Take your time. Study hard.

Instant Gratification. That’s what we want. In general terms, we have become an impatient society. We want answers, we want solutions, and we want them now. We operate in soundbites and we look for short cuts, to conversations, to directions, and we’re always wanting the bottom line. Just the facts.

I like results as much as the next person; however, I’m disciplined. I don’t jump to the end of the book (anymore) to learn the ending. I don’t like people telling me how movies end. I like to wait until the official results are reported in an election. I respect process.

This is the wonderful time of year when we officially welcome new students to the campus. In my orientation remarks to new students, I will focus on process, and let them know that the process of earning a credential is a time honored tradition. There is a time commitment established for a reason.

Recently, there are pushes to have this process occur more rapidly. I fear the push may impede the learning process. Learning takes time. It involves reflection. It involves thought. It involves patience. Learning a new subject or skill takes disciplined attention. In fairness, it does not need to be rushed.

Too often I see students who become impatient with process and they tend not to give it a chance. This year, I plan to encourage students to allow time to study and to ponder the fine points of academic investment. The classroom is a sacred place where one is free to learn and think. It is fun and exciting. It is an escape from the pressures of the world, and it needs to be preserved as such. The message is a good one for everyone. Allow ample time to process and think.

So, for students, it’s a class at a time, on a day at a time, by completing an assignment or a project at a time -- all adding up to the earning of a credential. The process is designed to take time. And to our students, for each hour you spend in class, your instructor expects that you will spend two hours outside of class reviewing, prepping, writing, reading and, yes, thinking. Take time to think. Take time to reflect. Eliminate distractions and concentrate. Learning is a process that takes time. Your days in College are precious, so enjoy every second. Get to know your faculty and fellow students in your new community of learners. Set the goal to complete your program and earn your degree or certificate. Good things come to those who persist.

Learning Partnerships

On July 23 the Beaufort County School Board celebrates the opening of the new Whale Branch High School, officially called the Whale Branch “Early College” High School. It’s the early college part that begs my attention.

In its conception, Superintendent Dr. Valerie Truesdale had the vision to make this new high school different by offering its students an opportunity to participate in an on-site Dual Enrollment educational program. The dual track allows students to earn both high school and college credentials at the same time. It’s definitely made a huge splash in the community and substantially lifted the awareness of this efficient combination of learning alternatives.

High school students must qualify for college admission to take college-level classes. It has huge benefits. Consider this success story.

This past May, twins Gary and Trenicia Wilson received their Associate in Arts degrees from TCL at the same time they received their diplomas from Bluffton High School, thanks to Dual Enrollment. Because of this accomplishment, Gary and Trenicia will enjoy advanced placement as they begin Howard University in the fall where they’ll be working to earn their pharmacy degrees.

The Whale Branch Early College High School could be a very important model for other school districts in the Lowcountry. We’re eager to get involved.

With the cutting of the ribbon, we celebrate learning and we celebrate partnerships with friends and with students. We do this with a mindset of appreciation to leaders who make a difference, including the TCL Area Commission, The Beaufort County School Board, and Dr. Truesdale.

Additionally, on the TCL side, Dr. Gina Mounfield gave specific attention and direction to the initiative along with Dr. Sean Alford from the Beaufort County School District. We are grateful to the work of many, and we’re honored to be a learning partner. We’re excited about this and we stand united behind Principal Priscilla Drake with our best wishes for long-term success in changing lives through education.

Supporting the F-35

Well, here’s a “no brainer.” The F35-B Joint Strike Fighter is essential for our area and our local economy. Our region is fortunate to have a military presence. From the economic perspective, estimates suggest that we benefit each year by $1.2 billion through our military’s investment in our community. Beyond the economic impact, I’m personally impressed by the unique talents of all military personnel. It begins with the leadership of Col. Snyder at the MCAS and Brigadier General Padilla at Parris Island. These individuals are highly skilled and they care about the community where they live. They are personally involved in local activities and want nothing but the best surroundings and opportunities for their troops.

The F-35 B project includes three new operational squadrons in Beaufort. It is a vital infusion of opportunity that reaches far into every individual and community agency. We need to support the F35-B.

Through our military, freedom is preserved. We can all play an important part in preserving freedom by telling the Navy how committed we are to keeping the Air Station active through new squadrons and new investment. On June 22, between 4 and 7 p.m., we need to show up at the Beaufort Holiday Inn to record our support. Additionally, between now and July 12, your comments can be expressed through a website: www.usmcjsfeast.com.

Our military personnel are heroes. They deserve our local support. I urge you to support economic development and future growth opportunity through the public meeting on June 22. Let freedom ring clear over the skies of Beaufort. Support the F35B Joint Strike Fighter squadrons at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort.

Let’s read.

The Memorial Day holiday is a reference point for the start of the summer season. Conversely, Labor Day signals the onset of fall. In my professional life, I have a wonderful opportunity to be bombarded by information from all sources. Although the information barrage gets overwhelming and difficult to manage, the summer season is a traditional time for catch up on one’s reading.

I once lived in a community where the local newspaper had an annual column asking local leaders to list their choices for summer reading. It was interesting to see the responses. Some responses were surprising. One might proffer what we read tells a lot about us. Does it? The newspaper column always had me thinking -- What would I say if I were asked the question to list my summer reading choices?

