From Cradle to Career in Clinton County

Last week was a big week for SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. On Monday, December 5, she was at the White House sharing her insights on the future of American Higher Education with the President of the United States and the Secretary of Education. Two days later, she was here at Clinton Community College helping us to launch the first rural Strive partnership in the nation.

Strive is an organization that was co-founded by Chancellor Zimpher when she was President of the University of Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, Strive has already helped to increase student test scores and graduation rates. More recently, as head of the nation's largest comprehensive system of higher education, Chancellor Zimpher has used her influence to help expand Strive to a national network of community partnerships. The Strive Network exists to help each member community to build an infrastructure that promotes student success at all levels of education, from cradle to career. Until last week, all of the Strive partnerships were in urban centers like Cincinnati, Portland, Denver and Detroit. Last week, with Chancellor Zimpher's help, Clinton County, New York, announced that it is the first rural community in the nation to sign onto the Strive Network.

Strive recognizes that educational attainment and success are influenced at every level of the education pipeline. What happens in early childhood determines how well prepared students are for kindergarten. What happens in kindergarten has a great deal to do with how students learn to read, which in turn influences how students read to learn in higher grades. All of these factors accumulate to influence the likelihood of success in college and beyond. The sad fact is that, in New York State, for every 100 eighth graders, only 19 go on to earn a bachelor's degree in six years or an associate's degree in three years after they graduate high school. The numbers here in Clinton County are better, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

The Strive approach to this work is based on four pillars: (1) shared community vision, (2) evidence-based decision making, (3) collaborative action, and (4) investment and sustainability. Clinton County is well on its way to erecting the first pillar. More than a year ago, a group of top-level leaders from a host of community organizations formed the Clinton County Workforce Development Roundtable. The CEOs of the Chamber of Commerce, The Development Corporation, the Workforce Investment Board, SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College, Champlain Valley Education Services and local businesses and schools began meeting to develop a vision for increased and sustainable educational attainment in our region. The presence of the business community is evidence that this work is not only important to educational leaders like me, but it is also important to business leaders and economic developers who are building a sustainable economy and a high quality of life for the people of our region.

Now, with the support of the Strive Network, we are ready to turn our attention to the other Strive pillars as we engage in evidence-based decision-making, as we take collaborative action, and as we work toward sustainable solutions. The point is that the tasks at hand are not as simple as they may at first seem, and therefore, no single person or organization can bring about the systemic change that is required. But working collaboratively, in accordance with the Strive approach, our chances of long-range success are greatly enhanced. I'm proud to be a co-founder of the Clinton County Workforce Development Roundtable, and I am especially proud that we have now become the first rural group in the nation to launch a Strive initiative.

That's what I think. Please tell me what you think by sending an e-mail to presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

Christmas Card Reminds Me Why I Became a Dean

Last week I received a Christmas card from a man who used to be my boss. But he was more than my boss; in a way, he was one of my mentors. Many years ago, he gave me an important piece of advice that changed my life.

At the time, I was working as a full-time faculty member at another community college. After years of hard work and dedication, I had just been promoted to full professor. I was tenured, my salary had gone up with the promotion, and I loved my job. Life was good.

My boss was the Vice President of the college. He walked into my office one day and explained that there was a reorganization going on and that the college needed a new dean -- one with some institutional history. He asked me if I was interested in the job. I surely was, but I also had lots of reasons to think about the offer before I said yes.

The dean's job was a 12-month job with a fixed salary, and the professor's job was a 10-month job that allowed me to earn additional compensation by teaching summers and evenings. I did the math, and I realized that I would actually have to take a slight pay cut, work harder and probably give up a lot of my free time if I said yes. Being an open and direct guy, I pointed this out to my boss. It was then that he gave me this life-changing piece of advice.

Based on his many years in higher education administration, my boss said, "Don't do this job for the money; your hourly rate of pay will surely disappoint you. Don't do it for thanks and praise; there will be as many people who hate you as love you, and sometimes there will be more." He went on to say, "Do this job if, at the end of a long hard day, you can get into your car, all by yourself, drive home, and take satisfaction knowing that you did something good, made somebody's life better, or helped to advance the mission of the college. If you find that type of satisfaction rewarding, this is the job for you."

