President’s Message: Welcoming Students, Centering Our Values

Dear Colleagues, 

This week marks the start of summer quarter, and I am happy to welcome the nearly 6,000 students who are taking classes on campus and online.

As we ease into the summer months and prepare for a new year, I want to take a moment to recognize another important milestone we reached in June: the completion of our College Value Statements.

New Value Statements:

• Well-being: We value well-being as essential to vibrancy and sustainability. We commit to nurturing dynamic development for students and employees.
• Collaboration and Accountability: We value collaboration and radical accountability as the foundation of a community of excellence where we support our colleagues, our campus, and our students with intention and dignity. We work together to deliver meaningful outcomes and measurable impact.
• Agility: Agility empowers us to lead with vision. We embrace change, respond to community needs, and commit to transformational practices that prepare our community for the future.
• Curiosity: We value curiosity as the spark of discovery and transformation. We encourage fearless exploration by asking bold questions, challenging assumptions, and pursuing learning with openness and imagination.
• Integrity and Authenticity: We act with integrity and authenticity, pursuing bold learning and change that honors who we are and who we serve.

These statements complete the Board of Trustees and College foundational framework – forming a new suite of mission, vision and value statements. We will need this framework to set in motion our new five-year strategic plan and shape a final budget that honors our purpose and people. 

Although school is not out for everyone and work continues across campus, I encourage you to take time this summer to rest – practice your well–being. I hope, too, that you have time to take a vacation, and maybe even do a hike or two, if that’s on your list. If you see me on the trail, please say hi. (I am excited to head to Glacier National Park for my annual summer trek.)

In community,

Dr. David May