As we move into a new year and contemplate what it holds for us as stakeholders in the educational enterprise of CSI, we certainly share a concern for a future that promises less in terms of financial resources and more in terms of students to be served. While that may sound like a recipe for cooking up a negative attitude, I find quite the opposite to be true. We are just one of a very few items on the economic menu that continues to be in great demand in lean times. Instead of being concerned that the demand for our goods will diminish and thus our jobs may become dispensable, the need for “us” has never been much greater.
Even with this knowledge that we are needed, the additional demands placed on all of us will sometimes be a little overwhelming. In expectation of that, I would encourage you to consider some of the following:
You are likely to experience some frustration, but know that “we” are in this together. In the case of CSI, “we” not only refers to employees but to the other stakeholders equally important to the mission including students, legislators, and taxpayers. Assigning blame to one group or another for the current circumstances is simply foolish as we all ultimately have the same motivation and goals. Difficult times often precipitate less cooperative relationships, sort of a “digging in and taking care of our own” mentality. In fact, as we well know, these times call for greater cooperation, greater empathy, greater patience, greater civility, and greater selflessness. We are often referred to as the heart of this community and now, more than any time in our institution’s history, we also need to be the hope, the spirit, and the strength of this community and valley.
The College of Southern Idaho is ideally positioned to influence our community’s response to the current economic crisis. Our growth, not only in terms of student numbers, but also evidenced by the construction of new buildings, the growth of scholarship funds, and addition of programs, should be a optimistic beacon flashing in all of our faces. But, and I emphasize this by noting it is a big but… our influence is best delivered by our attitude. The College of Southern Idaho is NOT buildings, or money, or programs…it is a collection of many you’s, me’s, and we’s!
What makes us different from the other educational institutions in this State, in fact different from most other entities, is that we are motivated by a love for what we do. Bear with me a few more words while I explain that assertion. Several years ago, I had the good fortune of listening to one of our campus guests, Hyrum Smith, talk about motivation. He gave examples of our behavior if we are motivated out of a sense of FEAR…we HAVE to do this or that because if we don’t, we may be in trouble, or disappoint, or lose. He compared that to our behavior if we are motivated by a sense of OBLIGATION…we OUGHT to do this or that because it’s traditional, expected, or prescribed by practice or policy. Finally, Hyrum described our behavior if we are motivated by a sense of LOVE…we WANT to do this because it’s an opportunity, a blessing, a desire, or a passion. When I am tired or discouraged, I often go back to these thoughts to reframe my attitude. I work at CSI because I love to serve students and share time and effort with all of you. I know that I am…we are…blessed to be employed, double-blessed to be at CSI, and triple-blessed to have the opportunity nearly every day to help someone else. I had a strong lesson in perspective just a few years back and it helped me understand that there is little I need for sustenance beyond God, family, and friends. Serving at CSI is just a privilege I enjoy…sort of the icing on my cake. I suspect the same is true for many of you! XOXO
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Greater Good at CSI
A Greater Good at CSI
In the early years of my career at CSI, I had one of those defining moments that changed my direction and ambitions dramatically. It seemed a crisis at the time, but now I look at it as just another of those lessons I was supposed to have learned. Like many of our students, I am afraid that I just tucked it into my short term bag without really understanding how valuable the lesson would be later on. It was that pre-kid, pre-brain, and pre-saved period of my life when it was all about my ambitions. I could talk the right talk, but the walk part was headed a different direction. Fortunately, I was blessed with family and friends who kept steering me the right direction. My efforts were aimed at the pursuit of fame and fortune, neither of which have I achieved or any longer desire.
Outside of my sweet little mother, one of my best guides along the way has been Jerry Meyerhoeffer. At his retirement party a few years ago, I had the honor of getting to say a few words. I told the audience that it had been quite easy to work for Jerry because I always felt like I knew who he was and what he wanted. In fact, I referred to my version of WWJD (What would Jerry do?) being a pretty easy resource for helping me to make some tough decisions. It is important to note that my motto was not WWPD (What would the President do?) for two obvious reasons. First of all, the obvious lack of connection to the Divine made it much less catchy and, secondly, I never thought of him as the “President.” He was, and is, my friend, my mentor, and my father figure. The President title only earned him a paycheck, but the other words, and how he lives them, truly describe my relationship with him.
