal looks at TJ. TJ is too tired to care. His eyes are dolls' eyes.

Moving on to

7.2 Staff response to public comments.
     Student elections (IVC) issue. (At a previous meeting, a student's mom showed up, and she was steamed that her little girl lost the IVC student government election because of alleged irregularities; something about counting votes or not counting them.) Today: Follow-up report. There was a written report. Roquemore says Dennis Gordon is here to answer any questions. [He has "temporarily" taken over Helen Locke's duties. Helen's fate seems in limbo. The trustees need to decide, evidently, and they haven't.]
     Jemal: please explain briefly, simply--the election process.
     Dennis: 5 day period, students key in student number. They vote. Filter out non-IVC students. That way we get clean votes. Both colleges do this. A process used for several years. Saddleback students prohibited from voting in IVC election.
     Jemal: any students with dual email addresses? (No.)
     Wright: is this issue over with? Dennis: Yes it is. The student returned to school, showed no interest in pursuing matter. She's been active in student government again. The issue is behind us.
     Student trustee: I think this was very professionally handled.
     Prendergast: is there any need to clean up language, clarify what was misconstrued? Can we prevent this from happening again?
     Dennis: gets into weeds.

7.3 Student Equity Plan Report

     Linda Fontanilla, VP of SS—with Juan Avalos [?] of Saddleback College. Glad to see Nancy return. Some highlights. Two documents that we will "bring forth" in the coming months. Student Equity Plan. Each college must develop such a plan. Focus on students not succeeding. A fine grain look, developing strategies.
     Blah blah blah.
     Juan: lots of "conversation" last few years about "student success." Got data. Student equity plans have emerged. Grounded in research. Thorough analysis of "disproportional impact." Before: narrative. Now, data, plan.
     These two are putting me into a coma. I think they need to use props or something. Maybe get some theater kids to act stuff out. I dunno. I'm dying here.
     Juan is still speaking, and I might have to go up there and knock him down. Please stop. Meanwhile, the trustees seem to have it worse than I do. Prendergast is thinking about something other than Juan and his "conversations." Sheesh.
     Good Lord, he's still going. What is he saying? Is anyone listening? Please bring a dog or pony next time.  (7:09: he's still going strong. His words mean nothing. Most in room politely conscious.)
     Good Lord, he's still yammering. How can anyone say something so simple with so many words. And goofy ones too. Shut up, shut up, shut up.
     Now he's thanking IVC. Please stop. OK, Juan seems nice, but he's a killer. I think he just stopped!
     Fontanilla insists on saying more (good Lord!). Blah blah blah. Areas where we can spend money. Outreach, blah blah blah. Good Lord, she's killing me with this stuff.
     Milchiker: Did this come out of student success act? What are the subgroups? Is the $1 million we're receiving for both colleges?
     Juan: yes, the money is for the district as a whole. Groups? Veterans, foster youth, CalWorks underrepresented populations, gender, age, economic disadvantage, disabilities. These are the core groups, doing analysis. Not sure if all this came out of the act, but I think the answer is yes. We've got to report on student equity as part of Success.
     Fontanilla: she says something else, good Lord. Her slacks are striped. Her mouth is still moving.
     Jemal: do we know what % of students are NOT succeeding? We must have some idea.
     Fontanilla: she starts talking about "cohorts" followed since 2007. These subgroups are coming in small numbers. E.g., hispanic males. But only 30 students. Yes, disproportional impact, but small numbers: 3, 4, etc. Juan: SC is diving into data now. Basic Skills area: that's were there's disproportionality.

Plasticity hisself

5.8: retroactively Prendergast abstains on this item, already voted upon. Jemal looks doubtful. They revote. 5 yes, 1 abstention.

7.4 SC and IVC speakers. No comments.

7.5 Basid aid
7.6 Facilities plan...
7.7....
7.8.....

Reports from administration and governance groups

     Faculty union: problems with pay structure, etc. Low compensation for department chairs. Faculty are declining to serve. Many tasks will not be done. That's accreditation.

     I think the Saddleback Faculty Senate gal spoke strongly in support of CSEA and classified, staff workers. They're important to us and we're behind them. Blah blah blah
     --I'm outa here.