By now, you probably have guessed the end of the story. I took the pay cut, and became the Dean of Business and Technology. I worked harder and longer, I had shorter vacations, but I drove home on many evenings with the satisfaction of knowing that I made a difference on a fairly big scale. Eventually, I became a vice president and a president. My satisfaction with my career in higher education administration has lasted for many years.

It was great to hear from my old boss, my mentor, and it was great to be reminded why I became a dean. I sometimes wonder if he ever thinks back on the private conversation that he had with me that day, and if he has that quiet feeling of satisfaction when he sits down to write his Christmas cards. I bet he does.

That's what I think. Please let me know what you think by sending me an e-mail at presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

I'd Rather Be Busy than Bored

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: "I'd rather be busy than bored." So far, the month of November has not disappointed.

Anyone who's been on a college campus knows that academic life tends to heat up at this time of year. Thanksgiving is staring students and faculty right in the eye. Term papers and final exams aren't far behind. The start of academic advising and registration for Winter and Spring only adds to the excitement.

But what about the administration? The people who work most closely with me don't have to grade term papers or give final exams, but they and I have been busy, nonetheless. Here's a quick rundown of some of the exciting things that we've been doing over the past two weeks to accomplish our Mission:

• As part of our strategic agenda on "Infrastructure," our Board of Trustees officially adopted an updated Facilities Master Plan.
  
  
• As part of the Facilities Master Plan, we secured the approval of the Clinton County Legislature to replace the antiquated heating plant in The Moore Academic and Administration Building.
  
  
• Also as part of our Facilities Master Plan, the co-chairs of The Clearly Clinton Campaign met with key leaders to begin raising $7.5M for our proposed 21st-Century Learning Commons.
  
  
• As part of our strategic agenda on "Globalism, Internationalism and Diversity," Vice President for Student Affairs Steve St. Onge and Director of Admissions Tobi Hay traveled to China to expand our student recruitment efforts there.
  
  
• As part of our "Professional Development" agenda, Associate Vice President for Advancement Steve Frederick and Foundation Board Chair Ron Marino participated in the Council for Resource Development in Washington, D.C., where they learned how to establish public-private partnerships to advance our Mission.
  
  
• In support of our "Branding & Marketing" agenda, a new taskforce began the process of developing a request for information (RFI) from consultants who want to help us in this effort.
  
  
• In support of our "Access" and "Success" agendas, Vice President Cheryl Reagan and Willow Nolland, Coordinator of Educational Partnerships and Academic Services, continue to make progress toward accreditation of our College Advancement Program (CAP), which allows high school students to enroll in CCC courses.
  

As if those strategic activities weren't enough, we've also been busy with a few other things over the past two weeks:

• SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and the leaders of six other SUNY campuses were here at Clinton at the beginning of the month to showcase our progress on the SUNY Strategic Plan and its Six Big Ideas.
  
  
• SUNY Trustee Eunice Lewin made her first visit to our campus the following week.
  
  
• On November 11, the CCC Veterans Club organized a community-wide program to honor those who have served our country in the armed forces.
  
  
• Also on Veterans Day, Congressman Bill Owens was on hand when students from Bailey Avenue Elementary School presented a hand-made banner to thank our veterans for their service.
  
  
• Later that day, twenty new members were inducted into the Alpha Pi Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
  
  
• Vice President for Administration & Finance Tom Moffett and his staff are busy with our independent auditors as they wrap-up their annual review of the College.
  
  
• And Director of Human Resources Adrienne Boyd-Wiley is juggling several searches to fill key vacancies in our faculty and staff.
  

And the month is only half over. Whew!

Clinton Community College is a busy place these days. There are many people at all levels of our operation who are contributing to our success. Many of them are pictured on our Facebook page. Are we perfect? Of course not. But we don't have to be perfect; we just have to be better today than we were yesterday. And that certainly keeps us from getting bored.

