Martinez to continue his 'talks'
Exene Rodriguez
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
In an act of outreach to the student body and to the staff, President/Superintendent Dr. Ted Martinez plans to hold another "Talk With the President" event.
"Dr. Martinez calls this activity a 'listening outpost.' Rather than telling people things, it's getting information," comments Director of Marketing and Communications, Susan Herney.
With these talks, Dr. Martinez is looking to understand what kind of experience the students encounter.
"What I really look for is some feedback. I'm interested in how their experience has been through out their time at Rio Hondo College," he says. While positive comments are welcomed, it is expected that both students and staff may come with complaints about certain issues.
"When I hear that there is an issue from a student, in what ever area it may be, I go back to the vice president and the appropriate dean and instruct them to follow up with it. This way we can make changes for the better. It helps me have a sense of how faculty, staff and students are feeling."
He continues to say that he believes in an open door philosophy, and that people are welcome to speak with him when he is free, but feels that the talks he holds take his availability a step further.
"One of my values is continual improvement. I ask for feed back off campus as well as around the community to see how we're meeting their trading and educational needs through our programs."
According to Dr. Martinez the turnout of the first "listening outpost" was a success and merited that more talks be scheduled.
Despite the controversy that rose after the first "Talk With the President" Dr. Martinez remains optimistic.
"My sense of the event was that it was successful for the first one we did and I think I will continue to do them, and I think that the students will continue to stop by and see me. I look forward to continuing them in the future," he says.
The next event will be held on Dec. 1 in the Campus Inn from 12-1:30 pm.
"Dr. Martinez calls this activity a 'listening outpost.' Rather than telling people things, it's getting information," comments Director of Marketing and Communications, Susan Herney.
With these talks, Dr. Martinez is looking to understand what kind of experience the students encounter.
"What I really look for is some feedback. I'm interested in how their experience has been through out their time at Rio Hondo College," he says. While positive comments are welcomed, it is expected that both students and staff may come with complaints about certain issues.
"When I hear that there is an issue from a student, in what ever area it may be, I go back to the vice president and the appropriate dean and instruct them to follow up with it. This way we can make changes for the better. It helps me have a sense of how faculty, staff and students are feeling."
He continues to say that he believes in an open door philosophy, and that people are welcome to speak with him when he is free, but feels that the talks he holds take his availability a step further.
"One of my values is continual improvement. I ask for feed back off campus as well as around the community to see how we're meeting their trading and educational needs through our programs."
According to Dr. Martinez the turnout of the first "listening outpost" was a success and merited that more talks be scheduled.
Despite the controversy that rose after the first "Talk With the President" Dr. Martinez remains optimistic.
"My sense of the event was that it was successful for the first one we did and I think I will continue to do them, and I think that the students will continue to stop by and see me. I look forward to continuing them in the future," he says.
The next event will be held on Dec. 1 in the Campus Inn from 12-1:30 pm.
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