In response to what we heard about how to do what we do better, the steering committee worked on two initiatives this year. These are detailed in the Year Two Report linked above. They involve:
- Action Plans: This spring, the committee consolidated and vetted the options identified in the fall and developed proposals for changes in two main categories: Reinforcing Liberal Learning and Valuing Our People.
- Connection and Time in the context of everyday work: Conversations within and across divisions identified specific ways of saving time and increasing collaboration. These ideas have either been implemented or are in the works. The discussions also revealed patterns which help explain the climate of distrust registered in the Modern Think Employee Engagement Survey and in Year 1 Project 2024 meetings. These issues shaped the steering committee’s thinking as it considered how best to promote a thriving community.
In addition, President Richardson appointed four exploratory groups to assess the effects of the challenges to higher education most relevant to CC and to identify possible responses. Those groups included faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents, and focused on:
- The financial model
- The demographic “cliff”
- The role of online learning
- The effects of screens and social media on cognitive function and learning
Their reports, expected in the next few weeks, will contribute to work already under way at the college on these issues.
Plan for Year 3
In keeping with the collaborative inspiration of Project 2024, the next steps join campus leadership, staff, faculty, and students in implementing proposals for action.
Depending on the nature of the specific proposals, further work and decisions will fall to established committees, ad hoc task-focused groups, and the Cabinet — or a mix of these.
The Project 2024 Steering Committee will coordinate efforts, ensure continuity, pursue the proposals that require still more discussion, and work on other ideas from Project 2024 discussions that merit attention.
The committee will keep track of our collective progress and share it on the
Project 2024 website and through regular updates to campus groups.
Thank you for your continued participation and interest in this work.
Sincerely,
Susan A. Ashley
Professor of History and Project 2024 Coordinator
L. Song Richardson
President
