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COS Hanford
The District
COS Hanford Center
Phone: 559.583.2500
925 13th Avenue
Hanford, CA 93230
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It's the Good Doc's Birthday!
Kristin M. Hollabaugh, Ph.D.
Provost, COS Hanford
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For those of you who don't share my same love of children's books, you may be saying, "Really, which doctor?" For those of you who see the world a little differently like I do with a love of the familiar children's books written by none other than the Good Doctor himself--Dr. Seuss--well, this week has significance!
Typically a point of conversation for any "newby" to my office is the three Dr. Seuss books which I have framed next to my diplomas--and actually in a much more prominent placeI Recently, I had a student tell me, "When I get important enough to have an office, I'm going to do something like that." It got me thinking. It isn't about important enough to have an office. In my opinion, it is about realizing our roots are what gives us our guiding principles.
I use these three literary treasures on a daily basis. I can hear it now, "Really? You use Dr. Seuss every day? Yep, she's crazy!" Please indulge me. .
The three framed books with titles underneath each one are: Horton Hears a Who (Listen to your intuition); Oh the Thinks You Can Think (Think Outside the Box!); and Oh, The Places You'll Go (It's Up To You!). These are just three of my favorite.
Last week, California's Community Colleges received notification of another budgetary reduction for THIS fiscal year. Yes, eight months into this year's already reduced budget--and surprise--another huge cut. I find it ironic that it is the week before the doctor's birthday and the movie release of The Lorax.
"But Kristin...The Lorax (and the Lorax Project) is about protecting the forest and endangered species of our planet." Yes, I know.
My fear is that community colleges in California are the next truffula trees. Community Colleges which provide affordable and accessible  education for either transfer opportunities or marketable skills--are used as a vehicle in creating opportunities for "Bar-ba-loots" and "Swomee-Swans". What will we do as budgets become smaller, class offerings continue to be reduced, and more students are denied access?
For the 2011-12 California enacted budget, community colleges took a hit of $313 million--and another $102 million in "triggered cuts." Last Thursday, we heard news that we will like face an additional $149 million cut in THIS fiscal year. Do you hear the Truffula trees being cut down? There goes another...and another.
Before the last round of cuts, we were operating with $995 million (23%) less funding since 2008-09. Scott Lay, President and CEO of Community College League of California, reports that BEFORE the latest round of cuts, the system reduced enrollment by nearly 384,000 students statewide--and funding per student has dropped by $554 or 9.3%. Let us not wait until millions of students are denied access to affordable education which makes students "job ready" --especially at a time of record demand. When our children or grandchildren cannot get classes at their local community colleges--may we remember the truffula trees.
We understand that the State is in very difficult budgetary times, but I don't believe that it can be at the expense of community college students. Some may call me the Lorax, but... "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot; nothing is going to get better, it's not."
So, in the week ahead, I pay special tribute to Theodor Seuss Geisel who continues to give me reason to pause, reflect...and think.
Dr. Seuss, you have taught me a many
great lessons...and thoughts are a plenty
From Horton to the Cat and from Yertle to Sam
Your lessons always hit with a BAM!
So, thank you, Doc for all that you've taught
and continue to teach which is really a LOT! |
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Reserve your Spot!
As you may have heard, COS Hanford has joined with The Kings Economic Development Corporation, Adventist Health, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, and West Hills College to bring you LeaderCast 2012!
This year's program will focus on the power of choice. The diverse group of internationally-acclaimed authors, leadership experts and practitioners will share insights to help leaders empower and equip others at work, at home and in the community through his or her choices. A live broadcast from Atlanta will put you with 85,000 other leaders from around the world to hear the following exceptional speakers:
- Soledad O'Brien, Anchor and special correspondent for CNN
- Tim Tebow, NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and best-selling author
- Patrick Lencioni, Best-selling author and president of The Table Group
- John Maxwell, Leadership expert & best-selling author of "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"
- Angela Ahrendts, CEO, Burberry
- Roland Fryer, Professor of economics at Harvard University and CEO of the Education Innovation Laboratory
- Urban Meyer, ESPN analyst and former head football coach for the University of Florida
- Andy Stanley, Best-selling leadership author and communicator
- Sheena Iyengar, Author of "The Art of Choosing" and world-renowned expert of choice
Don't miss it! Tickets are $39 in advance--for a whole day of leadership training! You can register at www.leadercasthanford.info (For those of you who tried it last week--the ticket link is now working! So Sorry!) Also, we will be selling tickets starting March 1 at COS Hanford! Be sure to "Like us" on Facebook on our for all the latest information!
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The first Employer Assembly of Kings County seminar went well! Stay connected for upcoming seminars to be held at COS Hanford! For more information, go to www.EmployerAssembly.com
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Do you have ideas for COS Hanford? Let us know!
Email us at: hanford@cos.edu
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