September 25, 2026

Convocation

It was a huge turnout for Convocation this year and we appreciate everyone making this event a priority. Today’s letter provides the various documents mentioned at Convocation and a brief description of our next steps.

The Great Cascadia Game Show Spectacular

We will be having two community events across the college each quarter (for employees only) so that we can continue to build connections. Our first is the Game Show Spectacular. The GCGSS happens over 6 weeks during Fall Quarter. Suggested teams are included in the attachment. Please take a look at the outline and commitment.

I am asking each academic division to determine if they want to commit to playing, or perhaps join with another division. I need to know the coordinator’s name for each team by next week. Library and UWB teams are also welcome to participate. Again, please let me know your team and coordinator.

Stay tuned for more info about Fall’s second event, the Fall Festival. AND (!!!) the President’s Pub will now be the President’s Kaffeeklatsch on the morning of each DIA. Please join the executive team from 7:45 AM to 8:30 AM on October 21 in the President’s Conference Room (CC2-261) for coffee, tea, and pastries. I am inviting all bakers to contribute one dozen of your favorite morning pastry if you are so inclined. Please let me know next week if you will bake something for the Kaffeeklatsch.

The Values Workshop

I appreciate the diligence everyone gave towards this workshop. As a reminder, the exercise is an opportunity to determine if the original 9 core values of the institution are still relevant, or if they should be replaced by something that has emerged in our ethos over the last 25 years

Attached is a summary of the suggested values ranked by the number of tables that mentioned each value. On the second tab is the idea of “nesting” characteristics under three “Core Values”.

I ask that each Assembly review these lists by the end of fall quarter and send feedback to me. Twenty-four (24) different values were suggested. Our goal will be to land on 3 to 7 values that anchor our educational culture moving forward. We should be open to any organizational constructs that our community might suggest. The ”nesting” concept is just one example of this.

The Efficiency Study

As mentioned at Convocation, the State Legislature has asked the community college system to review its “efficiency” and recommend potential ways to reduce costs. As this work progresses, it is important that Cascadia’s successes are well-known in our community. Every conversation with every stakeholder should center around our students’ success and why continued funding is important to our mission. Please check out the One-Pager.

The Strategic Plan

Last year, campus constituents reviewed our mission metrics and had conversation about where Cascadia should focus its resources over the next few years. These efforts led to the identification of our Strategic Initiatives as outlined in the attachment. “Owners” of these initiatives will put into play the actions needed to accomplish each initiative and assess its effectiveness.

Cascadia’s Mission Metrics

While we engage in the 2026-27 strategic initiatives (above), we will also be reviewing the 2025-26 mission metric data to determine initiatives for next year, 2027-28. Our mission metrics are summarized in the attachment and (following the summary) there is a page devoted to each metric. Note that some metrics are still in development.

The Student Success Council and Faculty Council will now pick up the momentum and, using both this year’s Strategic Initiatives and the Mission Metrics, suggest initiatives for next year.

Summary

As you can see, a lot of work over the summer helped us launch this week with enthusiasm. From Convocation, to faculty opening week, to staff workshops and on-going student registration…the executive team thanks everyone for their participation and good spirits.

Shoutouts

Remember, shoutouts can be submitted to FLShoutout@cascadia.edu.

From the IN Box:

After more than 13 years of dedicated service to Cascadia College, Kris Panton will retire on October 1.

Kris began her Cascadia career as a part-time advisor and went on to serve as a full-time advisor overseeing Veterans Services and then Running Start before becoming Assistant Director of Student Advising and Success Services. Throughout her career, Kris championed Cascadia's student-centered advising model, helping students find the path that was right for them while treating each student with dignity, care, and encouragement.

Kris has also been a valued colleague, mentor, and leader, supporting advisors, fostering partnerships with faculty and the Student Learning Office, and strengthening transfer relationships that will benefit students for years to come.

As she begins a well-earned retirement filled with travel, gardening, and new adventures, we invite you to stop by Kodiak Corner before October 1 to wish her well.

Thank you, Kris, for your friendship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to Cascadia students. You will be greatly missed!

AND

A big shoutout to Franco Herrera, Academic Advisor and Running Start Specialist, and Jonnie Dwyer, our part-time Work Study employee, for their incredible work supporting more than 1,600 incoming and returning Running Start students, the largest number served in the program's history.

Working with students, families, high schools, and school districts, Franco and Jonnie managed an enormous workload with remarkable accuracy, patience, and care. Their commitment to providing exceptional service has earned admiration from colleagues across the state, many of whom are amazed that this work is accomplished by just 1.5 employees.

Thank you, Franco and Jonnie, for your dedication to student success and for making a difference in the lives of so many students and families!

AND from our UWB Friends…

I wanted to let you know that your team (Jaspreet, Miles, and others) really helped us out of a bind recently as we had to pivot the location of our annual Fall Kick Off event for all faculty and staff to Mobius following the facilities issues in the ARC. I wanted to note how grateful we are for the partnership of our colleagues at Cascadia.