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City College of San Francisco - California Competes

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THEME VI<br />

Operating in the “Sunshine”<br />

CCSF is committed to the principle <strong>of</strong> openness in conducting the business <strong>of</strong> the public and to the right<br />

<strong>of</strong> the people to know about the operations <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>. The Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees has recognized that<br />

access to both public meetings and public information is vital to ensuring full participation <strong>of</strong> the public<br />

in the workings <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>. Therefore, when the <strong>College</strong> was approached by the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Francisco</strong><br />

to explore adopting the <strong>City</strong> and County <strong>of</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Francisco</strong>’s “Sunshine Ordinance,” the Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees<br />

directed the Chancellor to establish an Advisory Committee to study the feasibility <strong>of</strong> its application to<br />

CCSF. The Advisory Committee was also charged with reviewing existing <strong>College</strong> practices and procedures<br />

regarding public meetings and public records (e.g., current compliance with the Brown Act and Public<br />

Records Act). Throughout 2002 and 2003, the Advisory Committee and the Board made numerous<br />

recommendations regarding efforts to increase opportunities for public participation. Joint meetings<br />

occurred between the Advisory Committee and the <strong>San</strong> <strong>Francisco</strong> <strong>City</strong> and County Sunshine Ordinance<br />

Task Force in 2003 and 2004, during which pros and cons <strong>of</strong> the recommendations presented by both<br />

groups were analyzed by the <strong>College</strong>’s General Counsel and the Deputy <strong>City</strong> Attorney assigned by the<br />

Task Force. By May 2005, 25 recommendations had been adopted by the Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees.<br />

CCSF Communications: Commitment to Clarity, Accessibility and Appropriateness<br />

Mass communications. The priority placed on honesty, inclusiveness, and forthrightness with members<br />

<strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong> community and the external communities it serves drives the prolific production <strong>of</strong><br />

mass and target communications at CCSF. The distribution <strong>of</strong> the Spring 2005 Class Schedule illustrates<br />

the scale <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>'s regular communications with the public: 335,000 schedules were mailed to<br />

residences, over 10,000 were delivered to public libraries and high schools, and 80,000 were available<br />

through the <strong>College</strong> bookstores. Ads promoting the start <strong>of</strong> classes or announcing the development <strong>of</strong> new<br />

programs (such as the Bridge to Biotech program or the Asian-Pacific American Student Services program)<br />

are posted in the numerous regional dailies, weeklies, and monthlies, including ethnic and neighborhood<br />

newspapers. The Chancellor’s Annual Report to the Community, sent to 340,000 residences in October, is<br />

an illustrated, three-part fold-out poster <strong>of</strong> information produced by the Office <strong>of</strong> Public Information and<br />

Marketing. It provides the community with a detailed progress report on the <strong>College</strong>’s fiscal management,<br />

partnerships with the community, and quality improvement initiatives in programs, services, and facilities.<br />

The 2004 Annual Report also provided a detailed update on the implementation <strong>of</strong> the Facilities Master<br />

Plan. The Chancellor’s E-Bulletin, sent to 2,000 residences three times per year, gives regular updates <strong>of</strong><br />

CCSF operations and accomplishments. Clearly, the <strong>College</strong> places great value in maintaining communications<br />

and relationships with the surrounding communities.<br />

The <strong>College</strong> Catalog is the primary source <strong>of</strong> information for students and the public regarding curriculum,<br />

programs and services, <strong>College</strong> policies and procedures, and student rights and responsibilities.<br />

This year, 6,000 copies <strong>of</strong> the 2005-2006 CCSF Catalog will be printed, though it is the online delivery <strong>of</strong><br />

both the CCSF Catalog and Schedule <strong>of</strong> Classes that ensures local, national, and international access to<br />

information about the <strong>College</strong>. The Catalog is continually updated in its online version to reflect changes<br />

that impact students and is a truly collaborative effort <strong>of</strong> administration, school and campus deans,<br />

department chairs, and program and service directors and coordinators, under the meticulous coordination<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Catalog Workgroup and the Office <strong>of</strong> Instruction. In a 2004 online survey <strong>of</strong> 2,500 students<br />

regarding their satisfaction with <strong>College</strong> services, the CCSF Catalog was among the 12 top-rated services.<br />

The 2003-2004 Catalog earned two awards for its presentation and readability: the Silver Medallion <strong>of</strong><br />

Achievement from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations and third place from the<br />

Community <strong>College</strong> Public Relations Association.<br />

336 CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO

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