Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/73942
A Letter from theDean It is hard to believe an entire year has passed since I joined CMU. I have enjoyed getting to know the faculty, students, staff and alumni of CCFA, as well as the members of the Mount Pleasant community. Many great things are happening in our college. Unfortunately, there are not enough column inches to detail all of our accomplishments and ongoing projects, so I will mention a few highlights. We updated the college's mission statement (left). Topics include the power of communication, the importance of scholarship and creativity, and offering students a high- quality education. A strategic plan also is being developed, which mirrors the mission statement and outlines the college's goals for the next several years. Dean Salma Ghanem Mission Statement forms. Through scholarship and creativity, the college provides opportunities for students and faculty to pursue their passions, enhance their abilities and realize their potential. The college prepares students to be independent, critical thinkers, lifelong learners and successful professionals in a variety of careers through its commitment to a high-quality, comprehensive education. The College of Communication and Fine Arts believes that arts and communication are fundamental to the health, well-being and advancement of society and embraces the power of communication in all its In addition to strategic planning, CCFA is updating its look to more accurately and consistently represent CCFA and the university. An example of this effort is this online newsletter, which increases our circulation while decreasing our costs. Speaking of costs, conserving resources is our first priority during these challenging economic times. I have been impressed by the cooperative spirit of our college. All units have identified ways we can save money without affecting the quality education we offer our students. Due to current budgetary constraints, the Lem Tucker Media Leadership Speaker Series and the Michigan Story Festival were suspended for 2010-2011. This was a difficult decision to make, but these planning committees took a proactive and fiscally responsible approach and are brainstorming ideas to possibly continue these events. This year, CCFA hosted events for a wide-ranging audience, including the Central Michigan International Film Festival, OPUS XIII, the Michigan Story Festival, Dean's Theatre Night and the Riecker Literary Series, as well as a few new events. The theatre alums of the 1970s took over Moore Hall and enjoyed a performance-filled reunion. Professor Emeritus Elliott Parker facilitated a visit by Trey Parker, co-creator of Shelly Hinck named associate dean of CCFA "South Park. " This year CCFA, in conjunction with University Events and Classic Fare Catering, sponsored the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce Business Over Breakfast. This networking event had record attendance and brought the campus and Mount Pleasant communities together. Reflecting on the past year, I would be remiss in not thanking the dean's office staff. They kept me on track and headed in the right direction when I did not yet know the names of campus buildings. They also were wonderful translators when I was still learning all of the many CMU acronyms. Their institutional knowledge is appreciated. A special thank you is extended to Interim Associate Dean Al Wildey. Al returned to the Department of Art and Design to share his talents with his photography students. Al's wisdom and humor will certainly be missed in the dean's office. I am pleased to announce Shelly Hinck assumed the duties of associate dean. Shelly joined CMU in 1988 and has most recently served as a professor in the Communication and Dramatic Arts Department. We look forward to her joining the dean's office staff.