Campus - Southern Maine Community College

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Campus Connection Convocation: Continuing Progress with Integrity Southern Maine Community College’s convocation was held on Aug. 23 and 24, a chance to welcome new faces, say hello to old friends and set the tone for the year. President Ron Cantor, addressing his second convocation at SMCC, extended the theme from his spring inauguration – “Progress with Integrity.” He noted a few observations he’s made since moving to the Pine Tree State from New York. The first was that the hierarchies and pecking orders that exist at other colleges seem to be absent at SMCC. “I’ve been amazed at how much mutual respect there is here,” Cantor said. That respect is between educational departments, between staff and faculty – really, throughout the campus community, he said. The other observation, he said, has him a bit puzzled. He noted the work ethic of Mainers, and said that was obviously present at SMCC. But, he said, that work ethic in the state doesn’t translate to increased aspirations for higher education, as is often the case elsewhere. he said, SMCC needs to look at where to find credit growth, as well, through online and hybrid offerings. But that, he said, needed to be done carefully, with academic integrity. Cantor also made a call to the college community to participate in the governance of the school, through the Faculty Senate, and also spoke to the need for a “culture of service.” There are always constituencies looking to the college for answers – during the day, night, on holidays, on weekends, he said. It’s important, he stressed, to provide those answers promptly. The Thursday session also featured a panel discussion on diversity at SMCC, focusing on several students and a professor as well. Among those speaking were 2012 SMCC graduate Akena Mike Bonny, students Pious Ali, Fabienne Namuhoranye and Alonzo Greer and faculty member Rich Pitre. They talked about ways to mesh minority members of the campus with the mainstream; one suggestion that came up several times was a sort of international festival to be held, featuring the cultures and cuisines of SMCC’s international community. He challenged the SMCC community to push that aspiration among the populace of the state. “I don’t know exactly how to tweak the culture of the state, but I think the people in this room have a role in that,” Cantor suggested. He hit on several other high points, making note of the opening of the Midcoast Campus in Brunswick, in particular. There are nearly 400 students registered at the Midcoast Campus, up from about 80 last year. “We are now one college with two comprehensive, full-service campuses,” Cantor said. Cantor also spoke about the importance to grow the school’s non-credit learning offerings through partnerships with businesses and communities. And, 6October 2011• Campus Connection • Your connection September to the 2012 SMCC • Campus community Connection • Your connection to the SMCC Community 6
Campus Connection SMCC’s Maine Fire Service Institute Dedicates 9/11 Memorial at Midcoast Campus Firefighters from around the state gathered at the new home of Southern Maine Community College’s Maine Fire Service Institute (MFSI) on September 15 for the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial. Guindon noted that the memorial had particular relevance in its new home at the college.“This 9/11 Memorial is a symbolic monument to motivate and inspire learning for firefighters that come through the door of the Maine Fire Service Institute. While silent, the memorial remains an active tool for reflection on the actions and events of a tragic day, but more importantly, to also reinforce the lessons learned from a dreadful time that will help in the future,” Guindon said. The memorial, which now has a permanent home at the institute’s Midcoast Campus headquarters, features a section of girder from the World Trade Center that the New York City Fire Department had gifted to the Bath Fire Department. Two members of the Bath Fire Department were part of the initial FEMA response team that assisted operations at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11/2001. A procession consisting of 20 fire departments from around the state, honor guards and public safety pipe and drum corps began the ceremony at 11 a.m., leading to the MFSI’s new home at SMCC’s Midcoast Campus on the former Naval air base. Speakers included SMCC President Ron Cantor, Bath Fire Capt. Mike Clarke, Freeport Fire Chief Darrel Fournier (chair of the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission), Wells Fire Chief Dan Moore (vice president of the Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association) and MFSI Director William Guindon. “Memorials like this are so important for our communities. They ensure that new generations of Americans never forget, that we always remember the sacrifice and dedication of our first responders,” said Cantor. “We see that dedication so clearly at SMCC, in our Fire Science, Criminal Justice and Emergency Medical Services students, and the distinguished experts who teach them. We also see it in the working professionals who are trained through the Maine Fire Service Institute. We see it, we’re proud of them and of all of you, and we thank you.” 7 September 2012 • Campus Connection • Your connection to the SMCC community
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