News

For many, the holiday season is a time to renew or strengthen connections with those around us. It is a time to see past differences and remember what makes us alike. Strangers seem more like friends and kindness greets us unexpectedly.

For several years, Waubonsee Community College has published an Annual Report to the Community. This publication has changed in format and look, however its purpose has remained constant. Combined with our College Scorecard and other documents, the Annual Report to the Community demonstrates our accountability to district residents and other supporters by visually sharing stories of some of the people represented by the numbers and statistics. The Annual Report reminds us that together, we have created something to be proud of.

I often talk about the power of education to change lives. And I never tire of hearing, or telling, the stories of people who experience that power first-hand when they complete their degree, start their dream job, or continue their education at their dream school. However, these stories do not represent all of the ways that education changes lives and communities.

The changing seasons that come with September remind me of the quote from the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, “change is the only constant in life.” Technology, the economy and shared cultural experiences all cause shifts in behaviors, priorities, and choices. These shifts create new opportunities and challenges that organizations must respond to. Relevant, dynamic organizations welcome these shifts and in that spirit we have launched Waubonsee’s new FY2020-FY2022 Strategic Plan.

For those of us who work in education, August is an exciting month. It is like January when all things are new for many people. It is like the start of sports seasons when everyone starts fresh and with the opportunity to do great things. When it comes to the start of the academic year, everyone starts fresh and has opportunities to do great things.

During my more than 40 years experience working within higher education – specifically within the community college system – I have witnessed countless examples of the power of education to change lives. And, nothing is more effective than hearing directly from the source; people who have attended community college.

At last month’s commencement we celebrated our fifty-first graduating class; a collective ritual marking both the external changes and internal transformation of people as they prepare to enrich their lives, their families and their communities. We are grateful to play a part in the contributions that Waubonsee alumni make within our community every day.

Naturalist, photographer and writer (and native of nearby Joliet, Illinois) Edwin Way Teale wrote “The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.” While Teale wrote this in a book about nature, it is certainly true of students as they finish the academic year in May.

This time of the year is an exciting time for many area high school students as they decide where they will attend college in the fall. I enjoy seeing on Twitter the many people sharing their college plans with the world.

As a community college, we know the importance of being connected to the community we serve. This includes strong connections with the school districts of our community.