MCCCD efficiency plans in motion

By Josselyn Berry, March 2010
Editor-in-Chief

On Dec. 9, consulting firm Alvarez and Marsal presented its final report to the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board.

Hired by the board, Alvarez and Marsal researched and reviewed the efficiency of all MCCCD colleges. The consultants may be gone now, but their recommendations still linger.

First hired on July 13, 2009, Alvarez and Marsal outlined a project, which focused on student retention, recruitment and achievement to create “a redesigned blueprint of 21st century Maricopa.” The company recommended 38 goals for the board to accomplish.

On its Web site located at www.maricopa.edu/chancellor, each goal’s progress is monitored by three colored percentage dots. Red represents 0-30 percent completion, yellow represents 31-79 percent completion and green represents 80-100 percent completion. At this point in the project, nearly all goals are in the red section. One goal that is at full completion, however, recommends that organizational oversight should be with the chancellor, and there should be scheduled participation in student success and engagement benchmarking studies.

On Dec. 15, 2009, Glasper presented his review and implementation strategy for the project. Due to the extensive research and analysis required for each goal, progress is expected to take time.

Tom Gariepy, district director of marketing and communications, says that the time period is “going to depend entirely on what the analysis is.”

To execute this precise investigation, the Governing Board has created a steering team. This team was established after the board asked for volunteers to participate in the project. Made up of MCCCD employees, the steering team features Clara Lovett, former president of Northern Arizona University; Ioanna Morfessis, president of the business consultancy, IO; Jim Simpson, professor of computer information systems at Scottsdale Community College; Ernie Lara, president of Estrella Mountain Community College; and Spencer Morgan, member of student government at Mesa Community College.

The project work teams are comprised of over 300 district employees and volunteers. Simpson, member of the steering team, says there are four key areas the focus groups will work on. These include student success, business systems, human resources and employee development and technological services. The student success team is being directed by project manager Dr. Marie Harper-Marinick, vice chancellor of academic affairs. Harper-Marinick is also working with people who can be team leaders. Vice Chancellor for business services Debra Thompson is on the business team and will be working with possible team leaders, as well.

“We’re going to shine a bright light on it and make sure it’s the best thing to do,” Gariepy says.

Along with the steering team, the chancellor formed the Change Management Committee, which provides support to the Steering Team.

Simpson also works on this committee and says, “The time commitment on behalf of the leadership is enormous.”

When Alvarez and Marsal was hired, there was controversy among board members over its cost and purpose. The cost of the consultation, which was $1.143 million, has been paid, but Debra Pearson, the governing board member representing PVCC, still expresses dissent. Pearson believes the board should have been able to do this job themselves.

“To me, it’s a very sad and frustrating when all you need is a board with the spinal fortitude to ask the tough questions.”

Although Pearson disagrees with the method the board chose to renovate the colleges, she does agree with the steering team and says she hopes governing board politics will stay out of it.

Pearson says the board went to schools and businesses asking for volunteers and the results were impressive.

There was “brilliance coming out to participate,” she says.

The timeline for each goal is uncertain, but Gariepy assures each goal will go through extensive analysis before implementation.

To become involved in 21st Century Maricopa, visit www.maricopa.edu/chancellor to make personal suggestions ,or attend the initial meeting of the steering team on Feb. 12 at the Governing Board’s district office.