GILROY
– Sherrean Carr, Gavilan College’s dean of technical and public
services, will serve as the interim vice president of instruction
and student services next school year.
GILROY – Sherrean Carr, Gavilan College’s dean of technical and public services, will serve as the interim vice president of instruction and student services next school year.
Gavilan’s board of trustees unanimously approved Carr’s appointment during a regular meeting Tuesday. She will hold the vice president position starting Aug. 1 and ending June 30, 2005.
“We’re very confident in Sherrean,” said Laura Perry, board president. “She’s extremely qualified from an institutional and technical point of view.”
Carr is filling a new, consolidated vice president position created as the college temporarily shifts from three vice presidents to two, as a cost-saving measure. Vice presidents John Baker and Marty Johnson, currently heading student services and instruction respectively, are both retiring at the end of this year.
Vice President of Business Services Joe Keeler will remain with the college.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to integrate instruction and student services,” Carr said. “This focus on integration will bring the academics – the classes and programs – together with the student support services to increase student success.”
The vice president positions will be consolidated starting in August, through the 2004-05 school year. In January, the college will begin a search for two permanent vice presidents to once again head instruction and student services separately.
Through the reorganization, the college will save nearly $100,000. Gavilan underwent severe budget cuts last year and this year needs to make up an estimated $300,000 gap.
By eliminating one vice president and a part-time administrative assistant, Gavilan will save about $150,000. But, after a $13,000 vice presidents stipend, various dean and associate dean stipends associated with extra duties from the reorganization, Gavilan’s total savings for next fiscal year is $95,949.
Carr sees the reorganization as a way to more closely focus on providing a quality program for students.
“This opportunity brings my passion for student services and commitment to our academic program with both perspectives in mind to better serve the students in our community,” Carr said. “This collaborative effort will develop our students with a holistic approach to meet their needs and provide a clear path to their dreams.”
Carr joined Gavilan College in 1985 and has administrative experience in both student services and instruction. Since 1999, she has served as dean of technical and public services and fills other institutional positions, such as strategic planning coordinator and facilitator for the expenditure reduction task force last year. The learning disabilities specialist and speech pathologist served in numerous other capacities prior to becoming dean, including coordinator and instructor for disabled student services.
“I was born and raised here in Gilroy, so I have a good sense of the community that we serve,” she said.
