THE LIBI LOG - 2012 Fall Edition

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Fall 2012

the libi log Dear LIBI Community, In the spirit of the holiday season, I want to wish you and those you hold dear a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year. I hope you have the opportunity to relax, spend time with family and friends, and reflect on life’s little blessings as the very tumultuous 2012 comes to a close.

In four and a half years as the President of this college, I have never been more proud of our students, staff, and faculty than I am today. We made tremendous strides in 2012 to help ensure that LIBI continues to play an important leadership role in the academic and workforce development of the communities we serve. To make certain the changes we made to our curriculum were officially captured, our faculty and staff worked diligently to craft (and agree on) an updated mission for the college. I am very excited to report that the mission and vision statements printed on page 7 of this Log were successfully approved and will be used going forward. Members of the LIBI community are also engaging -- more than ever -- in lending a helping hand to the communities we serve. I am very humbled by LIBI’s unflagging spirit of giving through these trying economic times. As we reflect on the year gone by, let’s remember those whose lives have been forever altered by the unbridled powers of Mother Nature and recommit ourselves to helping those still in need. I want to thank all of our students, faculty, and staff for their generous monetary contributions and donations of clothing and other essential items for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. LIBI’s spirit of helping those in need was also felt at this year’s Faculty Choir Thanksgiving and Holiday Concert. This year, the dedicated and talented group headed by Professor Jasmine Downer performed holiday classics in a “sold out” concert on December 10th. The choir had the audience Rocking Around the Christmas Tree while raising $600 from ticket sales to benefit the Macedonia A.M.E. Church soup kitchen. Please see page 4 of this Log to read more about our fun-filled and engaging benefit concert. I am also proud to report that in 2012 LIBI’s commitment to social responsibility spanned beyond the borders of the local communities we serve because we deeply believe, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

its equivalent (e.g., GED®) ineligible for Title IV funds. By these provisions, students without a high school credential no longer qualify for or have access to any federally administered funding (including the Pell grant, loans, and the federal work-study program). Previously, these students could qualify for student aid by proving their “ability to benefit” (AtB) by either (1) passing a federally approved test or (2) passing six credit hours. Aided by the determined and unwavering activism of Anna Venturino, our Director of Student Affairs and Veteran Services, I spent a substantial portion of November and December contacting and lobbying various U.S. Senators on behalf of our Ability-to-Benefit students. In addition to meeting with Senator Schumer’s and Gillibrand’s education policy teams, Anna and I traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with the education team of Senator Murray of Washington. Senator Murray is sponsoring legislation aimed at helping struggling, underprepared Ability-toBenefit students make progress toward a meaningful post-secondary credential by allowing these students access to federal grants and loans after successfully completing six college credits. The reason why we chose to reach out to Senator Murray is encapsulated by her quote below: “It doesn’t make sense to punish students we know would benefit from post-secondary education and training, and this amendment will make sure we don’t. This amendment is good for students working hard to upgrade their skills and get better jobs, and it’s good for businesses looking for skilled workers.” - Senator Patty Murray Although Senator Murray’s amendment seems like it should be passed by both legislative chambers with ease, it is, in fact, facing serious opposition from both parties. While eliminating Pell for the Ability-toBenefit students generated only a small budget savings of $268 million in 2012, the economic crisis facing our nation makes prospects of restoring this funding bleak. After an optimistic meeting in Washington, I am very proud to say that Anna worked feverishly with our faculty and students to supply Senator Murray’s office with desperately needed letters of support and personal stories of trial and triumph demonstrating the dire need for the restoration of federal funding for these students. We were able to send over 300 letters to Senator Murray! We now await the vote for this legislation, and I will provide updates as they become available. I am grateful for the commitment and dedication you have shown to LIBI in 2012. I look forward to working together and to our continued progress in 2013. Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year!

As all of you know, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (passed in December of 2011) made students without a high school diploma or

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Warm regards, Monica W. Foote President


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