Kindness, Strength, and Important Updates
Dear Gavilan College Community,
I'm writing today to share important updates, celebrate our collective progress, and emphasize the values that make our Gavilan community unique.
As we navigate the final stretch of the semester, I hope you are doing well and are ready to end strong. Let's remember the importance of treating each other with kindness and respect. We must continue to be dedicated to fostering caring relationships with every interaction. Remember the power of a warm smile, a listening ear, and a helping hand. We are all on this journey together, and our shared humanity strengthens us.
Enrollment Growth and Super Saturday Call for Volunteers
I'm delighted to share that we're projecting an 18% growth in enrollment headcount this semester. This is a testament to our efforts and dedication to serving students. While we still have work to reach pre-pandemic levels, this upward trend is a significant step in the right direction.
To continue supporting our enrollment growth momentum, this Saturday, we're hosting our Super Saturday event to assist new and continuing students in registering for our spring semester. We're looking for volunteers to help at this event. I highly encourage you to volunteer and guarantee you'll enjoy seeing the excitement of our new students and their families and their appreciation for assisting them to enroll at Gavilan. Free food will be provided to all attendees and volunteers.
If you'd like to volunteer, please access this link to open our volunteer spreadsheet and choose which area(s) and shift you'd like to volunteer for. I look forward to seeing you at this event!
Governance Taskforce (Shaping Our Future):
I'm pleased to report that our Governance Task Force, composed of representatives from all constituents, recently held its first meeting to begin planning on how best to redesign our college Governance. This task force aims to create a new governance structure where everyone feels supported, valued, and heard. Your participation is essential to this process. Watch for opportunities to participate in open forums and share your feedback and suggestions in the coming months.
Campus Safety Update:
Our Campus Safety Task Force recently met to hear updates from Serafin Fernandez, our Director of Capital Projects, on implementing automatic door locks, surveillance cameras, and emergency call towers on our campuses. The programming, design, and start of construction of all these new security features will occur in 2024 and be completed in 2025.
Eddie Medal, Director of Facilities, also reported that his team is working on an external lighting replacement project on our Gilroy campus. This project, once completed, will replace light bulbs that are at the end of life and improve lighting across our campus. Please know that we are committed to your safety.
I wish you all a successful and fulfilling end to the semester. Remember to take care of yourselves, reach out for support if needed, and celebrate your accomplishments.
With gratitude and optimism,
Dr. Pedro Avila