Sculptors battle [Saddleback] college over workspace (OC Reg)

Friday afternoon

This is a floor.

This is a drinking fountain once again.

Monday's BOT meeting: a snoozefest?

     Today, as usual, Chancellor Gary Poertner sent the district community a link to the agenda of the next board meeting, which will be held on Monday (Sept. 29).
     It looks like a real snoozefest.
     The agenda for the closed session includes an item re “Public Employee Discipline, Dismissal, Release,” two “matters.”
     For the open session, which starts at 5:30—that's unusual—there are no discussion items. The latter often take up lots of the trustees' time.
     Under “Academic personnel actions,” I noticed this bit about “reorganization”:

     I noticed, too, that a recent hire at IVC got her advanced degree, a doctorate, from Argosy in Santa Ana.
     Sheesh. (At least her BA is from a real college.)
     Under "reports," there’s this: “Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College: Annual Accreditation Reports"
     Another report concerns a complaint about the ASIVC student elections in April. Looks pretty messy, convoluted.

IVC's "banned books" event is a blazing success

Virginia Shank (and Lisa Alvarez) at today's event

It attracted wandering studentry

Was a sunny day

The "banned books" event, which occurred at 3:00 p.m. today in front of the IVC Library, went off without a hitch—or bonfire. Faculty, students, and others happily took turns reading from past and present "banned" writings by the likes of Ray Bradbury (a local favorite), Kurt Vonegut, Alan Ginsberg, Alice Walker, and many others.

Above: one of our recent English hires reads as Lisa views her snazzy "Freadom" sign

 Virginia Shank and Lisa Alvarez, both of the English Department and School of Humanities, were the event's presenters. (The event was "presented" by the English Dept. and Library Services but was "sponsored" by ASIVC.) Mostly, Virginia and Lisa had people come up and read—from scraps of paper grabbed at random from two "banned" bags.

Virginia and Lisa having fun

The event was well attended and enjoyed the often ardent participation of students, who seemed to come alive as they read the words of some of their favorite authors.

IVC President, Glenn Roquemore, who supported the event, participated in the readings, wearing, as did all participants, an old-school fireman's helmet emblazoned with "451"—an allusion to the famous Ray Bradbury novel, which became a celebrated film (Francois Truffaut). (The helmet is owned by Lisa, whose father spent 45 years in the LA Fire Department.)
Above: observe two Ray Bradbury posters, signed by Ray, provided by IVC's own Frank Pangborn, who also participated

Our own Diane Oaks also read from a banned work

It was a spectacle, it was

Our good friend Melanie, a reading instructor, intoned pleasantly into a microphone
atop the "soap box," a prop crafted by Lisa,
who harbors many talents beyond writing and teaching and rebelling

Lots of students hung around, taking in the artistic and free-speech loving vibe.

Students, examining some of the books on display.

I heard several students, and others, expressing appreciation 

for the event. No doubt we'll do it again next year.

Bradbury (1920-2012) visited IVC in 2009. See Bradbury event at IVC.

Glenn and Frank sharing a laugh

Lisa speaking with one of the students who went out of his 

way to express appreciation for the event

More students happily soakin' up the literary vibe

Students seemed really to enjoy the displays

Happy campers in the sun

Uh-oh!

Rapt attention

Excitement just outside the library

IVC: proudly sporting the "lout" brand

     OUR PEEVISH POST about administration’s curious plan to contact 500 Irvine businesses/entities in one day (Oct. 1)—to deliver the message that IVC is their community college (i.e., OCC isn’t)—hit a nerve, I guess. At any rate, it attracted lots of comments, some of them passionate and even intelligent.
     Contrary to some of our critics, our post did not object to “outreach” and “marketing” per se; rather, it objected to the “how”—the wielding of the same tired pamphlets and, most particularly, of “cookie tins.”
     Cookie tins from a college!
     As we, and many others, have complained over the years (going back at least to 1997), administration has increasingly “branded” the college as (1) a haven for kiddies (“Astounding Inventions,” “Lego League”), (2) a resource for fat-headed patriotism (the eternal-inevitable, flag-waving 9-11 ceremonies; lurid military recruiter visitations), and (3) a shameless panderer to knuckle-head kids (those grease-soaked and heavily ballooned pander fests known as “Senior days”).
     We can now add to that: (4) an embracer/partner of notorious student- and taxpayer-exploiting businesses (U of Phoenix/IVC MOU) and, finally, (5) a source of freakin' cookies.

