Employee Message Mar 25

Good afternoon, Faculty & Staff,

I hope you are getting more comfortable with your alternative office settings. I know it has been challenging, and I am amazed at the way you have been able to transition so quickly to provide instruction and support services and continue operations nearly seamlessly. In less than a week, faculty placed all classes online, with assistance from each other and from the Center for Teaching and Learning. Student Success staff transitioned our student success services online, Academic Support and Learning ensured students have tutoring online, and operations folks made transitions in so many ways for continuous operations in finance and human resources. At the same time, Physical Plant, Auxiliary Services, and Campus Police are here on campus every day. Everyone on campus has had a role, and I am thankful for each of you.

Also, I wanted to introduce you to our Emergency Operations working group of Frank Patterson (Emergency Management), Stephen Benson (Finance and Administration), Drew Canham (Student Success), Fred Hills (Instruction), Phil Rhodes (Research, Technology, etc.), Lisa Elliott (Marketing & Communications), and me. We represent all of you who are doing the heaviest lifting. Here’s a webpage with our pictures in case you don’t know us. I send the updates, but this group is leading the way with Zoom meetings twice a day and discussions in-between.

STUDENT UPDATE: This morning, I sent an email update to students. I have attached that email. It may have some information you have not heard about yet, and you might want to share detailed help with students with whom you are in contact. Our message is that we want to help in education and in identifying financial resources. The most important thing we can do for our students right now is to listen to them. If you learn about a student’s need, please forward that person to a Success Coach (success@mclennan.edu) or Dr. Canham’s office (vpstudentsuccess@mclennan.edu).

NISOD AWARD: At the same time we are running as fast as we can, I want to share good news. We were selected again as a 2020 Promising Places to Work by NISOD’s “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” publication. The email stated that we are “recognizing McLennan Community College’s best-in-class student and staff recruitment and retention practices, inclusive learning, and working environments, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities.” Congratulations everyone!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: I want to also remind you to read Mikken Canham’s emails about all the great online training Professional Development is offering. Also, we are investigating other opportunities through Continuing Education. I will share more as I know details about how to access courses. Although some of you are still trying to catch up, there may be some of you who could use this time to brush up on skills or learn something completely new that will help us serve our students even better in the future or just help you in other ways.

COLLEGE HELPING HOSPITALS: We are working on support for the two hospitals and for the Family Health Center for supplies and equipment. This is evolving, but we will be doing our part. This is our community.

FOUNDATION: FOUNDATION: The McLennan Community Foundation sent out the following information to the Foundation’s donor list:

Even in the best of times, community college students usually do not drop out of school because of a lack of tuition; they drop out because of life’s emergencies. Transportation, health, job, and housing crises can derail even the most ardent college dreams.

During these stressful times, student needs have become even greater! Due to our community's COVID-19 crisis, many MCC students are facing reduced work hours or no paycheck at all, and they are struggling. We thank you for helping us directly help them through these challenging times by donating to the MCC Foundation:

Giving to the McKown Emergency Fund, which provides emergency grants for rent, utilities, car repairs, and learning tools.
Giving to Paulanne's Pantry, which partners with the Central Texas Food Bank to provide fresh and shelf-stable food and hygiene items. A safe drive-through lane delivers staples to students' cars.

MCC classes and support services continue online to serve our students and the community. The MCC Foundation stands ready to support students facing these unprecedented challenges. Thank you for helping.

As a result, Kim (Patterson) shared that the Foundation has already received some contributions to the emergency fund and to Paulanne’s Pantry. Also, H-E-B donated $2,500 to support our students. Another donor asked if she could hire one of our out-of-work students, and we have connected her to two students who are eager to work. It is heartwarming to see how our community supporters are with us through these difficult times. See the information under Student Update to see the best contact information for students needing help.

TAKE CARE: Please take care of yourself and your families. Remember, in order to help others, you must take care of yourself. I’ve seen numerous tips for reducing your anxiety during this uncertain time in our country and world. Additionally, I noticed that Jelena Sudar, our Wellness Coordinator, sent an email about a yoga class online, and I sent some links in a previous email from Dr. John Baughman in our Counseling Center about stress relief exercises. There was an earlier update that included information from our friends at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic on this topic as well. Please read these and take time for yourself. I will communicate periodically and am always open to answering questions.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Johnette McKown
President