A fond farewell to LC-CDA
Dear LC-CDA Students, Staff, Faculty, Friends, and Community,
A leader is best
When people barely know he exists,
Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,
Worse when they despise him.
But of a good leader, who talks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say:
We did it ourselves.
- Lao-tsu
During my eight years at LC, enrollment has grown 48 percent (315 to 467), and I'm proud to say that is basically due to staff and faculty relationships with North Idaho College and our wonderful North Idaho community. Transfer communication and cooperation with NIC is productive and congenial. Baccalaureate degree learning is truly connected to life through internships, community service, and employment. The center work environment is happy and productive and, as my Associate Director observed, the healthiest he has seen it in 12 years. Communication is centered on student success and local programs are highlighted via the Cd'A Press, chambers of commerce, cable and local television stations, radio, and at myriad of community events. Student, staff, and faculty community connections are acknowledged and expanding.
Thank you to the faculty for sharing your passion, for being accessible to students, for understanding the limitations of a center, and for your patience with systems. Thank you for your unique inter-disciplinary camaraderie and program support. I wish you continued success.
Not long ago, I published an article in the Cd'A Press calling attention to my incredible LC-CDA staff. I believe that success is created through the empowerment and recognition of employees. I remain in awe of your collective and individual talents to look for solutions inward with depth, innovation, and as always, with a student-focus. Thank you.
Students, you are the reason we manage, teach, and serve. In one of my favorite books, "The Stirring of the Soul in the Workplace," Alan Briskin stated, "If we give our whole allegiance to a theory or a teacher or an institution, we give away our power to trust in our intuition, our right to struggle with inward complexity, and our ability to recognize when something that may in fact have been appropriate once no longer is." Your role in this world is to think. What you discover is necessary, it will change things, and it will matter to those around you. Express logic with heart and passion. In your careers, I challenge you to train and empower employees, manage creativity and innovation, and provide service using the four pillars of the Disney Way: Dream, Believe, Dare, Do. I believe in you.
It was an honor to serve on and as chair of the Local Operation Council of the North Idaho Consortium for Higher Education. I am grateful to the NIC, UICDA, BSU and ISU Council representatives, to the IdahoGoes Team, to the Student Service Task Force, and to the joint Marketing Committee members for their dedication and persistence. Because of our local collaborative network of professionals, student services are enhanced. Inter-institutional agreements provide LC, UI and BSU students with access to testing, disability services, health services, transfer advising, a transfer center, writing tutorials, and career services. The focus of our efforts has been and, hopefully, will be on student success and his/her career goal. Thank you to my friends and colleagues at North Idaho College, the University of Idaho-CDA, Boise State University, Idaho State University and the Idaho State Board of Education.
To my community, thank you for allowing me to serve you.
In 2004, I was presented with an opportunity to facilitate the growth and development of LCSC in Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho; my time with LCSC will end in July. My aim is fulfilled - and it is largely because of LC-CDA staff quality and commitment, student determination and focus, faculty integrity and experience. They all can and should say, "We did it ourselves."