Anonymous – 9:32 AM, September 20, 2014
     IVC is so wonderful to work at in so many ways. But, damn if it doesn't get weird as hell sometimes... [C]ookies and IVC go together like milk and corporate cronyism

Anonymous -- 9:39 PM, September 20, 2014

     When this was announced at a meeting I was at, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't meet anyone's eyes. I can't imagine how this gimmick got this far. We are not the girl scouts.

IVC: the corrupt-for-profits loving college (Memo-ing with the enemy)

Anonymous -- 9:30 AM, September 21, 2014

     What is this about? I don't understand. 


Reply: Roy Bauer -- 10:39 AM, September 21, 2014 


     Administration seeks to combat poaching of our service area by the likes of OCC, and to make our presence known, by assembling teams, on Oct. 1, that will descend upon 500 local "businesses" (that's the word [the VP of SS] used at the meeting I attended; no doubt the category is broader than that) with a tin of cookies and some pamphlets. Many of us cringed--once again--when we heard about the cookies. That's what we've come to expect from IVC administration: IVC=cookies. Maybe punch, too.


Anonymous -- 9:38 AM, September 21, 2014

     Stop thinking like an academic for a moment and think of our college as a business (yes, we are in the business of educating students) that provides educational and training opportunities to our local communities. Many areas (especially Tustin and Irvine) have grown significantly over the years with many new residents and businesses. This Outreach effort is to introduce IVC and the things we offer to the local community. In private industry it is called "marketing" and hopefully the outreach efforts will engage the local community. I think that having community support from individuals and business would be great for the college. What would be the downside to giving out a tin of cookies and a information about our college to people who could benefit from our services?
Who knows, some of them could also offer benefits to our students (internships, jobs, scholarships, grants, etc.) time to "think outside the box" and reach out to our local communities.


IVC: the Lego college

Roy Bauer -- 10:27 AM, September 21, 2014

     9:38, you're just not listening. Obviously, we're not against "outreach" and "marketing" per se. We're concerned that, time and time again, the choices our college makes suggest that we're more a high school than a college. If IVC had a strong reputation in the community as a college with college values, then a tin of cookies wouldn't be so bad. Given that, for many in the community, IVC means "Astounding" kiddie inventions and pretty blue balloons, it's awful. It's people like you that have us in a "box" that we need to get out of. —The sub-collegiate, anti-intellectual gradeschool box.


Anonymous -- 10:52 AM, September 21, 2014

     The way for IVC to gain a strong reputation in the community is by reaching out and informing the community about what we offer. The concept of a small token or gift (in this case a tin of cookies) is a way of saying "hello" and introducing IVC to the community. This is not a new marketing concept and is actually a proven method that was instituted many years ago by Welcome Wagon and other community and civic organizations.


Reply: Roy Bauer -- 3:49 PM, September 21, 2014 

     I'd rather leave 'em a burning sack of shit.


Reply
: Anonymous -- 4:12 PM, September 21, 2014 


     Roy, your response at 3:49 pm is probably why you were not selected to lead the outreach effort. If you truly care about our students (and I believe you do) then I think any campus outreach that can provide them support or opportunities should be embraced. Even if we don't agree with the methodology, the fact that efforts are being made by many people on campus to engage the local community should be embraced.


Roy Bauer -- 5:41 PM, September 21, 2014

     4:12, you are humorless, obviously. 


Anonymous -- 7:17 PM, September 21, 2014

     Actually, I have a sense of humor and enjoy using sarcasm to make a point. It has been fun jousting!

Anonymous -- 12:18 AM, September 22, 2014

     I think a 3 to 5 minute DVD will work a lot better with those cookies.

Anonymous -- 7:15 AM, September 22, 2014

     Relationships (business and personal) are best developed in person, not via a DVD. Hasn't anyone on this campus taken a course in business or personal development?

