What a Year!
Eagles,
We started 2020 like any other year. We made our resolutions, we laid out plans for the 12 months ahead, and we were ready to work. Now, in the final month of 2020, we look back at a year that was unlike anything we could have imagined.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the call for social justice dominated national headlines and our college communications most of the year. We know there is still work ahead of us. The vaccine is welcomed news, but health officials expect it will take nine or 10 months before we enjoy gatherings like we did pre-COVID. The work to dismantle systemic racism continues, and we will remain dedicated to making those changes.
Out of this, the story that emerged at Mt. San Jacinto College is one of resilience, heroes, and courage.
The heroes are you, the MSJC students, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators who comprise this amazing college community. You reinvented personal and professional plans. You reimagined how you learn and how you teach. You revamped how we provide service to our college community. And you forged ahead, despite the challenges, to make changes that will create a new and better world for all of us.
This historic year is ending on some upbeat notes.
A promising vaccine for COVID-19 is now being given to health workers nationwide and abroad. California has launched the “Vaccinate All 58” campaign to ensure the safe, fair and equitable vaccine for residents of all 58 counties in the state.
A federal judge's decision earlier this month led to the full restoration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA allows qualifying undocumented immigrants many opportunities, including the ability to pursue higher education. We at MSJC have fully supported our undocumented and DACA students and will continue to do so to ensure they can safely live, work, and study in our community. I encourage our undocumented students to connect with our EOPS program and our community partner, TODEC.
We'll continue to host most of our classes and student support services online in the spring. We will continue to support and prepare our student-athletes for a return to conditioning and sports once it is safe. The California Community Colleges Athletics Association (CCCAA) continues to review guidelines and recommendations and we expect a decision about the Spring II athletics season to be made by the CCCAA deadline of Feb. 26.
Next year, we will continue our Employee Brown Bag and Student Town Hall Zoom meetings. The engagement has been good, but please spread the word so even more people attend those informative meetings. Feel welcome to suggest any future topics that may benefit students, faculty, and staff.
I am fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated and expert professionals who always put our students and their academic success first.
I am equally fortunate to be the superintendent/president of MSJC. We've gone through historic and trying times this year, but they have just proven to me what I already knew: We -- MSJC Eagles -- are strong and together, we rise. The memories I will cherish from 2020 are of witnessing the resilience, courage, and dedication in each of you, the heroes of MSJC.
May your holidays be safe and healthy, Eagles. We'll see you in 2021.
Roger W. Schultz, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President
Mt. San Jacinto College