That's what I think. Please let me know what you think by sending me an e-mail at presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

Ask Not What Your Count(r)y Can Do for You

At a time in American history when it looked as though the United States was losing ground to the Soviet Union, President John F. Kennedy rallied the nation with these now-famous words, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” In that speech, he called upon Americans to do something unnatural; he called upon them to look beyond their individual needs to the needs of the nation as a whole.

In the two and a half years that I have been President of Clinton Community College, I have often been reminded of that JFK speech. It was squarely in my consciousness as the College developed its current Mission and Vision statements. As the College worked to discover its Core Purpose (i.e. Mission) in 2009-2010, we made use of the “Five Whys” described by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book Built to Last. Collins and Porras suggested that an organization can identify its Core Purpose by asking the question “Why do we exist?” and then asking the question “Why?” five more times to drill down to the core.

In its simplified form, the conversation that happened within many college stakeholder groups went something like this:

Q: “Why does CCC exist?”
A: “To provide educational opportunities.”

Q: “Why?”
A: “So that students can learn.”

Q: “Why?”
A: “So that they will become better thinkers and problem solvers.

Q: “Why?”
A: “So that they will have better lives and an increased earning capacity.”

Q: “Why?”
A: “So that they can provide for their families and others who depend on them.”

Q: “Why?”
A: “So that our entire community is economically stronger and enjoys an enhanced quality of life.”

During that year-long discussion of the five whys, everyone agreed that individual students should receive a return on their personal investment in their education; however, most stakeholder groups recognized that this “individual good” (or “private good”) is only part of the equation. If private good were the only reason for our existence, it would be unlikely that our county sponsor, Clinton County, would be so heavily invested in our College. Indeed, Clinton County and New York State sponsor us because there is a “public good” that comes from the work that we do. Therefore, it is fitting that our Mission reflects both the private good and the public good: “To provide educational opportunities that enrich minds, strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life in our region.” I have often said that our work not only benefits the 2,400 students who enroll at Clinton each year, but it also benefits some 80,000 others who reside here in Clinton County.

As Clinton Community College moves forward, there are those that would ask what their county can do for us at the College. While it’s true that we rely on the financial support of our county sponsor, I prefer to recall John F. Kennedy’s words and adapt them to the topic at hand: “Ask not what our county can do for us; ask what we can do for our county.” As we do our part for the public good, the public will see that it receives an excellent return on its investment in us. That can only strengthen our relationship with those who support us in our Mission.

That’s what I think. Please let me know what you think by sending an e-mail to presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

Leadership, Decision Making and Diversity of Thought

Several years ago, I had the honor of being President of the board of directors of a very successful non-profit organization. That board was comprised of about 20 people who came from widely differing backgrounds. Some were male; some were female. Some had relatives who were served by the organization; others had only a community connection. Some were full of youthful exuberance; others possessed the wisdom that comes from a lifetime of experience. As you might expect, we often had spirited discussions on topics of importance to the organization. One day, during a particularly spirited discussion, one of our members named Bob quoted former General Electric CEO Jack Welch.

According to Bob, Jack Welch said, “If three of us are in a meeting, and we all share the same opinion, two of us are unnecessary.” I have tried several times to verify that Jack Welch actually said that, but so far, I have been unsuccessful in those attempts. Whether it was Jack Welch or someone else who first spoke the words is less important to me than their meaning. Bob and the words he quoted remind us that we come together on boards, in committees and on panels to share our individual points of view with others. Sharing these points of view is not merely an exercise; it helps to ensure that we have considered the matter from as many perspectives as possible. This usually results in a better decision than the one made by a single person in isolation.

As President of Clinton Community College, I try to remember those words. While I am quite capable of making decisions on my own, I tend more times than not to involve others in discussion before I make a major decision. Sometimes, the discussions reinforce my initial thoughts. In these cases, it is relatively easy for me to make a decision. At other times, the discussions expose one of my blind spots and help me to change my thinking on a topic. Especially in these cases, I appreciate the willingness of others to help me to see different points of view and reach a better decision than I might have reached on my own. There is a third situation that is much more challenging than the first two. Sometimes, even after hearing differing points of view on a topic, consensus cannot be reached, and we agree to disagree. In those cases, the weight on a President’s shoulders can be quite heavy.

