President’s Message To The Community
December 6, 2012
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Members of the COM-FSM Community,
Season’s Greetings! During this special time of year let us be reminded of the many things for which we are grateful. We should be especially grateful to President Mori, and FSM Congress for restoring $700,000 to the 2013 budget which had been eliminated as a result of the JEMCO resolution. On behalf of the college I am further grateful to the FSM Congress for passing a resolution demonstrating support for the college.
Our community has made much progress during the past year. While we have much work to do I am optimistic that we will be successful. In the remaining days of 2012 and as we prepare to enter a new year let us renew our commitment to the mission and values of COM-FSM and to each other as valued and respected members of this higher learning community.
This fall the state campuses completed respective mini visioning summits. The Institutional Research and Planning Office is compiling data and should have a summary report to share with the community in January.
The Executive Committee has held several meetings during which working groups were established to develop the committee’s TOR and to prepare a draft strategic plan. Consistent with our commitment to transparency, purposeful dialogue and participatory governance, committees will receive regular working drafts of the strategic plan for review and input. The working group is scheduled to complete a draft of the strategic plan by the end of January.
The mission statement working group has completed a draft of the revised mission statement which will be reviewed by the Executive Committee prior to its distribution to the college community for further review and feedback. Once the mission statement review process is completed, it will be sent to the Board of Regents for their review, feedback and approval.
We are in receipt of the revised proposal from BECA to conduct a college-wide space utilization study in support of a college facilities master plan. The completion of this study and the development of a facilities master plan is an essential component of the integrated educational master plan. It will effectively inform both our short and long term planning.
Given the final exam schedule, our next all campus meeting will be held on Friday, December 14th at 4:30 at MITC. Updates will be provided on accreditation by Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Assurance; on instructional affairs by Vice President for Instructional Affairs, on administrative services by Vice President for Administrative Services, on student services by Vice President for Student Services, on faculty/staff senate by the President of the Faculty/Staff Senate, and on student activities by the President of the SBA.
We are in the final stages of completing the draft 2014 budget for submission to the Board of Regents at their January 2013 meeting. The budget reflects the needs, goals and objectives articulated in the integrated educational master plan and supports ongoing fulfillment of the college’s mission. Continued financial support for the 2014 budget by the FSM Congress, especially the restoration of the scheduled $1.4 million decrement will be critical to our ability to achieve the integrated educational master plan and to address the accreditation issues for which the college is on probation. Such financial support from our nation’s leaders will support our accreditation related commitment and progress to move from compliance to constructive engagement.
We prepare for the college’s 56th Commencement on Thursday, December 20th at 9am. As an institution of higher education, no event in the college is as important as commencement. For our students it is a time to recognize and celebrate their academic accomplishments. For the families of our students, commencement provides yet another point of pride. For all of us and for our faculty most especially, commencement is an opportunity to acknowledge our work and success in educating the young men and women who represent the future hopes, dreams and aspirations of the FSM. I am proud of the faculty, staff and administration of COM-FSM and look forward to being among you at this important ceremony on this important day.
Thank you for all of your work, effort and dedication this year in service to the students we serve. Each of us plays an important role in the successful implementation of the mission of COM-FSM. Together, Let us look forward to the challenges and opportunities we will surely face in 2013. Given how well we have all come together, how well we communicate with each other, and our shared purpose to secure the future for COM-FSM and our students, we can only grow stronger.
It is a privilege for me to serve you as president.
Please accept my wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Warm regards,
Joe
Joseph M. Daisy, Ed. D., President
