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This information is provided by the candidate
- School District Collaboration
One of my plans is to work with the PCC Board, is to systematically increase outreach to the school districts that are inside the Pasadena Area Community College District (PACCD). My plan is to organize a committee named the J.E.C.C., Joint Educational Collegiate Committee. This committee will consist of a member from the PACCD Board of Trustees, and a representative from each of the union high school/unified school districts. The committee will work to benefit both PCC and the school districts. One of the ideas is to offer more classes on each of the high school campuses. These classes will be offered to PACCD students and high schools students. Not only do I want these classes to be offered on the high school campuses, but I then want organized so that the school districts give graduation credit to the students for taking these class. The student benefits by gaining both college and high school credit for the class. The school district also benefits, especially in cases where, if teachers are laid off or if classes are cut back, this is a way to maintain a broad array of courses. Later, if that student attends Pasadena City College, they will graduate at a faster pace.
In addition, I want to make sure that incoming PCC students are academically prepared for college level classes. A substantial number of recent high school graduates are placed in remedial classes. This includes students from both high and middle preforming districts. It is the school districts and the college districts job to make sure that the students are prepared for the college level classes before the students graduate from high school. PCC and the high schools need to work together to find a diagnostic for students early in their high school careers to identify any weaknesses, so the students can receive extra guidance and instruction while in high school. No student should be placed in remedial classes in their first semester of college. These classes are a waste of student's time and money. Worse yet, this can add a semester or more to the graduation time line. In addition, these remedial classes drain needed resources from already limited funds available at PCC. Once we reduce the number of remedial classes, PCC can focus on more college level courses to help students get their degree in a timely manner. Since many public and private colleges give English and Math placement tests, all students will benefit from this high school intervention, whether or not they eventually attend PCC. Employers appreciate new employees who have confidently mastered high school English and Math, so this long overdue effort will be a benefit for all students, PCC, and the larger community.
As a trustee, I will continue the current Boards financial approach to maintain a healthy reserve, but there are critical issues that need to be addressed that directly affect the quality of education students are receiving. From my experience at PCC, I understand that full-time professors are choosing to teach too many sections as a means of giving themselves a pay increase. That practice is robbing opportunities from the non-tenured, adjunct faculty. It is understandable that the economy is in a rough position, but we need to stay focused on our mandate to educate students. When professors deliberately overbook themselves, they often don't have adequate time to meet with students during office hours or to offer individual comments on graded papers. The quality of education is suffering due to a deliberately high student load per professor. In the meantime, the adjunct faculty is not getting the opportunity to teach, learn best practices, and prove themselves as the next generation of professors. It is already difficult to teach the normal four college classes; so let's reorganize with a focus on high quality education. As a trustee, I want the students and the college to thrive. This is critical to recruiting and retaining the best faculty possible over the long term.
As a trustee, one of my priorities is to make sure that the students receive the best quality education. Therefore, I would like to know exactly what the students want and/or need. As a result, I will hold monthly meetings with the students of PCC. These meetings will give students the chance to tell me whatever it is they want. The students could tell me whatever it is they need, express their frustration with a recent board decision, or just simply ask any question they want. It is crucial that a trustee hears everyone's opinions, whether its instructors, students, administrators, classified staff etc.
In addition to the students, the faculty's opinions and suggestions are just as important. As a trustee, I want the instructors and the administrative staff to work in a comfortable environment. I want everyone to understand that if they have a question, or a complaint, or a suggestion, that I am just one phone call, one email, one text away. A recent poll showed that 60% of workers would rather have a comfortable working environment, instead of a pay increase. This is a huge problem with a simple solution. Communication is half the battle, and it is a battle in which I plan to be victorious.
- Town Halls/Community Collaboration/Workshops
As a trustee, I would like to hold regular town hall events. I will have town hall events that broach all the subjects and issues of the District. Like I said previously, communication is my biggest goal. All questions, comments, or concerns need to be heard and considered. In addition, if there is a major issue that is to be discussed and/or decided on by the Board of Trustees, I will host a workshop to inform the public why the issue is on the agenda, discuss the pros/cons, and share my concerns and priorities. Although I expect to have researched the options in advance, I will be listening to comments from the community, and will then be better able to refine my thinking ahead of the meeting. Your input is important to me and I look forward to an active partnership to help PCC improve in a number of areas.
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