Communication, Collaboration, & Collegiality: The PEs’ Role in Building Community at Your Center. Co-presented twice with cohort of the Northeast Center Professional Employees. Both presentations given at Empire State College conferences in Saratoga Spring, New York – 1st at the Professionals Conference, January 2008 and 2nd at All College, March 2008.

1. Communication, Collaboration, & Collegiality:Communication, Collaboration, & Collegiality:
The PEs’ Role in Building Community at Your CenterThe PEs’ Role in Building Community at Your Center
Every Student
Counts

2. Agenda
• Historical Perspective
• Professional Interactions
• The Effects & Results
• You Can Do This Too

3. NEC PE Collaboration
Historical Perspective
• Change in # of PEs – Center Staffing
Model
• Managing change – Retreat in June ’06
– Every Student Counts (ESC)
• Presentation to whole center as a result of
the Retreat
• Center Environment – inviting, warm,
comfortable, functional, & gathering
spaces

4. Professional Interactions
• Dean’s Council
– All PEs, Associate Dean, & Office Manager – Monday Mornings
– Communication & Community
• Center Collaborations & Creative Solutions
– Key players come together to brainstorm and collaborate on
specific topics/projects
– Appreciation of talents, resources, and information
• Collegewide Involvement
– Serve on committees, affinity groups, task forces, and cross-
functional teams
– Informed decision making, proactive thinking, increased
awareness of issues, resources, and greater ability to create
positive solutions

5. Personal Interactions
• FOOD!
– Lunch, cookie swap, ice cream socials, take
out, go out, share food from meetings, coffee
club and random acts of food…
• Health & Well-Being
– Walks, yoga, self-defense, ice skating, bird
feeder, picnic table, book share, Sunshine
Fund, and welcomes & farewells…
• Community Involvement
– Adopt-A-Family, Food Pantry, and Blood

6. PRACTICE & RESOURCES
Effects & Results
– Student-centered Orientation
– Full service/One-stop shopping
– Internal issue-based committee
– Student Datebook/Planner
– Lecture Series
– Special Events – Non-Traditional Students Week
– Graduation

7. CENTER
Effects & Results
– Dean’s “Go To” Team
– Shared vision – Every Student Counts
– Atmosphere of collegiality between
MC/Faculty/PE/Staff
– Valued Input – vision, voice & visibility
– Voice in searches
– Cross-functional teams
– Late night coordination – Faculty volunteered,
Dean, Associate Dean & Office Manager
– Enjoy coming to work

8. STUDENTS
Effects & Results
• Use of Student Datebook
• ANGEL Space for online resources
• Model of student life-cycle
• Better everything!

9. What Can You Do?

10. You Can Enhance Your PE Vision, Voice, & Visibility
• ENVIRONMENT
• FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
• BEHAVIOR
• ATTITUDE
• TEAM

11. ENVIRONMENT &
FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
• Think about your physical environment
– Student “lounge” areas, restrooms, meeting & break rooms,
reception areas, gathering spaces for staff, faculty, PEs, MCs, &
students
• Think about your professional environment
– Plan brown bag lunches, a retreat or other professional
development activities with other PEs in your center- Foundation $
$ & PE funds can support this.
CREATE A PLAN, MAKE THE TIME, & TAKE ACTION!

12. Behavior & Attitude
• Think about your personal environment
– ATTITUDE is everything.
– ATTITUDE is a conscious choice.
– Lead with a positive attitude
• Think about your interpersonal environment
– Bring new employees into the fold with a warm
welcome and ideas for inclusion starting on their
first day.
– Like vs. Respect – you don’t have to like
everyone, but you need to respect them.
– It is ok not to agree – respect difference, but getCREATE A PLAN, MAKE THE TIME, & TAKE ACTION!

13. • HAVE FUN!!! (last slide are the
“farewells”??? Pics at least if not video –
OUR TEAM slide???
• ADD PICS!!!!!

14. Every
Student
Counts
Every
Student
Counts
Every
Student
Counts
Every
Student
Counts
Every
Student
Counts