When Is a Wrong Number Really the Right Number? When It Results in Excellent Customer Service! From time to time, we’ll be highlighting “Wow!” stories of DCCCD employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help someone.  Recently, Saundra Zabojnik had the opportunity to render just such Wow! service, even though her position of data communications technical specialist at the District Service Center does not ordinarily involve dealing with students or irate parents. She recalls: The mother of a student was trying to resolve a problem. Her daughter had dropped a class, but it apparently had not been recorded because when the grade report came out, it showed an F instead of a W. The mother had called the college several times that day and, because of a high call volume, had not been able to speak with the dean of the department who could address this issue. [READ THE FULL STORY]   Going From Good to Great Denys Blell, vice chancellor, Human and Organizational Development, is on a quest for excellence at DCCCD. Over the years he has been involved in Human Resources (HR) and Organizational Development (Org Dev), he's asked himself one question: “How can we provide a training program so that employees can be more effective at what they do, a systematic method of training that can take them from good to great?” Designed to do just that, the Human Resources Career Institute (HRCI) will engage the “best of the best” to share their knowledge with others. Targeting HR professionals wishing to enhance and improve their skills as well as any employee desiring to work in HR, this program is scheduled to begin in September 2009. [READ THE FULL STORY]   DCCCD Idol Talent Show Rocks Conference Day   J.D. Haight, Belinda Benson and the Matrix Choir entertain the conference-day audience with parodies of popular songs including “Living La Vida Local,” “Don’t Stop Retaining,” “Man of Constant Borrow,” and “Heard It Through the Grapevine (Retention Edition).” Conference Day for the District Office, District Service Center and LeCroy Center included a visit to the Matrix for enlightenment on student recruitment and retention.  It also saw the debut of something very special, the First Annual DCCCD Idol Talent Show. Entrants from all three locations performed to an overflow audience. Although the real Randy, Paula and Simon were nowhere to be found, Joe Ward, Heather Morrison and LaShonda Green were fantastic judges. [READ THE FULL STORY]   Planning Takes the Guesswork Out of Retirement Addressing the concerns of both soon-to-retire and not-so-soon-to-retire employees, District Human Resources (DHR) recently offered two well-received retirement planning events. Employees enrolled in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) met at Eastfield College in November 2008, and those served by the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) gathered at Brookhaven College in February 2009. Claudia Carosilva-Palacios and Cynthia Brown, both in DHR, plus a team of college HR directors and benefit coordinators planned and staffed the sessions. “We had numerous requests to do something of this nature and are hoping to make this an annual event,” said Brown. [READ THE FULL STORY]   Upcoming Professional Development Events Event Date Location and Times Visions of Excellence: “You Asked for It” Friday, March 27, 2009 NLC Room TBA, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Emotional Intelligence Tuesday, March 31, 2009 DO Room 038, 9 p.m.-4 p.m. OrgDev Miniseries: Growth Opportunities in the District Monday, April 13, 2009 LCET Room R012, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Visions of Excellence: Celebrating Successes Friday, April 24, 2009 BHC Room TBA, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Human Resources A-Z Tuesday, April 28, 2009 DO Room 038, 9 a.m.-Noon OrgDev Miniseries: Laugh for Your Life Tuesday, May 5, 2009 LCET Room R012, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. New Employee Orientation Tuesday, May 12, 2009 DO Room 038, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Strategic Performance Management Workshop Thursday, May 21, 2009 DO Room 038, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information on training/educational programs, visit the Organizational Development Web site or call 214-378-1614.   HR Reminder... Thinking of taking extra time off around spring break or near Easter? Vacation time off must be pre-approved by supervisors as soon as leave is planned. Leave forms must be completed, signed and submitted to HR for input prior to the leave being taken.

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