I’ll admit, I don’t read much fiction. My disciplined-based colleagues in the humanities shake their heads at this, but when given time, I am not a “pleasure” reader; although, reading is pure pleasure. For me, holding a book – a physical book – is my preference. I can highlight and write in the margins. I’m not good at looking at a screen, let alone a portable electronic device – at least for now.

When I have the time to read I select topics that relate to the job I perform with the hope of gaining a new insight. I maintain a constant reading list. So, if asked, I can easily answer the reading list question. I always take several books with me when I travel because being without something to read when delayed in an airport could be catastrophic. I can’t stand to be idle.

Okay, after all of this, I better share a partial summer reading list with you. Although I could easily list a dozen, I’ll give you three:

Love Leadership, by John Bryant
Rework, by Jason Fried & David H. Hansson
Switch, by Chip & Dan Heath

What’s on YOUR summer reading list? Feel free to share your ideas by sending me an email: tcl@tcl.edu.

Reading stimulates. It’s exciting. It’s powerful.

Enjoy summer. Happy reading.

Hold it high

At the close of her Commencement address, Dr. W. Joye Hardiman encouraged graduates to take responsibility and hold up their piece of the sky. This message was accompanied by everyone in the audience raising their arms with open palms, pushing them skyward. Symbolically, it was an emotional moment to see everyone holding up the sky. When the students exited the ceremony through the reception line, many of them gestured to Dr. Hardiman with their arms raised, suggesting they continue to hold up the sky. The illustration conveyed a positive message that we can take with us in the true spirit of new beginnings or the essence of commencement.

When graduates met family and friends on the lawn outside of the arena, I noticed them holding high their diplomas for another photo opportunity. The celebration was joyful. In their hearts, they will indeed hold high their learning experience just as we hold them in high esteem for their academic accomplishment.

Dr. Hardiman also spoke about truth. Let’s all try to visualize a world where truth prevails and where we seek to keep our commitments to promoting goodwill. Take time to hold up your portion of the sky. Extend yourself to help a stranger, or volunteer in a community service agency. Be the one to stand up and take on a noble project or better yet to lead the change effort. Congratulations to our graduates. We will always hold you high in gratitude for allowing us to share wisdom through the college experience.

New Beginnings

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, I’m not quoting Andy Williams and one of his popular holiday tunes. The end of the spring semester and all of the celebrations make this a unique and wonderfully exciting time. Commencement represents the ultimate culmination of efforts. It’s the pinnacle moment in the life of an academic enterprise.

Our students bring life to our institution. As employees organized to serve them, commencement becomes a very sacred time, and we relive precious moments as we reflect fondly on our own graduation events. We also intentionally preserve culture and honor tradition through planned celebrations of accomplishment. Students and guests alike who participate in the formal commencement exercises will see symbols, and those symbols have deep meaning. For example, symbolism occurs in the colors of the faculty’s commencement hoods, which convey academic programs and disciplines. Symbolism shows in the bands that surround our college mace, which represent the four counties we serve. Tradition is proudly reflected in our own college seal as we honor our founding dating back to 1868.

For me there is a feeling of relief and contentment following the commencement ceremony. It’s something I can’t explain. It may be similar to the empty nest time when children leave the home. Perhaps it’s a time to let go and a time to bid our graduates Godspeed. There is a feeling of joy and excitement for we know the journey begins, and new frontiers await our graduates as they are now equipped with a new set of skills that they worked hard to acquire. We ask them to become a respectful owner of their new academic credential and treasure the moments they spent at TCL with their faculty and fellow learners. Further, we believe it’s time to begin establishing their own traditions, and among them, we carefully challenge our graduates to never stop learning and to share their knowledge with others and commit to making a difference in the world. We salute our graduates for their accomplishment and we wish them endless success as they create a new beginning for themselves and our community.

Enterprise Campus Designation

As a representative of TCL, I have a wonderful opportunity to meet many creative individuals who come to the coast to live and some who relocate their businesses here. They want to get involved with higher education, and many times, these folk have novel ideas that are worth pursuing. However, their timeframes are different. They want it now and they want to see what we can do to help them accomplish their initiatives in a partnership framework.

The Enterprise Campus concept/designation allows that to happen. It is an incentive that will allow TCL to combine efforts with campus based functions of applied research and instruction along with the implementation options designed to bring a product to the marketplace with vigorous excitement. An Enterprise Campus will prompt growth in human and investment capital ---- in the name of economic development, which translates directly with an investment in human capital for job growth.

The concept is right for our area. It suggests that TCL is open to and for business. The Enterprise Campus designation will allow TCL to move forward with less cumbersome bureaucracy thus aligning with the way the corporate world does business.

On March 26, Governor Sanford exercised executive privilege and vetoed the Enterprise Campus bill that was properly prepared, uncontested in both the SC House and Senate, and ratified through our Lt. Governor. An override is in the works.

I’m personally grateful to our Lowcountry legislative delegation for supporting TCL’s Enterprise Campus bill override. I’m proud to know bold leaders who are committed to education and opportunity. On the Senate side, I value the leadership of Senators Pinckney and Davis. On the House side, I value the leadership of Representatives Erickson, Chalk, Herbkersman, Bowers, Brantley, Hodges, and Littlejohn.

I have faith in the override process. Watch what can happen when we get creative. The Enterprise Campus designation will open doors to new avenues of economic development. The process works, and so will the people in the Lowcountry with the passing of this bill.