A message from President Dastmozd: Autumn is finally here and the beautiful colors of trees are amazing nature’s story tellers. On Monday, I attended the Charting the Future, Student Success Team meeting, in preparation for Charting of the Future Gallery Walk, which will be held at Saint Paul College on October 21, 2014 between 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. as well as other MnSCU campuses between October and November. In the afternoon, I attended the Everybody In, Implementation Team meeting. In the evening, three of our academic deans, VP of Academic Affairs and I attended the Reconfiguring Minnesota’s Talent Pipeline: New Approaches in Advanced Manufacturing, Health care, IT, and Agriculture, hosted at the University of Minnesota. This event was sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Center for German and European Studies Center. On Tuesday, I met with the Saint Paul College 11 Marketing Director to discuss the preparatory work for the Charting the Future Gallery Walk at Saint Paul College. I also attended a Greater MSP, International Airport Cheers/Changes/Challenges luncheon at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis. The Greater MSP International Airport is a major growth mode! The best Airport in the Northern territory of United State of America! I met with the Padilla CRT Marketing Consulting firm to discuss the branding initiative of Minnesota State Colleges and University System. On Wednesday, I met with a Star Tribune Newspaper reporter who will do a profile of Saint Paul College. I attended a Minnesota Fast/Trac meeting with several academic deans and the director of College Career Pathways and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. In the afternoon, I met with the members of College’s Executive Leadership Team. I also participated in an interview with Southwest Minnesota State University Foundation Reporter who is doing a profile of graduates of this universities who moved on and became College/University Presidents in the U.S. On Thursday, I attended a District Energy Board meeting. I met with the President/Chair of Minnesota Philanthropy and attended a Management Team meeting to discuss Financial Aid and Management Team projects for 2014-2105 that move the College’s long term goals forward. In the afternoon, I hosted the Economic Development Partners of City of St. Paul on campus. The College also held its first President’s Advisory Council of this year. On Friday, I gave a welcome address at the College’s Staff In-Service. Later on, in the morning, I attended an all MnSCU College President’s Sector meeting. I also participated in a Minneapolis, Saint Paul Workforce Investment Network grant proposals review. On Saturday, the Executive Director Friends of Saint Paul College Foundation and I will attend the United Hospital Gala. The most impressive highlight of this week was when I received an email from a student who will graduate from Saint Paul College, please see below: “Im a student and a tutor here at Saint Paul College, and I am closing in on my final classes. Here at Saint Paul College, a lot of the instructors have helped me as references for scholarships and jobs. The main reason Im even a work study tutor is because of the advice and reference of College staff and faculty. Recently, I was offered a new job relating to my chosen career path. I applied to this job through CAPS, and I wouldnt have even known about it without that system in place. A lot of the faculty and staff assisted me with references and advice. Faculty and staff gave wonderful references for me, which definitely played a role in their eagerness to hire me. While this job is a first-level, foot in the door position, it is a great first step for me, and it is coming a lot sooner than I expected. Many people discourage community colleges as a viable way to follow a career, but without Saint Paul College and the support within it, I would not be in this great position today. I would just like to thank Saint Paul College and all of its staff for helping me find opportunities that I wouldnt have seen if I went to a four year college right after high school. However, I still plan to transfer to a university to complete my Bachelors degree, and it encourages me that I will have a great group of people supporting me as I reach these goals.” His email narrative reminded me why we are here and work at this college. When our students start here, they can go anywhere. I offer my humble gratitude to our dedicated faculty and staff who touch the lives of all of our students every day throughout the year. Be on the lookout for the upcoming events next week, Scholarship Recipient Appreciation Breakfast and the Manufacturing showcase at Saint Paul College event. Both events will be held at Saint Paul College on the morning of October 2, 2014. The purpose of this Manufacturing showcase/listening sessions and meetings is that Manufacturers throughout Minnesota have expressed their concern about the skilled worker shortage and its impact on their global competitiveness. Finding enough skilled workers is your greatest challenge. I am grateful to each member of our College Community for helping our students to finish up another successful week of Fall semester. Wishing all of you a relaxing and a fantastic weekend. Best, Rassoul
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:13:43 +0000
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