NSCC Presidential Search

“North is serving its communities well and can look forward to a bright future . . . The presidential position is a critical one and I am committed to finding the best candidate . . . I am also committed to a selection process that is inclusive, collaborative and involves all the major constituencies . . . I am confident that, working together, we will find an outstanding president for North Seattle Community College.”

-Chancellor Jill Wakefield, Oct 20, 2009

Search CommitteeToni Bajado Jack Bautsch (chair) David Bittenbender Betsy Campbell

Chris Chinn Rebecca Cory Stan Diddams Rodolfo Franco

Barbara Hack Paul Kurose Peter Lortz Lydia Minatoya

Aaron Newton Trish Root Jo Scozzafava Sharon Simes

Dan Tarker

Presidential Search TimelineDecember 18, 2009 - Position announcedJanuary 25, 2010 - Application rating beginsFebruary 12 - Deadline for first considerationFebruary 19 - Semi-finalists selected by committee March 8-19 - Semi-final candidate interviewsMarch 24 - Search committee recommendations to chancellorApril 19 to completion - Finalist interviews and campus visitsMay 10 - Chancellor announces successful candidateJuly 1 - Successful candidate begins

Candidate site: “Presidential Search Launched” from NSCC homepage

NSCC site: https://searchforpresident.northseattle.edu/

Advertising•The Chronicle of Higher Education, both print and online editions•HigherEdJobs.com, online edition•Colors Northwest, online edition•Community College Times, online edition•Diverse Issues in Higher Education, online edition•Women in Higher Education, online edition•The Seattle Times, online edition•Direct mailing to all CC’s nationwide•Direct mailing to all graduate programs in education nationwide•Evergreen and Antioch per website suggestion•District and campus website

Open meeting of Search Committee: Friday, Jan 22, North Star• 1:30 – Overview and Q&A about the process• 2:00 – Search Committee meeting open to observers• 3:10 – Opportunity for observer comments/questions

Thank you, AlanWe are grateful for your wise,

caring, steady leadership.

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

NSCC Focus Groups: November 2-13, 2009 Structure•24 employee groups (by employee type)•20 student groups•One-hour each•Morning, afternoon, evening groups•On-line option•10 outside facilitators; one internal facilitator for student groups

Focus• Employees: four concerns voiced in previous climate surveys• Students: six values in strategic plan (caring, collaboration, diversity, innovation, integrity, quality)

•Today: employee groups only; student groups at a later date

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Employee Focus Group Highlights• 157 of 492 employees participated in-person or on-line

•Recurring concerns• Mistrust of leadership; an atmosphere of secrecy• Input is ignored• Anger about decisions made behind closed doors• Committee structure is unclear• Committees used to “smokescreen” decisions already made• Professional development is lacking for classified employees• Although better, facilities still need lots of improvements

44/318 faculty 75/117 classified 33/57 exempt 5 unknown

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Outcomes for this meeting• Share the results—the recurring themes• Share some initial ideas for improving things as discussed in a Dec 15, 2009 joint meeting of

•Strategic Planning Committee &•President’s Advisory Group

• Engage you in further discussion about how to improve things• Begin to build trust and a collaborative problem-solving effort

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Concerns about planning, decision-making and budgeting processes

• E-mail and other efforts to communicate about these processes have been largely ineffective• Planning retreats conflict with classes and other work responsibilities• Committee roles are vague and arbitrary• Committees used to “smokescreen” decisions already made• Leadership does not listen• Hierarchical structure does not promote interaction or inclusiveness• There are no clear directions for the college

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Concerns about employee influence on decision-making

• Input has been ignored, showing lack of respect•There are insiders and outsiders•There is an atmosphere of secrecy and distrust•Decisions are already made; seeking input is not genuine•There is no shared governance•Workload precludes giving input when quick turn-around is required

The Budget Planning Team’s website in Spring 2009 invited input.

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Concerns about support for professional development

• Faculty and exempt feel well-supported•Classified staff don’t feel supported

•By the number/breadth of offerings•By their supervisors to pursue professional development

•Classified staff don’t see pathways for advancement•General lack of understanding of the Professional Development Framework and what is offered within each frame

Faculty see the TLC and eLearning office as invaluable resources.Student Leadership speaker series is a wonderful contribution.

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Concerns about facilities and security

• General cleanliness is poor (“dingy”); some restrooms are unbearable (e.g. in the library)•Improved classrooms are appreciated, but many are “awful” •Similarly, lounge areas and furniture are “awful”•Outdoor lighting appreciated, but several areas still too dark•Recurring problems: heating variations, icy walkways, overflowing trash cans•Work order response is slow•Security drills appreciated but are inadequate

IT services “one stop” services effective and much appreciated.Facilities and grounds crews work hard but are seriously understaffed.

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Ideas for improvements

• Communication•Organize information in one place•Limit campus-wide e-mails: fewer, shorter, focused•Really listen; when decision are made, communicate the decision and the rationale•Visit the “front lines” more and listen to employees there

• Decision-making•Clarify the roles of committees•Use web for input/dialogue about issues•Fewer words, fewer meetings, more action, greater accountability

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Ideas for improvements

• Professional Development•Publicize all PD opportunities/resources in one central place•Promote understanding of the PD Framework•Develop a year-long theme for PD and structure offerings around it for all employee groups

• Facilities and security• Live sustainability beyond giving it lip-service•Tighten security drills•Clean restrooms and classrooms better/more often•Provide more support for facilities/grounds crews

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) President’s Advisory Group (PAG)

Nancy AdelsonSelam Ainalem (student)Jack BautschDenise BrannanJeanie BurgdorfCesily CrowserJason FrancoisOrestes MonterecyMarci MyerDawson NicholsJo ScozzafavaHeidi StuberCarol SummersFleetwood Wilson

Mari Acob-NashJack BautschDavid BittenbenderJeff CaldwellLori CasileBruce KieserSteve MillerMarci MyerMary Ellen O’KeeffeCindy RoseHeidi StuberCarol SummersAlan WardMarci Wing

These two groups met in a joint meeting on Dec 15, 2009 to review employee focus group results and to begin to discuss ideas to address the concerns.

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Ideas from joint SPC-PAG meeting committees, communication, decision-making

• Create a “common [web] portal” where information on all committees can be found or accessed

• Purpose, membership, meeting schedule, minutes, major initiatives, annual accomplishments, etc.• Provide opportunity for web-based dialogue (e.g. blog, wiki, forum discussion, etc.)•Begin with five standing committees (Budget Planning Team, College Council, Diversity Advisory, Strategic Planning, Sustainability); add others as model is developed/refined

•Use campus-wide communication tools differently•“Everyone North” e-mails: fewer, shorter, focused, link to detail elsewhere•Regularly use Inside North for longer and more substantive items

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Questions or Observations?

What Ideas Do You Have?•We would like to hear your ideas for addressing the concerns from the focus groups•Please join one of five groups to talk about

•Planning, budgeting, decision-making•Employee influence on decision-making•Professional development•Facilities, grounds, security•Other

• For 15-30 minutes, share ideas for addressing the concerns•Members of the Strategic Planning Committee will facilitate and take notes•Input from today (and any follow-up ideas you send the facilitators) will be brought to the February 17 joint meeting of PAG and SPC where more action plans will be developed.

Focus Groups DiscussionNSCC Employee Focus Groups, Nov 2009

Thank you