Foot in mouth!

Well, there I was coasting along as I was making my remarking to the faculty prior to the beginning of classes.  I approached the topic of our new Vision:  "Transforming Lives Through Service and Lifelong Learning," and told the audience how much I liked the term "transforming."  I know it is a verb, but for some reason, I referred to it as a different part of speech.  No sooner had the words left my mouth that there was an audible gasp from the audience-- probably from our English faculty.  Yikes!

Where is the bird?

A number of "eagle-eyed" employees have noticed that the eagle/hawk that graced the top of the Administration Building's cupola is missing.  Foul play is not involved.  It apparently decayed so much that it began descending toward the roof, so it was removed.  Don Posey is researching a replacement so that CSM can fly again.

Faculty

I saw a number of faculty in the BI Building as I was arriving this morning, which means that another semester is upon us. 

 

Sometimes with all of the worries about the budget, interactions with our elected officials and the general community, interactions with our Trustees, and the endless paperwork, I may take the work of our faculty for granted.  What a mistake.  They are a great group of dedicated employees and they are what CSM is all about.  It is their interactions with our students that gives CSM such a wonderful reputation.

 

I was so proud of Rich Siciliano last week for being such an integral part of AFACCT and for his 41 years at CSM.  This morning I ran into Tom Poe whose 40 years of teaching at CSM will be highlighted this semester.  Then I ran into George Spiegel, one of our newer faculty members from the Prince Frederick Campus, who enthusiastically described the upcoming visit of a 5th grade class to the campus.

 

We are truly blessed with a great group of faculty.  All, full and adjunct faculty, add so much to the vitality of this college.

Finances

These are tough times.  This morning's Washington Post indicates that Montgomery College will receive a $3.6 million cut from its County.  I've heard that several of the community colleges in Maryland have or will schedule employee furloughs, and only two out of 16 have had any pay increase (CSM was one of the two with a small increase).

 

As I mentioned during my welcome at the faculty's AFACCT meeting, college leaders should strive to shield employees and students from the impacts of these cuts.  So far, we are been able to do that.  It should be interesting to see what happens when the Legislature reconvenes next week.

 

Brad