We welcomed a new team of student leaders Aug. 1-2. Members of Ocala Campus and Citrus Campus Student Activities Boards and Ambassadors experienced two days of team-building and leadership training. Thanks to team members who met with these students during their orientation.
Aug. 15, 2018
Dear CF Family:
Welcome to fall semester and the start of a new academic year! Convocation will be held tomorrow, Aug. 16, at 9:15 a.m. in the Dassance Fine Arts Center. We will introduce new faculty and staff. The Foundation will present New Initiative Awards and Endowed Chair Awards. And I will provide a college update. As always, we will precede convocation with breakfast in the Patriot Café from 8-9 a.m.
Also at Convocation, we will celebrate our rise to Silver in state Performance Funding. Thanks to you, our dedicated faculty and staff, we rose 32 percent or more than 8 points out of a maximum 40 points in the last year. This would not have been possible without your teamwork and your daily commitment to the success of our students. The increase will result in $536,000 in additional funding from the state, and we will recommend that the Board of Trustees approve another 1.5 percent nonrecurring payment for full-time team members.
This fall, we are continuing our work in the strategic planning process to build on our successes and chart our course for the future. We did an outstanding job reaching objectives set forth in our 2013-2018 Strategic Plan. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our faculty and staff, we championed student success, created new community partnerships and maximized our effectiveness in many areas. We continue to leverage technology to help our students become successful, all while making the college a great place to work and demonstrating the value we provide to those we serve. The 2019-2024 Strategic Plan will allow us to reach even farther, and we are asking for your input in this dynamic process. You can learn more by visiting our web page here at Inside.cf.edu.
Please take the time to vote for the college and the Appleton Museum in the Ocala StarBanner’s Best of the Best Contest. Last year, we were recognized in numerous categories including Best Local College, Best Community Learning Center, Best Museum and more. You can vote once a day, every day through Aug. 31 and have a chance to win $250. You can learn more here.
As we launch a new academic year, I would like put a spotlight on healthy living and share an opportunity from one of our partners in support of the Marion County Hospital District’s Active Marion Project. This innovative program encourages a healthy lifestyle. From Aug. 17-30, Zone Health and Fitness in Marion County is offering free special events and classes. Click here for more information. Whether you take advantage of this offer or make other plans, I encourage you to take care of yourself. Health and wellness are key components to a balanced life.
Please know how much I value your dedication to our students and the college. What you do matters, today and every day. Together we are transforming lives!
Jim