Its nothing big, but in the Collin College Community Newletter I am mentioned regarding my ideas on the college's core values. Here is the article: (and yes they called me Megan! but atleast they spelled my last name right!)
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| The college Mace. |
It is challenging to put a face on institutions of higher education because colleges are more than buildings; they are a myriad of diverse, living beings and evolving, intangible ideas. However, it is surprisingly simple to describe Collin College because the professors, students and staff exude its core values. We have a passion for Learning, Service & Involvement, Creativity & Innovation, Academic Excellence, Dignity & Respect and Integrity.
Dr. Bob Collins, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees, carries a card with these core values in his coat pocket because he believes it is important to review and practice values like Integrity daily. “Integrity can be thought of in mathematical terms; Integrity and integral have the same root. They are both wholeness. It means our actions and words correspond; what we say and what we do are integrated. Another one of our core values is Academic Excellence. The evidence is that our students who transfer do well at universities, many at tier one universities. The college has garnered numerous academic awards. We are one of the few colleges that have more than one U.S. professor of the year,” Dr. Collins said.
The core values were developed in 2000 through a group effort by the trustees, faculty, staff and administrators. Since then, these values have become a guiding force.
They are the selection criteria for the Living Legends of Collin County. The college measures outstanding faculty and employees by their demonstration of the core values. These values are the basis for employee evaluations. The core values are even emblazoned on the college seal, and they lead each year’s commencement procession as they are embossed on the college mace.
Perhaps the best illustration of the college’s core values is seen in the actions of the college’s students. For example, service and involvement were demonstrated recently when students and faculty contributed 731 pounds of food, equaling 935 meals, through a program chaired by Professor Cheryl Wiltse and sponsored by faculty with the Book in Common* program.
According to student Megan Grinels, who recently led a relief drive for victims of Hurricane Ike, “Donating a bag of blankets or canned goods gives people a sense of purpose. We give to others in gratitude for what the college does for us. The core values are not just words; they are actions that the college accomplishes. We have pride in those words,” Grinels said.
