By Hero Winsor
On February 5th, Administration headed by president John Carmichael shared a set of leadership updates via a zoom webinar accessible to the Staff & Faculty DL email list. Requiring more in-depth reporting for subsequent issues, here is a brief bulletin of the topics discussed:
- Admin is still awaiting results from the Washington State Patrol’s official investigation into the death of Jonathan Rodriguez. Carmichael stated that the college is attempting to address maintenance problems with campus housing and communication with admin.
- The Board of Trustees approved the spending of up to $1million to cover costs related to Jonathan’s death, including the WSP investigation bill and any necessary repairs to campus housing.
- A Kaeka Group contracted security guard entered an unmarked art space over winter break and upon seeing art projects involving the genocide in Palestine, Arabic writing on the door, and art supplies mistaken to be harmful chemicals identified the space as potentially dangerous. Police services decided to contact the FBI to investigate this. There is currently an Civil Rights investigation into potential discrimination involved in this incident.
- Following complaints of flyers and documents around student housing reportedly containing graphic images of destruction in Gaza and “quotes from Hamas leadership,” Evergreen is currently investigating the rights of a public college when allowing or not allowing postings made by students. This investigation is not strictly pertaining to the recent postings but will determine the reach of the first amendment as it affects the jurisdiction of campus administration.
- While not directly addressing the training currently provided to contracted security, Carmichael stated that unarmed security guards would still be hired while attempts would be made to secure the funding to hire more full-time officers for 24/7 police coverage.
- Sandy Kaiser made an update on the current state legislative session. A bill to support survivors of sexual assault will likely be pushed to next year due to budgetary issues. The Shelton Promise project which would provide free Evergreen tuition and admission to high school seniors in Shelton is in the budget for the session.
- Overall enrollment is up 11% with an increase in applications from in-state students and a decrease in applications from out-of-state students.
- FAFSA system updates have caused issues with students not being able to access the system until December (accessible in October in previous years) and crashing shortly after launch. Aid offers are likely to not be rolling out until mid-March.
- Native Pathways Program enrollment is the highest it’s ever been
- Up to 12 “regular” faculty positions for potential hire will be pursued over the first 3 years of the strategic plan to increase enrollment, framed by the recommended 8 hiring priority areas for enrollment growth which been concluded as: Agriculture & Food Studies, Art & Visual Arts, Biology & Ecology & Environmental Science, Health Sciences & Pre-Medicine, Business, Management & Entrepreneurship, Computer Science & Technology, Education & ELL Education, Film, Media & Communication, and Psychology & Counseling.
- Evergreen is currently recommended to determine the feasibility for future expansion into Nurse/Allied Health and Engineering as a part of its strategic growth plan.
- The college is expected to reach its fundraising goal of $55 million in the next five months
