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Community colleges are very closely connected to their communities. The faculty members who teach, the staff members who support, and the students who learn do so as members of the college’s community of learners. Those bonds are strong and lead to student success in a variety of ways.

Many people look forward to February for a variety of reasons such as Valentine’s Day or the approaching end of winter. At Waubonsee Community College, we look forward to February as an opportunity to participate in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.

The start of a year brings a sense of newness and opportunity that extends beyond just the turn of the calendar. Many of us have new year resolutions that we use as tools to help us enhance our lives in a variety of ways. We make plans that support our resolutions and do things like buy gym memberships and healthier groceries, make financial budgets, and create tools to help us stay organized.

Resolutions and plans do not have to begin in January, though. For Waubonsee, the Strategic Plan we launched last August serves as our resolution to be the top choice for learning in our community.

For many, the holiday season is a time to renew or strengthen connections with those around us. It is a time to see past differences and remember what makes us alike. Strangers seem more like friends and kindness greets us unexpectedly.

For several years, Waubonsee Community College has published an Annual Report to the Community. This publication has changed in format and look, however its purpose has remained constant. Combined with our College Scorecard and other documents, the Annual Report to the Community demonstrates our accountability to district residents and other supporters by visually sharing stories of some of the people represented by the numbers and statistics. The Annual Report reminds us that together, we have created something to be proud of.

I often talk about the power of education to change lives. And I never tire of hearing, or telling, the stories of people who experience that power first-hand when they complete their degree, start their dream job, or continue their education at their dream school. However, these stories do not represent all of the ways that education changes lives and communities.

The changing seasons that come with September remind me of the quote from the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, “change is the only constant in life.” Technology, the economy and shared cultural experiences all cause shifts in behaviors, priorities, and choices. These shifts create new opportunities and challenges that organizations must respond to. Relevant, dynamic organizations welcome these shifts and in that spirit we have launched Waubonsee’s new FY2020-FY2022 Strategic Plan.

For those of us who work in education, August is an exciting month. It is like January when all things are new for many people. It is like the start of sports seasons when everyone starts fresh and with the opportunity to do great things. When it comes to the start of the academic year, everyone starts fresh and has opportunities to do great things.

During my more than 40 years experience working within higher education – specifically within the community college system – I have witnessed countless examples of the power of education to change lives. And, nothing is more effective than hearing directly from the source; people who have attended community college.

At last month’s commencement we celebrated our fifty-first graduating class; a collective ritual marking both the external changes and internal transformation of people as they prepare to enrich their lives, their families and their communities. We are grateful to play a part in the contributions that Waubonsee alumni make within our community every day.