The past three weeks have literally flown by as I met hundreds of NVC faculty and staff focused on assuring that our students experience the welcoming climate and culture that has embodied Northwest Vista College.
You may have seen me walking across our beautiful campus and doing my best to help students find their classes. Thank God for our campus maps, as I would let the student know that I too was a newcomer to NVC.
I have often said, that our goal, regardless of our enrollment numbers, is to serve our students – One Student at a Time. To achieve such a lofty goal requires our dedication and commitment to how we conduct ourselves each and every day, including the manner in which all students, faculty, and staff are regarded and engaged. As such, everything that we do should be focused on the enhancement of student success, learning and the primacy of the teaching/learning relationship.
While NVC students can find all the resources they need to have a successful college experience, many lack the navigational skills to traverse the unintended barriers common to our college processes and procedures. It is imperative that we make the effort and take the time to serve as that knowledgeable NVC guide to direct students toward the support services, which might serve to enhance their propensity to succeed. I am confident that we have the talent and commitment at NVC to become a national leader in student persistence and completion without compromising our obligation to providing a high quality and rigorous educational experience in- and outside the walls of our classrooms. Every student should have every opportunity at NVC to be successful.
As Northwest Vista College moves forward, we will remain focused on teaching and learning by updating our academic offerings, developing new academic programs, and increasing student engagement and retention. I welcome you to stop by and let me know the successes of your students as well as any suggestions that might help NVC become an even better student-centered institution. I am proud to serve with the dedicated faculty and staff who are NVC. If education is the passport that affords individuals the ability to travel through and navigate our society, I am proud to say that now, more than ever, Northwest Vista College is here to assist people in earning that passport.
I thank you for the important work you do every day. While we may not see the impact of those we touch, the impact we have is life changing. I truly appreciate the dedication and passion you have demonstrated these past three weeks since my arrival.
This will be a memorable year at Northwest Vista College.