Anonymous -- 7:29 AM, September 22, 2014

     Hasn't anyone on this campus seen what happens when a school IS run like a business? You know, say, like all the for-profits under investigation for screwing over everyone, including taxpayers? Schools are not businesses. And like Roy said, if it was only the cookies. But it's not. IVC lacks an intellectual rigor outside the classroom that is a part of many other campuses, including other community colleges.

IVC: the "Kindergarten to 8th grade" college

Anonymous -- 8:50 AM, September 22, 2014

     Agreed. IVC is NOT a business. It is a public institution of higher learning held by the people of California to serve their interests. The primary purpose of IVC is to deliver a college education. This education is delivered by academics. To imply that Roy, as an academic, does not have a valid opinion on this topic because he is an academic is an expression of the very problem his comments were addressing. Our college administration is filled with people who do not seem to be academics and do not seem to be concerned with, nor to appreciate, the faculty whose knowledge, experience, education, and hard work creates and delivers the knowledge that is at the core of the college's mission. The proliferation of buzz words and gimmicks, the design of faculty offices without (adequate) book shelves, the claims that campus events (e.g., the recent 9/11 commemoration) are educational while not involving faculty at all, the marginalizing of faculty from key educational decisions, are a symptom of the degree to which administrators fail to appreciate the differences between college and high school, private enterprise and public institution, and quality and gimmick.

Anonymous -- 1:25 PM, September 22, 2014

     Gee, love that professionalism, Roy. I guess only educationists like you are allowed to make jokes and drop the F-bomb. Anyone else, and it wouldn't be politically correct.

Reply: Roy Bauer -- 3:31 PM, September 22, 2014
 

     Wielding that finely-honed "sarcasm," are we? OK, I'll bite. Which "joke" did I fail to tolerate? 

     Re my use of the "F-bomb": I would have thought everyone would be impressed by my stunning reserve, given the obnoxious idiocy routinely exhibited by some critics of this blog.

Anonymous -- 1:56 PM, September 22, 2014

     Marketing and outreach are only one small part of enrollment management. The problem is that there's so much hand-wringing about a drop in enrollment that is being seen by colleges throughout the nation. Rather than take it in stride, we freak out and take desperate measures. Our problem isn't that people don't know about us, so cookie tins won't solve anything. They certainly won't increase enrollment. 

OCC has a reputation as being "fun." They also have tens of years of history on IVC. Cookie tins won't change that.

 How about we look at what we offer students, and meet demand? But no, that would take decision making, which nobody wants to do.

 So let's pass out cookies. That'll solve everything. 

How lame.

Anonymous -- 4:21 PM, September 22, 2014

     Guys are like fish, attracted to shiney, reflective, sexy things. Make colorful, shiney pamphlets with hot, young, sexy chicks on them (like OCC does), those chicks in swimsuits at the beach, etc... and skip the extra expense of cookies. To attract ladies, show pictures of a new shoe or jewelery design, or drama program being offered. There ya go!

Reply: Roy Bauer -- 4:57 PM, September 22, 2014
 

     First, I'm not sure any self-respecting college would want the crowd that such approaches would attract. Second, bedazzlement by shiny things and new shoes attracts both sexes, Captain Retro. Maybe you should consider a move to Costa Mesa, dude.

Astounding invention: Swiss Army helmet

Anonymous -- 5:54 PM, September 22, 2014

     I'd rather IVC become known as a kick-ass college for pre-engineering or computer science or high-quality general education transfer programs or (insert quality academic program here) and then market that. Standout quality education will sell itself.

 Oh, and just a thought: Is the cost of the cookies considered a gift of public funds?

Reply: Roy Bauer -- 6:10 PM, September 22, 2014
 

     I think that various female denizens of the college are being approached to volunteer to bake the cookies. That's what a female professor likes to hear: can you bake some cookies for us, dear?

Anonymous -- 6:35 PM, September 22, 2014

     We are not being asked to bake but we are being asked to distribute cookies - one step away from the kitchen. I think this may be well-intended but is misguided and poorly considered not only in terms of audience but - well, I can't imagine doing this kind of thing. I really can't. And I am all for pitching in but this just seems half-baked (sorry!).

