“What does a Trustee do?”
That’s probably one of the most frequently asked questions I get when meeting people. It is a fair question, to be honest. Most of our responsibilities on the Board of Trustees at City College concern governing by setting policies and priorities for the District. The Chancellor is tasked with carrying out our directions and managing the institution. The majority of our “traditional” duties are carried out at our two monthly board meetings. Since joining the Board about 18 months ago, my goal from the beginning was to break out of the boardroom and to get into the streets.
To help achieve that goal, I meet with students, faculty, classified staff, and numerous community groups almost every week. Being accessible and visible in the community are very important aspects of my responsibilities.
Consequently, I was very excited when SEIU 1021, the union representing our classified staff at City College, invited me to participate in a “day in the shoes of” kind of shadow day during the first week of fall semester classes. I spent half the day at Admissions and Records and the other half at Counseling. It is one thing to read the reports and agenda packages about the hard work our classified staff do on any given day to support our students, and another to see first-hand what goes on behind the curtain.
Many of the students seen that day at Admissions and Records mostly had questions about class schedules and problems adding classes. I was surprised to observe how many students came in to adjust their residency status under AB540, which allows certain undocumented students to attend college in California and to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. It was very heartwarming to see that these students who dream of a better future now have access to affordable higher education. I am proud that community colleges like City College provide a promising pathway for so many of them, as well as for other students looking for a better life.
Another thing that was very apparent was the state of the facilities and office space that our students, counselors, and staff work in every day. I am very grateful for what these individuals do to support our students, getting them on a pathway for success. The buildings on Ocean Avenue that these workers are in, however, have been around for decades and are not in the best condition anymore.
To address that issue, City College is currently developing a 10-year facilities master plan. While it is important to identify facilities that need upgrading and improvement, it is equally essential to have the resources necessary for such work. It is up to us, as voters in San Francisco, to enable the funding for infrastructure and facilities. This November, we have the opportunity to pass state measure Prop 51, which could bring such needed funding to upgrade our facilities and more. (For more information about Prop 51, please go to: http://yeson51.com/?gclid=CM3TzNLa584CFcNgfgod9oEIAg)
Thank you to Dean MaryLou Leyba, Adriana Rivera, and Maria Salazar for hosting me during a very busy time at City College, and for providing me with the opportunity to roll-up my sleeves for one special day.
Alex Randolph is a Trustee for City College of San Francisco. He previously served in President Obama’s administration and as an LGBT advisor for Mayor Newsom. He lives in the Castro with his partner Trevor. Follow him on social media: www.twitter.com/adrandolph & www.facebook.com/AlexDRandolph
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