When Graham was hurt in Phoenix, I was absolutely grounded in terms of who I am and what I am here for…and guess what, being the Dean of Students was, and is, pretty meaningless! I am Graydon, Believer, Son, Brother, Father, Friend! Those words don’t appear in my job description, but I guarantee they are the best qualifications and skills that I have to do my job. I can think of very little that I did in my pursuit of my educational degrees that prepares me to do what I do in my job, but my other lessons serve me daily. And when Graham was hurt, it was not Jerry Beck, the President, nor Mike Mason, the Vice-President, nor Randy Dill, the Director of Physical Plant, nor Jasmine Lopez, the Office Specialist, nor Joseph Lemoine, the Custodian: nor the hundreds of others who fed our dogs, mowed our lawn, prayed for us, and loved us because it was a part of their title or job. It is because each of you are first a believer in something, a relative of someone, and a friend of many. In that way, we are all equals and we bring nearly the same qualities to our job each day.
If I’ve made any sense at all to this point, it would follow that none of us are any less important than any other at CSI. The success that CSI has enjoyed to this point, the positive attitude that we carry even in difficult times, and the optimism and promise we see in our future result from the collective and equal efforts of each employee. As I move about our campus, or talk to co-workers on the phone, or listen to our students, I am often struck by how good each of you are at doing what you do. While those outstanding efforts may not result in a pay raise or an advance in rank or title, I know that you do it for a greater good. I am proud to be a part of this family! XOXO
In the early years of my career at CSI, I had one of those defining moments that changed my direction and ambitions dramatically. It seemed a crisis at the time, but now I look at it as just another of those lessons I was supposed to have learned. Like many of our students, I am afraid that I just tucked it into my short term bag without really understanding how valuable the lesson would be later on. It was that pre-kid, pre-brain, and pre-saved period of my life when it was all about my ambitions. I could talk the right talk, but the walk part was headed a different direction. Fortunately, I was blessed with family and friends who kept steering me the right direction. My efforts were aimed at the pursuit of fame and fortune, neither of which have I achieved or any longer desire.
Outside of my sweet little mother, one of my best guides along the way has been Jerry Meyerhoeffer. At his retirement party a few years ago, I had the honor of getting to say a few words. I told the audience that it had been quite easy to work for Jerry because I always felt like I knew who he was and what he wanted. In fact, I referred to my version of WWJD (What would Jerry do?) being a pretty easy resource for helping me to make some tough decisions. It is important to note that my motto was not WWPD (What would the President do?) for two obvious reasons. First of all, the obvious lack of connection to the Divine made it much less catchy and, secondly, I never thought of him as the “President.” He was, and is, my friend, my mentor, and my father figure. The President title only earned him a paycheck, but the other words, and how he lives them, truly describe my relationship with him.
When Graham was hurt in Phoenix, I was absolutely grounded in terms of who I am and what I am here for…and guess what, being the Dean of Students was, and is, pretty meaningless! I am Graydon, Believer, Son, Brother, Father, Friend! Those words don’t appear in my job description, but I guarantee they are the best qualifications and skills that I have to do my job. I can think of very little that I did in my pursuit of my educational degrees that prepares me to do what I do in my job, but my other lessons serve me daily. And when Graham was hurt, it was not Jerry Beck, the President, nor Mike Mason, the Vice-President, nor Randy Dill, the Director of Physical Plant, nor Jasmine Lopez, the Office Specialist, nor Joseph Lemoine, the Custodian: nor the hundreds of others who fed our dogs, mowed our lawn, prayed for us, and loved us because it was a part of their title or job. It is because each of you are first a believer in something, a relative of someone, and a friend of many. In that way, we are all equals and we bring nearly the same qualities to our job each day.
If I’ve made any sense at all to this point, it would follow that none of us are any less important than any other at CSI. The success that CSI has enjoyed to this point, the positive attitude that we carry even in difficult times, and the optimism and promise we see in our future result from the collective and equal efforts of each employee. As I move about our campus, or talk to co-workers on the phone, or listen to our students, I am often struck by how good each of you are at doing what you do. While those outstanding efforts may not result in a pay raise or an advance in rank or title, I know that you do it for a greater good. I am proud to be a part of this family! XOXO
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The College that Cares
(Written for the CSI PACE newsletter, January 2009)
As we move into the annual cycle of development plans, performance appraisals, and budget formulations, we look to our future with both concern and hope for what the next year will bring. The state of the economy and the increasing competition from other education vendors, both public and private, leave us with a little apprehension about our place and strength in the marketplace. Our usual response to all of this is typically analytical, logical, and predictable. We reassure ourselves of the many strengths we possess and we march that information out to the potential consumers confidant that they will agree with us and make the obvious wise choice to “stay near and go far.”
