Did you ever walk out of your residence in the morning and forget to grab your PDA from the charging station? What’s your first reaction? My reaction is how fast can I make the turnaround to retrieve it. It’s gotten to the point where I’m not complete without my PDA, and isn’t that tragic? What has happened?
Our expectations for immediate information are slightly skewed these days. We expect to get and receive responses almost immediately. That expectation applies to our students as well. We try very hard to respond promptly. Again, what has happened? I guess we live life in an instant message environment.
TCL’s enrollment grew 65% in the recent six years, which made us the fastest growing Technical College in South Carolina and number 26 of the fastest growing colleges in the nation among community colleges our same size. During those same six years, TCL had no increases in staff positions. The severe budget cuts did not allow us to expand in the same proportions for support staff positions. That simply means that everyone is working harder serving more students – and at the same time – working smarter. Technology helps us accomplish smarter working habits; yet, it’s difficult to provide that instant response that clients demand especially during peak times. We try hard to please, and we’re getting better.
New technology will be added very soon in the form of software upgrades to improve TCL’s voice mail system. The upgrade is needed and should help us collect and coordinate our responses to incoming phone calls, thanks to economic stimulus dollars provided through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). We believe this is a wise investment. Still, there are other forms of inquiry that fly at us from every direction, and we are giving it our best to respond.
Technology offers solutions. It also creates new pressures and new expectations. For me, only when there is a device that sounds a warning signal when I leave my house in the morning without my PDA will the technology circle be complete. For now I guess I’ll have to revert to tying the string around my finger. Now there’s another form of technology – the string. Remember when string was the connective device we once tied between tin cans to experiment sound wave communication?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Hope.
On January 12, I had the privilege to attend and participate in the inauguration ceremony of Nikki Haley. One of the speakers who preceded Governor Haley mentioned the State’s motto. When I looked carefully, South Carolina has two mottos on its official state seal: animis opibusque parati and dum spiro spero. Translated, these slogans are “Prepared In Mind and Resources,” and “While I Breathe I Hope.” It was this latter motto that was used in an introductory speech by Senator Glen McConnell, President Pro Tempore.
While I Breathe I Hope. That’s powerful. It’s optimistic and future oriented. It sends a message of a better day ahead. Leaders, many of whom heard these words spoken from the podium in Columbia are optimistic and filled with hope. In a general sense, I truly believe that people are optimistic and we all have a natural inclination toward a bright future. In our present struggles, whatever they may be, we must remain hopeful and focused on a brighter future. I know that’s the position of our Governor, and we need to unite in a spirit of optimistic cooperation to solve our present day challenges and achieve a prosperous future. It can be done, I hope. I really do hope.
On January 17, we pause to recognize the efforts of a great leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. This man was filled with hope. He breathed hope. He said, in one of his famous quotes, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
I hope we all use the day and the season to reflect on hope. Visionary leaders keep focused on a better day, and they are relentless in making sure their hopes and dreams become realized. It’s a good model for all of us. Dedicate your efforts to noble causes that build better and stronger communities for all. Dream big and remain hopeful.
While I Breathe I Hope. That’s powerful. It’s optimistic and future oriented. It sends a message of a better day ahead. Leaders, many of whom heard these words spoken from the podium in Columbia are optimistic and filled with hope. In a general sense, I truly believe that people are optimistic and we all have a natural inclination toward a bright future. In our present struggles, whatever they may be, we must remain hopeful and focused on a brighter future. I know that’s the position of our Governor, and we need to unite in a spirit of optimistic cooperation to solve our present day challenges and achieve a prosperous future. It can be done, I hope. I really do hope.
On January 17, we pause to recognize the efforts of a great leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. This man was filled with hope. He breathed hope. He said, in one of his famous quotes, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
I hope we all use the day and the season to reflect on hope. Visionary leaders keep focused on a better day, and they are relentless in making sure their hopes and dreams become realized. It’s a good model for all of us. Dedicate your efforts to noble causes that build better and stronger communities for all. Dream big and remain hopeful.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Renewed Optimism.
It has become seemingly trite to reflect on resolutions at this time in our calendar year. The rhetoric abounds with resolution trends, some picking on personal vulnerabilities. While the marketing side of me expects this, every day brings opportunity for new resolve. We’re fortunate to have the advantage of seeing promising opportunities, and I contend the gateway for advancement goes back to the fundamentals – none more essential than a solid educational grounding.
In this coming year, the opportunities to advance are unprecedented. I feel the climate, I see the potential, and I know there will be major gains. In other words, I believe. Yes, I’m optimistic. To me, it’s all about attitude. In this world we have choices. In this country we have the freedom to capitalize on opportunity for real gain.
As a graduate student, I had a wonderful and privileged opportunity to live and study in full-time residence at a land grant institution, and when walking my dog, we would sometimes take a path that took us by the massive livestock research centers and the sheep farm. I took some time to observe sheep. Strange, I know, but there is one observation I found to be interesting. In a group, the watchful and ever mindful sheep seemed to have one eye on each other and the other eye on a distant spot. Therein lies an important example or analogy of watching or protecting each other while looking toward our future. To be sure, we are dependent on each other, and there is comfort or perhaps a mandate to look out for each other, but we cannot dismiss the future. We can gauge our potential by keeping a close watch on each other, but where we’re going is critical, so let’s make sure we’re keenly focused on where we want to go. Although it has built in uncertainly, the future demands our sharp focus.
As we begin the New Year, our hope is high, our spirits are committed, and our resolve is to make a discernable difference through learning and applying the new knowledge, skills and affect intentionally toward building a better community for all. The essence of this is rooted in a “can do” style of optimism as good things will happen in 2011. Believe.
In this coming year, the opportunities to advance are unprecedented. I feel the climate, I see the potential, and I know there will be major gains. In other words, I believe. Yes, I’m optimistic. To me, it’s all about attitude. In this world we have choices. In this country we have the freedom to capitalize on opportunity for real gain.
As a graduate student, I had a wonderful and privileged opportunity to live and study in full-time residence at a land grant institution, and when walking my dog, we would sometimes take a path that took us by the massive livestock research centers and the sheep farm. I took some time to observe sheep. Strange, I know, but there is one observation I found to be interesting. In a group, the watchful and ever mindful sheep seemed to have one eye on each other and the other eye on a distant spot. Therein lies an important example or analogy of watching or protecting each other while looking toward our future. To be sure, we are dependent on each other, and there is comfort or perhaps a mandate to look out for each other, but we cannot dismiss the future. We can gauge our potential by keeping a close watch on each other, but where we’re going is critical, so let’s make sure we’re keenly focused on where we want to go. Although it has built in uncertainly, the future demands our sharp focus.
As we begin the New Year, our hope is high, our spirits are committed, and our resolve is to make a discernable difference through learning and applying the new knowledge, skills and affect intentionally toward building a better community for all. The essence of this is rooted in a “can do” style of optimism as good things will happen in 2011. Believe.
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