A MESSAGE FROM DR. BARBARA GABA - MAY 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff:

I hope everyone had a happy Memorial Day, the day that we honor the United States military men and women who died while serving our country. I would like to thank all of the faculty and staff who serve or have served in our armed forces. You are the heroes of Atlantic Cape.

Thank you to the more than 240 faculty, staff, and retirees who attended our first Virtual College-Wide Meeting last Thursday. It was wonderful seeing so many of you in attendance, and I appreciated your comments and suggestions, as well as your sentiments and best wishes. I will continue communicating with you as we manage the short and long term effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Increased Regional Visibility

I shared at the College-Wide Meeting that we have increased our social media campaigns and online presence, as well as increased our advertising efforts on cable TV, such as CNN. We have also added regional television presence on Fox News and PHL17. These efforts all increase our visibility in the community at large.

Increased Student Support

We have invested in new technologies that make it easier to register and advise students. Our new mobile app, Atlantic Cape Connect, is now live and can be downloaded to your device via the Apple Store, Google Play, and the Amazon App Store. This app is a convenient way for students to stay connected and to access all the tools they need to find and register for classes (including a shopping cart check out), access their Buccaneer email and Blackboard account, stay on top of deadlines, make payments online, connect with faculty and staff, and more.

CRM Advise implementation is ongoing and will enable staff and faculty to more effectively track student progress, communicate with students, and ensure that students get the advising they need to stay on course academically and reach their goals.

Budget Update

I also shared at the meeting the impact that COVID-19 has had on our budget. We were recently advised that our State operating appropriations for the last quarter have been cut in half, which totals a $450,000 revenue loss to the College. Further State reductions are anticipated for the first quarter of FY21 minimally. While we have already taken the initial fiduciary steps to reduce spending, we anticipate additional action will be needed to balance the budget. I will keep you informed as we know more about our appropriations and enrollment trends and the subsequent actions that will be required for sustainability.

Summer Sessions Are Remote

Since our College-Wide Meeting, we have made a decision to have the Summer II and III sessions available remotely. The safe and healthy return of our students on our campus, when we are able to do so, is a top priority. We are in the process of converting all courses offered this summer to a remote learning environment.

Thank you for the dedication and hard work to Atlantic Cape and the students we serve. Your efforts are most appreciative.

Be well and safe,

Dr. Barbara Gaba

President