Over the past few years, our college has moved to a decision-making model that depends upon and values data, technology, and business modeling. It has been a sometimes painful and frustrating evolution for some of us who operated quite comfortably in the highly humanistic model that existed previously. In my recent past, my requests were presented with enthusiasm, passion, hope, and a sense that it was the right thing to do. Today, if I propose a new program or service, I must have already done my homework and present the research that will support the request and predict its success. Both models were, and are, successful and appropriate for the times and situations we face and do not have to be exclusive of each other.
As we made this transition, all of us experienced the grieving, and celebration, of loss and gain. I confess that I was one who considered my years, or days, here were numbered. I was an old dog, comfortable in my ways and reluctant to be taught new tricks. I missed the days of the State of the College address where we joined Jerry Meyerhoeffer in the crowded Shields Building and he introduced new faculty, welcomed new babies, and playfully mediated the teasing. I remember fondly his fatherly reminders to us to be kind to our students, and to each other, as we grew rapidly. Like many of you, I have stories from our past that are full of laughter, of tears, of success, of failure. I don’t remember IDP’s, UDP’s, or RFP’s, and Jenzabar would have been a new pub on Blue Lakes. “MyCSI” was not a portal to the database, but a place where I worked, lived, and loved.
I am still an old dog, but one who has learned new tricks! I have written a business plan, balanced a budget, and presented a powerpoint! I twitter, facebook, myspace, text, google, skype, and blog. I know more about funding and budgets than ever before and I access them through Jenzabar and MyCSI, all by myself! The College has changed and so have I!
Throughout these times, some things are constant and consistent. I still wear funky suits and I am late to most meetings. My desk is a mess and my office is a shrine to my family. I love my students, I laugh and cry a lot, and I work with my best friends!
The College of Southern Idaho still attracts students because we have small classes and small prices, relative to the times. We continue to be responsive, innovative, and dynamic. We expand and improve, we digitize, we improvise, we strategize! But…….I remind you, and I know and value more than ever today, that our strength, our difference, our niche in the marketplace is that we care…for our students and for each other. We know it is OurCSI!
As we move into the annual cycle of development plans, performance appraisals, and budget formulations, we look to our future with both concern and hope for what the next year will bring. The state of the economy and the increasing competition from other education vendors, both public and private, leave us with a little apprehension about our place and strength in the marketplace. Our usual response to all of this is typically analytical, logical, and predictable. We reassure ourselves of the many strengths we possess and we march that information out to the potential consumers confidant that they will agree with us and make the obvious wise choice to “stay near and go far.”
Over the past few years, our college has moved to a decision-making model that depends upon and values data, technology, and business modeling. It has been a sometimes painful and frustrating evolution for some of us who operated quite comfortably in the highly humanistic model that existed previously. In my recent past, my requests were presented with enthusiasm, passion, hope, and a sense that it was the right thing to do. Today, if I propose a new program or service, I must have already done my homework and present the research that will support the request and predict its success. Both models were, and are, successful and appropriate for the times and situations we face and do not have to be exclusive of each other.
As we made this transition, all of us experienced the grieving, and celebration, of loss and gain. I confess that I was one who considered my years, or days, here were numbered. I was an old dog, comfortable in my ways and reluctant to be taught new tricks. I missed the days of the State of the College address where we joined Jerry Meyerhoeffer in the crowded Shields Building and he introduced new faculty, welcomed new babies, and playfully mediated the teasing. I remember fondly his fatherly reminders to us to be kind to our students, and to each other, as we grew rapidly. Like many of you, I have stories from our past that are full of laughter, of tears, of success, of failure. I don’t remember IDP’s, UDP’s, or RFP’s, and Jenzabar would have been a new pub on Blue Lakes. “MyCSI” was not a portal to the database, but a place where I worked, lived, and loved.
I am still an old dog, but one who has learned new tricks! I have written a business plan, balanced a budget, and presented a powerpoint! I twitter, facebook, myspace, text, google, skype, and blog. I know more about funding and budgets than ever before and I access them through Jenzabar and MyCSI, all by myself! The College has changed and so have I!
Throughout these times, some things are constant and consistent. I still wear funky suits and I am late to most meetings. My desk is a mess and my office is a shrine to my family. I love my students, I laugh and cry a lot, and I work with my best friends!
The College of Southern Idaho still attracts students because we have small classes and small prices, relative to the times. We continue to be responsive, innovative, and dynamic. We expand and improve, we digitize, we improvise, we strategize! But…….I remind you, and I know and value more than ever today, that our strength, our difference, our niche in the marketplace is that we care…for our students and for each other. We know it is OurCSI!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
