FROM THE PRESIDENT CONT.

© Produced terrific concerts, ingenious plays, and wonderful art shows.

© Proved that Cuesta athletes and coaches are awesome performers—on the field, in the pool, at the net, on the mat, on the court, and in the classroom.

© Made the Institute for Professional Development totally self-supporting, through 32 contracts, and by delivering 751 hours of training.

© Served 296 clients, created new businesses, and ran a Small Business Conference.

© Received $610,142 in grant funds and wrote grants for an additional $1,700,727.

© Expanded the University Center to include the University of La Verne, Chapman University, and Columbia College, and will award 15 baccalaureate degrees
on 5/23.

© Received $100,000 for special projects from the Foundation, which also raised $200,000 for the Endowed Fund, $125,000 for the Scholarship fund, $900,000 in direct support for programs and services, & $250,000 for the NCC Science Bldg.

© Expanded and improved access to information and services via the Internet, improved many web sites, registered the vast majority of students via the web.

© Planted “40 trees for 40 years” – all paid for by employees and friends.

© Groomed the grounds, cleaned the buildings, made the campuses shine.

© Saved energy and planned how to cut utilities costs next year.

© Enjoyed several rich multi-cultural programs on both campuses.

© Initiated a program outcomes and assessment system & added program outcomes to all new programs.

© Cut the budget, wrote budget reduction plans, made extremely difficult decisions.

© Celebrated 40 years of excellence through a wonderful open house, photo display, calendar, alumni legacy project, media stories – all with your help and privately raised funds.

Now we say good-bye to five outstanding faculty to whom we will remain indebted for the power of their teaching, the persistence of their leadership, and the passion of their commitment. Joe Brundage, Nella Girolo, Dick Hitchman, Judy Hendricks, Bob Pelfrey, we are so very grateful for all you have done for Cuesta College, we wish you a wonderful retirement but want you to stay in touch and come back lots…..’cause we’re gonna’ miss you like crazy!

We say good-bye to wonderful classified staff who helped our students, paid our bills, taught us computer skills and tirelessly gave of themselves to help students succeed, help us do our jobs better, and help Cuesta College maintain its excellence. Pam Hunsaker, Mary Carpenter, Wilmar Bower, Gail Steele, and Tonga Phan-McGill—we are so very grateful we got to work with you; we wish you the very best and invite you to keep in touch and come back and see us.

Remember the College will be closed on Fridays from June 6 - August 8. Most offices will be open Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, because several staff positions have been reduced by two-four weeks, it is possible that some offices will not be open every day this summer. Check with your Dean, Director or Vice President.

I think you and I are very tired from so many days and nights, so much energy, and so much emotion devoted to reducing the budget, laying off staff, assuming the work of positions left vacant, and striving to be a first rate, first choice college. I look upon this semester as one of the most difficult of my 34 year career, but it is also one of my most awesome because together we are weathering the storm, we were re-accredited with commendations, we solved so many problems, made so many advancements, and launched Cuesta College on its next forty fabulous years.

See you at Commencement – robes flowing, faces smiling. Join me at the beach with book and dog in hand. Sleep, relax, enjoy – that”s why we have summer breaks!