At the end of the day, it is the President who has the authority to make major decisions for the college, and it is the President who is held accountable for those decisions. On occasions, a CEO will find it necessary to make a decision that runs contrary to one group or another, even after considering their point of view. In such cases, a wise CEO will examine his motives to make sure that ego is not the driving force. It is never a good idea for a leader to use “because I said so” as justification for a decision. Once ego is eliminated as a motive, the CEO is usually left with a short list of reasons to make one of those difficult decisions. Sometimes, it is a matter of ethics, a sense of doing what is right, even if it is unpopular. In such a case, the decision is usually very straightforward. At other times, it is a matter of perspective and judgment.

By the nature of their job, a CEO has to consider not only what is good for those within the organization, but what is good for the greater community that supports and relies on the organization. More than anyone else at the college, the CEO comes into frequent contact with external stakeholders, including the county sponsor, state legislators, trustees, and business leaders. These perspectives provide the CEO with diverse points of view that may not always be the same as those of the internal constituents, but are valid nonetheless.

So it seems to me that Jack Welch and my friend Bob were right: an organization does thrive when its CEO considers diverse points of view. These points of view come from inside and outside the organization. As a result of discussions around these diverse points of view, the President is better able to analyze the situation and to synthesize a solution. It then falls to the President to be accountable for the decision and to lead the organization forward on its mission, a responsibility that cannot be abdicated. Even if the President ultimately arrives at a different conclusion than some of the organization’s constituents, the inclusive discussion leading up to the conclusion can help all parties to understand how and why a decision was made.

That’s what I think. Please let me know what you think by sending an e-mail to presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

Sprinkled throughout some earlier posts are my comments on higher education as a public good -- specifically, the idea that our whole community and our whole society benefit from the work that we do here at Clinton. But what evidence is there that this college is accomplishing its mission "to provide educational opportunities that enrich minds, strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life in our region?" As it turns out, there is a great deal of evidence, and with the end of September fast approaching, now is a good time to highlight some of it.

By the end of next week, I expect that our annual report to the community will be published and ready for distribution. This is a document that we produce shortly after the start of each academic year to demonstrate through examples how Clinton Community College contributed to the public good during the previous academic year. Last year's report was titled Engaging Community. This year's report is titled Building Community. It is chock full of examples that demonstrate our institutional effectiveness, in other words how well we are accomplishing our mission.

We also are putting the final touches on this year's Institutional Effectiveness Report, which is not as glossy and colorful as our annual report. The Institutional Effectiveness Report is heavy with data, statistics and analysis. It is a tool that helps the College to monitor its progress toward its institutional goals and to point out where we are succeeding and where we are not. To the casual observer, it's a thick and dry document, but to us insiders, it's a wealth of information that helps us set a course for the future. Highlights of the Institutional Effectiveness Report -- without all the dry details -- are included in the annual report to the community that I described in the previous paragraph.

The College is also evaluated by outside observers. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is one of six regional accrediting bodies throughout the United States that provides an external evaluation of the effectiveness of colleges and universities. In the tradition of peer review, Middle States is made up of member institutions from several states and U.S territories. Middle States has developed a set of 14 standards called Characteristics of Excellence, against which peers from other states gauge the overall operation of a college or university. These standards include items on educational programs, governance and leadership, the assessment of student learning outcomes, adequacy of resources, and the assessment of institutional effectiveness.

Once every ten years, Clinton Community College comes up for reaccreditation. To prepare for reaccreditation next year, the college community has just completed a year-long self-study of how we are complying with the Characteristics of Excellence. On October 3, we will receive a visit from Dr. Thomas Isekenegbe, President of Cumberland County College in New Jersey. Dr. Isekenegbe is the chair of an external evaluation team that will review our self-study report this winter and visit the College for several days at the end of February to evaluate our College against the accreditation standards. The external evaluation team will provide a report on our College and make a recommendation to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education regarding our request for reaccreditation.