Anonymous -- 7:44 PM, September 22, 2014

     Wow, what a small-minded group of nagging nabobs of negativism. Just sit in your little cubicles (without adequate bookshelves) and whine while the world passes you by. OK, so you are not willing to help because you don't like the idea, or you think it's misguided or whatever.
Let those who are willing and able to do something that might help our students go out and do it.

Reply: Roy Bauer -- 8:45 PM, September 22, 2014
 

     What "world" must one live in to recycle old Spiro Agnew quotes? Corrupt hypocrite world? Greek-American bribery world? Shit-for-brains world?

Anonymous -- 7:52 PM, September 22, 2014

     Dear 6:35 pm, I am happy to see that you have been elected to speak for the campus. Your sexist comment about distributing cookies is one step away from the kitchen and your thorough analysis as to why you know that the plan is misguided and poorly considered shows how out of touch you really are. Thanks for not going out to the community and embarrassing the rest of us by displaying your small mindedness.

Reply: Roy Bauer -- 8:47 PM, September 22, 2014 


     7:52, I must have missed something. What is "sexist" about 6:35's comment?

Anonymous -- 8:27 PM, September 22, 2014

     Dear 7:44 and 7:52,

 You are so right. Cookies are exactly what a university is about. And a bunch of silly reps from the college going to local businesses and giving out tins of cookies is going to get our students to transfer to UCLA and Harvard and anywhere they want to go. Or, they'll get top paying jobs for a few snickerdoodles. I'll just go back to my cubicle and waste my time teaching critical thinking skills. Apparently, it is a waste of time. Anyone who seems to have the ability to analyze and think won't get a job in admin.

A free “In and Out” Burger lunch and T-shirt; games, raffles, fun and excitement

Anonymous -- 7:44 AM, September 23, 2014

     I think it is possible to agree to disagree about this one except that it also represents another top-down scheme that doesn't ask for faculty buy-in but expects or demands it after the fact. If the Business school is so hot on this one, let them spend their weekend passing out cookies. I agree that we have lots to brag about but I find this gimmick a bit of a poor fit. We are not the Welcome Wagon or Chamber of Commerce or the Girl Scouts. We're a college. There is a difference.

Anonymous -- 7:48 AM, September 23, 2014

     We used to have a presence at the local community fairs and events (e.g. Tustin Tiller Days) where we would hand out fliers about our programs and upcoming events and talk to people. And gosh, this is going way back, even distribute copies of the magazine "The Ear." This was a nice way of doing outreach and meeting members of the community -and being seen as PART of the community, as the COLLEGE part of the community.

IVC's future "Sciences and Technologies Center"

The Gabriella Assembly District campaign: update

     Our own Wendy Gabriella, who is running for the 73rd Assembly District, sends this update:

     Despite the challenges presented by my opponent, our September 14^th fundraiser at Jacks in Dana Point was a tremendous success. Many thanks to AD 73 delegates and Co-Sponsors Rosemarie Allaire and Steve Stewart who pulled everything together after the last minute cancellation [perpetrated by Wendy’s opponent].… 

     My opponent, Bill Brough, is in foreclosure on his home. As of July 21^st, he owes over $44,689.82 in back mortgage payments, which raises the obvious question: “If Mr. Brough can’t manage his personal finances, how can voters expect him to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars in Sacramento?” You can read more here: http://www.theliberaloc.com/2014/09/16/ad-73-candidate-bill-brough-facing-foreclosure/      Team Gabriella is working diligently walking precincts every weekend and phone banking. Absentee ballots will arrive in less than two weeks and we need your help. If you can volunteer for even a few hours, it will make a difference. Lawn signs are also available. Please contact our Campaign Coordinator, Nicole Mok, at nbmok.321@gmail.com. 

     Your continued contributions will help get this information out to voters and get the right candidate to Sacramento!  You can donate securely and quickly online at www.wendygabriella.com or checks may be mailed to my treasurer at 739 South Walnut Ave, Brea CA 92821.  

In Solidarity, 

Wendy Gabriella 

P.S. Let’s get the word out: Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-Gabriella and share with your friends.