Administrative staff wants to chat

This semester marks the beginning of a new communication initiative at North Lake College. Campus Conversations are being held all over the college.

What are Campus Conversations? They are scheduled times when members of the college administrative staff are out and about ready to engage in conversations with anyone who wants to talk. I have asked each member of the administrative staff to schedule one-hour blocks of time dedicated to listening to students, faculty, and staff.

There are several reasons it is important for us to listen and converse. First, Campus Conversations give the president, vice presidents, and executive deans an opportunity to meet students and college employees to hear about their successes, their challenges, and their ideas. In the words of Leonard Berry, author of Discovering the Soul of Service, “Listening leads to learning, which sets the stage for innovation.”

The whole idea is consistent with two of our college values: 1) excellence in teaching and learning, and 2) innovation and agility. Second, the conversations open up new opportunities for informal communication in a relaxed setting.

So far we have targeted high traffic areas on campus like the cafeteria, the lobby in Building C, and the lounge area in the T Building. We have not forgotten the DFW Education Center or the South Irving Center as locations for some of our Campus Conversations.

Here are a few guidelines we will use. We are there to listen and get to know you. We are there to guide you to the people on campus who can assist if you have an issue.

If others are waiting to speak with us, we will limit our time with each person to 5 minutes out of courtesy to those who are waiting.

What should you do if you see the president, vice presidents, or an executive deans sitting next to a big “Campus Conversations” poster? Stop by and say hello. Before you know it, you will be engaged in a campus conversation.