The end result of the process is twofold. First and foremost, we at Clinton Community College will become an even better institution by examining ourselves in relation to the Characteristics of Excellence and making improvements as indicated. Second, we will account for ourselves to our students, our community and the institutional sponsors who provide public support for this College.

A College is a complex organization with a lot of moving parts. By publishing an annual report to the community, by writing an Institutional Effectiveness Report, and by subjecting ourselves to external evaluation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, you can be sure that we're doing what is appropriate to accomplish our mission and achieve our vision in and for our community.

That's what I think. Please let me know what you think by e-mailing presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

Even Friendlier than Usual

Over the last 30 years or so, I have been a student, a faculty member or an administrator at five different college campuses. Some of these institutions have been small, rural campuses, while others have been large universities that resemble medium-sized cities. As a general rule, I have found the smaller campuses to have a friendlier feel, at least for me.

Clinton is a small, rural community college, so it's not surprising that people here tend to know each other and act in a friendly manner. Generally speaking, I'm a friendly guy. When I pass a member of the campus community, I usually make eye contact and say hello, or at least flash a smile. I often do this even if I am not personally acquainted with the person who is passing. Most of the time, people who notice my gesture will return a smile or a kind word as we each continue on our way.

The striking thing this Fall is that so many of our students are beating me to the punch; they're saying hello to me before I can say it to them. I love it! And just when I am starting to feel good about that, some students are even approaching me and striking up an actual conversation. How cool is that?

Some might say that I am observing a fluke occurrence, a random fluctuation in human behavior, but I think there's something more to it. I think that the positive attitude of our faculty and staff is a model for student behavior. And then, the good nature of our students helps make us feel better, and we enter a positive feedback loop.

On Saturday, about 20 students turned out to march with the CCC float in the annual Battle of Plattsburgh Parade. The students arrived in identical green tee shirts made especially for the occasion. On the back of the shirts were three simple words: Leadership, Friendship, Service. I was impressed! If they were any doubt in my mind that a conscious effort is underway to make our campus community an even friendlier place, those shirts put those doubts to rest.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again, "A bad day at Clinton is better than a good day at most other places." I am very happy to be working at such a friendly place.

The Clearly Clinton Campaign

On Saturday, July 16, 2011, in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary Gala of Hotel Champlain II, the Clinton Community College Foundation kicked off its first-ever capital campaign. It was my honor to address the audience to explain the significance of this fundraising effort. For the benefit of those who could not be present, I have posted the text of my speech below.

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Is everyone having a good time? I am so thrilled that all of you are here to help Clinton Community College celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Hotel Champlain and to launch the capital campaign that will help build a 21st-Century Learning Commons on this Bluff. We will talk more about that in a moment.

Two years ago, I began my job as President of Clinton Community College. During my first year, various stakeholder groups – students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, Foundation Directors and community leaders -- explored together the Mission of and Vision for this fine institution.

For some, the process seemed slow, but the time was well spent. As a result of that year-long conversation, this College and its stakeholders have come to the shared conclusion that our Mission is “To provide educational opportunities that enrich minds, strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life in our region.”

This simple statement is not trivial. Embedded in it is the dual nature of public higher education: education for the private good, and education for the public good. We know that our mission is to elevate the individual student who is educated here – to help them find a better job, increased earning capacity and a better life for themselves and their families. But I suggest that every resident of Clinton County – whether they enroll here or not -- benefits from this College.

Here are a few examples:

• Because of Clinton Community College, the quality of healthcare in our region is outstanding. Our most recent class of nurses posted a 97% pass rate on the national nursing license exam. I don’t know if that is the best pass rate in the state, but I do know that it exceeds the state and national averages by more than 10%

• Because of Clinton Community College, local business and industry have been able to expand and prosper. Short-term training for 200 Nova Bus employees is a good example, but not the only one.

