District Imperatives

VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Board of Trustees District Imperatives
Adopted September 13, 2005

Having reviewed our Mission Statements, and the global, national, state, and local developments impacting our district, the Board of Trustees recognizes the need for continual organizational strengthening and change. This will assure program and service excellence in our increasingly complex environment.

Trustees, in fulfilling their policy-level district responsibility to the general public, have adopted a set of five organizational imperatives. Trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff respect and observe these imperatives to make the Ventura County Community College District California’s Finest Community College System.

Student Success

Student learning is the primary focus of the colleges within the Ventura County Community College District. The Board and all employees will ensure that all students are provided with effective programs and services that successfully meet the varied educational goals of those we serve. District students shall receive outstanding assistance in clarifying their educational objectives, obtaining financial aid, enrolling in college, and upgrading their pre-collegiate skills. They shall be provided efficient transfer and vocational programs as well as high-quality counseling, tutorial, college transfer, and job placement services.

Community Needs

The District will research and further develop collaborative service area linkages with public and private schools, governments, agencies, organizations, businesses, and industries. Its business practices will support local enterprise within the provisions of law. The District will serve both traditional and non-traditional learners, via a broad variety of innovative instructional methods. In addition to its college transfer curriculum, it will maintain short-term job training and school-to- work programs. Occupational, vocational, career, and job training activities will reflect contemporary skills articulated by private sector advisory committees. The District will develop engaged student citizenship responding to community needs via employment internships, service learning, student life programs, and volunteerism.

Diversity

The Ventura County Community College District respects diversity as a basic principle to effective participation in our democratic nation. Sensitivity to diversity assists citizens in strengthening their intellectual awareness from basic knowledge to real understanding and complex reasoning in a global society. The District is committed to providing outreach and access to all Ventura County students with a focus on those who have traditionally experienced barriers to higher education. It models appreciation for diversity in its hiring, staff development training, curriculum, community outreach, student activities, and communications. The District provides excellent educational programs and services that enhance student success regardless of learning styles, age, socioeconomic status, disability, race, gender, lifestyle, cultural, or educational differences.

Organizational Dynamics and Communication

The District expects excellence from its personnel and their programs and services. It maintains high personal and professional standards of competence and conduct for trustees, employees, and students. The District fosters positive, open communication, and cooperative, respectful, and accountable working and learning relationships within a participatory governance environment. It maintains organizational structures, personnel assignments, staff development, and policies and practices which effectively serve our missions. It promotes efficient use of resources, reflects equitable and open budgeting, and provides funding and accountability for planned accomplishments.

Fiscal Integrity

The District is committed to cost-effective, excellent operations, programs, and services. It will continue to seek equitable funding from the state of California while employing rigorous cost containment and accountability measures for its varied activities. The District will establish and maintain outstanding student marketing, outreach, and retention programs as part of its enrollment management and planning processes. Fiscal integrity will be ensured by transparent balanced budgeting, accounting, and personnel practices which support District planning objectives, academic excellence, physical plant operations, technology, and prudent reserves.