My Vision for the Next Four Years

By Michele T. Nelson, Ph.D.

My pledge to accomplish specific, measurable goals over my next four year term.

Finalize the 2010 accreditation.

Continue the Governing Board's practice of fiscal responsibility and planning to maintain solvency in this economic downturn while serving the maximum number of students possible.

Advocate for an institutional commitment and alignment to improve student success--course completions, progress to the next level course work, certificates earned, associate degrees awarded degrees awarded and transfers to four year institutions--all college teaching and learning processes must cohere in ways that are meaningful and useful for students.

Keep the central focus of the college on teaching and learning as we hire new faculty.

Complete the Proposition M commitment to the voters to rebuild the college and purchase centers for both the South and the North.

Monitor the cooperative planning for the South center to assure that the neighborhoods feel that their voices have been heard and their concerns addressed.

Difficult economic times are forecast for the state over the next four years. Continued fiscal vigilance and responsibility is more vital than ever to keep this college moving forward with vision and positive energy. Never have community colleges had better national recognition than in this particular window of opportunity. President Obama and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged enormous support for community colleges because both recognize that community colleges are a significant part of the national economic recovery. Melinda Gates stresses the importance of raising the standard of education in the US from ninth in the world to once again being a leader. Palomar College is positioned to do that for the North County.