• Because of Clinton Community College, there are culture, art and sporting events that might not otherwise be here. Our Concerts on the Bluff draw hundreds of guests during the summer season. Our student and community theater groups entertain us and make us think. Our national championship women’s soccer team delights the hometown crowd. And 1800 Quebec cyclists came to Clinton County because we have a college with vistas beyond compare.

Yes, there is a private good that comes to individual students, but more importantly, we at Clinton Community College have discovered and announce with pride that we are also here to “strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life” for everyone in our region.

We mean it when we say, “Community is our middle name.”

In just a few minutes, all of you will receive a first-edition of Richard Frost’s new book on the history of Hotel Champlain and Bluff Point. It is a remarkable piece of work, of which we can all be extremely proud. Richard, you have outdone yourself!

As the book explains, great and important people gathered here a hundred years ago. We drop their names like they are old friends: Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Babe Ruth, to name just a few. When this was a luxury resort, they came here for rest and recreation. Their history here is important to us and we celebrate it tonight.

But I suggest that the work that we do here on this Bluff today is historically just as important, if not more so. Tonight’s festivities notwithstanding, people come to this Bluff today, not because this is a luxury resort, but because we “enrich minds, strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life in our region.” Few causes could be nobler.

Tonight, in recognition of the important work that we do in and for our community, I am pleased to formally announce the College’s first-ever capital campaign. The campaign is called, “Clearly Clinton.” Its goal is to raise $7.5 Million in private support over the next five years. It is far more ambitious than any prior effort here, and as important as any endeavor we have ever begun.

With the help of JMZ Architects and Planners, we have developed a thoughtful and comprehensive Facilities Master Plan – based on our Mission and Vision -- that will guide our capital projects for the next five years and beyond. With the ongoing financial support of our sponsor, Clinton County, we intend to address critical maintenance items on campus, especially in this 100-year-old gem that tonight – for one night only -- is once again The Hotel Champlain.

But this campus needs more than just repairs; it needs to grow and modernize. This year, the College enrolled a record number of students. In fact, we have grown by more than 14% in just two years. This year, the College also graduated a record number of students, 23% more than last year. Unfortunately, this double-digit growth comes at a time when public resources are becoming scarcer. So we tighten our belts and do more with less.

And yet, we have a pressing need for a 21st-Century Learning Commons. A hundred years ago, we would have called it a library. Our existing facilities are woefully inadequate – especially for those with physical challenges and learning disabilities.

For many years this small space has served as our Library. Our tutoring center is tucked upstairs into retrofitted hotel rooms. And one of the greatest ironies is that our Accommodative Services – which support students with learning disabilities and physical disabilities – are located in one of the most unwelcoming, remote corners of this old hotel. While we have central spaces for students to eat and play, we do not have adequate facilities for students to gather for academic pursuits.

The proposed 21st-Century Learning Commons is part of a comprehensive plan for the further development of our campus. It will be constructed between the Moore and Stafford Buildings. Yes, there will still be books in the 21st-Century Learning Commons, but there will also be electronic resources, spaces for students to study alone and together, to collaborate, and to receive tutoring and accommodative services.

Our goal is ambitious. But, in the past, when we have solicited private funds for program innovation, our needs have been met. They were met with 100% participation of our faculty and staff. They were met by 100% participation of our students. And they were met by gifts from smart businessmen and women like George Moore. Therefore, we are confident that this community has the will and the capacity to support this first-ever capital campaign.

George Moore’s single magnificent gift a few years ago was used to establish “The Moore Innovation Fund,” a $2-million endowment that we use to develop new programs, to support professional development and to move the College forward in ways not otherwise possible in times of scarce public resources. No College has had a better friend and supporter than George Moore. We can never thank George enough, but in honor of his past support, we are pleased to announce that George Moore is the Honorary Chair of the Clearly Clinton campaign. Please join me in recognizing and thanking George Moore for his generosity.

The construction of the 21st Century Learning Commons will be a public/private partnership. Private contributions from organizations and individuals, with matching State funds, will allow us to realize our dream. With the help of financial experts, we envision many creative ways that organizations and individual can contribute. Some may write a single check, but others may wish to plan and structure their contributions more creatively. We stand ready to discuss the various options and naming opportunities with those who may want to hear more.

Tonight, along with Dr. Frost’s book, you will all also receive more information about Clearly Clinton and our plans for the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, we hold Clinton’s future in our hands. Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hotel Champlain; in five years, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Clinton Community College. At that time, I expect that we will be able to announce that we have met our five-year capital goal.

We can transform this outstanding college into a truly exceptional one. But wishing won’t make it so. We have to earn our greatness – and by your investment in all that we seek to achieve, we will.

The vision is clear… Clearly Clinton!

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That's what I think. Please let me know what you think by sending an e-mail to presidentsblog@clinton.edu.

The Hotel Champlain II: Celebrating 100 Years

A hundred years ago, the George Moore Academic and Administration Building at Clinton Community College was The Hotel Champlain. It was a luxury resort on Bluff Point -- a summer retreat that catered to the wealthiest and most prominent people of the day. But which Hotel Champlain was it?

The original Hotel Champlain was built in 1890. It was a five-story, wood-frame Victorian building that burned to the ground in May 1910. In just over a year, the second Hotel Champlain -- this one of masonry and steel -- was constructed on the same site. In fact, it was one hundred years ago today, July 1, 1911, that the second Hotel Champlain opened for business.

Anyone who has set foot on the CCC campus knows why this site was chosen for the hotel. This perch is the highest point on shores of Lake Champlain. From here the vistas are magnificent! To the east, the views of Valcour Island and Crab Island are beyond compare. These historic islands figured prominently into the American Revolution and the War of 1812, respectively. Beyond the islands are spectacular views of the Green Mountains, including Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. To the west, the Adirondack High Peaks are our skyline. It is no wonder that five U.S. Presidents, heads of state, captains of industry and sports legends chose this spot among all others for rest and recreation.

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hotel Champlain II, it is important to honor the historic role that the Hotel played. It was the "Summer Whitehouse" to President William McKinley in 1897 and 1899. It was the site where President William Howard Taft came to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's discovery of this remarkable lake. And it was Yankee slugger Babe Ruth's vacation getaway.

As impressive as it is to drop the names of the rich and famous who once vacationed here, I suggest that we have every reason to be equally proud of the work that we do here today. Then, this was a place of leisure and recreation. Now, the Bluff and the former Hotel Champlain are home to an institution of higher education. Our mission is not only to enrich individual minds, but also to strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all people in our region. Few causes could be nobler.

In commemoration of this historic metamorphosis, the CCC Foundation has commissioned a new book, Hotel Champlain to Clinton Community College: A Chronicle of Bluff Point. The book is written by historian Richard B. Frost, widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the history of our region. It is chock full of photographs, archival materials and personal recollections of the Hotel and the College. It is essential reading for anyone who would like to know more.

That's what I think. I am interested to know what you think. Please contact me at presidentsblog@clinton.edu to share your thoughts.

GED Ceremony Is a New Beginning

On Saturday, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the graduating class of Champlain Valley Educational Services General Education Development (GED) program. The event was held in the Stafford Auditorium here at Clinton Community College. My remarks on lifelong learning are appended below for your consideration.

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Members of the platform party, honored guests, friends and family, and members of the Class of 2011, good afternoon and welcome to Clinton Community College.

I’ve been President of Clinton Community College for about two years. College presidents wind up on all sorts of e-mail lists, and we try to stay up on all that is going on in the world of education. One of the electronic publications that comes to my inbox every weekday is Inside Higher Ed, a daily, electronic “newspaper” for college faculty and administrators. Especially at this time of year, Inside Higher Ed lists commencement speakers from around the country. The following dignitaries were among those listed as commencement speakers this year:

- Harvard: David Souter, Retired Supreme Court Justice
- St. Lawrence University: Tom Brokaw, Retired News Anchor at NBC
- Spellman College: First Lady Michelle Obama

… and you, my friends, are stuck with me.

But what I lack in name recognition, I hope to make up today in brevity and relevance. Woodrow Wilson said, “If you want me to talk for five minutes I need at least a week… But if you want to hear me speak for an hour I can start right now.”

Fortunately for all of you, I was invited to speak several weeks ago.
Therefore, I will be brief. It is a huge honor for me to be invited, and I want to do a good job. After all this is your commencement.

You probably have thought about that word recently: commencement. I know other graduation speakers have talked about it before. It seems kind of odd word for today, doesn’t it? This should be the celebration of your accomplishment, attainment of a goal, and it is. But this goal that you have reached today is not an endpoint; it’s a milestone. It’s more than a milestone; it’s the beginning of the rest of your life.

You know full well that getting through life without a high school diploma is difficult. Until now, even getting started on certain things has probably been difficult. You may have faced challenges related to a job, career advancement, pay increases, college and maybe even a social life. Life without a high school diploma is just plain harder. How many things have you wanted to start, that had to be delayed? There probably have been times when you just felt stuck, stopped, and blocked.

But you have done something about it. You’ve gotten yourself "unstuck." You’ve started to move again. You’ve gotten past the roadblock. You are ready to begin something new. After all, this is your commencement!

When I was briefed on the program that you have just completed, I found out that this year, some of you not only did the standard GED curriculum, but you did something new: the "GED Plus." Not only have you met the requirements for a high school diploma, you have done more. In collaboration with Clinton Community College, you have prepared yourselves for higher education and lifelong learning.

"Lifelong learning" can include a lot of things. It can be an apprenticeship in a trade. It can be advanced career training in a specialized field. And it can be college. Yes, it can be college.

Here you are at Clinton Community College… a graduate, prepared to enroll in college if you choose to do so. This isn’t such a scary place, is it? The “Plus” in “GED Plus” is an indication that you have something extra: Something more than just a diploma. You are prepared to take that next step. After all, this is your commencement.

One of my wife’s all-time favorite movies is The Wizard of Oz. Since it’s one of my wife’s favorites, it has also become one of mine. My favorite character is the Scarecrow. As Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the Scarecrow proclaims from the very start that he’s not very smart. But when Dorothy couldn't figure out how to get him down off the fencepost, the Scarecrow figured it out for her. And when the Wicked Witch’s evil apple trees harassed Dorothy and her friends later in the movie, it was the Scarecrow who figured out how to trick those apple trees into giving up their fruit. And when Dorothy’s friends plotted to free Dorothy from the Wicked Witch’s castle, it was the Scarecrow who had came up with a plan.

Yet, when the Scarecrow got an audience with the “all powerful Oz,” the one thing that he asked for himself was a brain. As pretentious as the Wizard was, he was sincere enough to inform the Scarecrow that he already had a brain. The Scarecrow was very smart, indeed. But the Wizard said, what you lack my friend, is not a brain, but a diploma. And the Wizard presented the Scarecrow with a Th.D. – a Doctor of Thinkology.

Make no mistake, a credential without learning is hollow... far more hollow than the Tin Man’s chest. The Scarecrow’s credential, though, was not hollow. It was a testament to his intelligence, his persistence, his knowledge and his skills. Likewise, the diploma that is conferred on you today – while not a Th.D. – is certainly NOT hollow. Your GED is confirmation of something:

- Not that you are smart – your intelligence has always been there,
- Perhaps that you are persistent – because you had to stick to it to earn this credential,
- But most definitely, that you are learned – that you have basic knowledge and skills as a result of this program that you didn’t have before.

And the proof that you have these knowledge and skills is the start of great things to come. After all, this is your commencement.

In closing, let me share with you another quote, this one by Henry Ford. He said, “Whether you think you can’t or you think you can, you are right.”

- If you think you can’t, you’ll never try, and therefore you’ll never succeed.
- If you think you can, you will try, and persist, and work hard to achieve your goals.

“Whether you think you can’t or you think you can, you are right.”

Class of 2011, I think you can, and I think you will. After all, this is your commencement!

Congratulations and best wishes from all of us at Clinton Community College.