Glendale Community College
Home MenuOctober 2021 • glendale.edu/StayingConnected
Dr. Viar to Retire (Yes, that rhymes)
GCC Superintendent/President Dr. David Viar has announced that he will be retiring in June 2022 following the completion of the current academic year. In a letter to GCC employees, Dr. Viar said that the highlight of his 45-year career has been working together to achieve GCC’s significant accomplishments.
That’s saying a lot considering his remarkable achievements as a statewide and national leader advocating for community colleges in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Dr. Viar’s announcement prompted the following comments from college leaders in Glendale and the state capital.
“It’s difficult to overstate the contributions David Viar has made to community colleges nationally and particularly in California. The Community College League of California exists and thrives because Dr. Viar was the architect, engineer, and heart and soul of the association for well over a decade. His expertise in board-CEO relations is unparalleled, and his exacting standards combined with his even-tempered demeanor make him that rare leader who is universally respected and admired. David Viar’s influence on community colleges will extend many years beyond his retirement.”
Larry Galizio
President & CEO Community College League of California
"Dr. Viar provided Glendale Community College with extremely insightful and stable leadership throughout his tenure as Superintendent/President, and especially during the past two very difficult years. As Senate President, it was my good fortune to have been able to work with him and I enjoyed our conversations very much."
Roger Dickes
Academic Senate President
“Dr. Viar, you have a heart of service. You have built friendships, set a high standard of performance, and built a legacy that shows Glendale Community College is a premier academic institution. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to our students and our college community throughout your years of service. It has been an honor and privilege for me to have had the opportunity to work with you.”
Narbeh Nazari
CSEA President
“From the first day I met Dr. Viar at a barbecue with the Guild and District negotiations teams in 2013, I knew his tenure at Glendale College would be a good one. We talked about art and, little known fact, we collaborated on hanging his art collection in his home which solidified our collegial friendship. He brought this same sense of collaboration to our college and worked in cooperation with our shared governance process and campus leaders. I was an adjunct instructor when Dr. Viar first started as President/Superintendent, he hired me as a tenure-track faculty member, and now I’ve had the immense pleasure of working with him the past year and a half as the Glendale College Guild President. Dr. Viar has been an invaluable asset to our college community, and he will be missed.”
Emily Haraldson
Guild President
Click here to learn more by reading the official news release regarding Dr. Viar’s retirement announcement.
Students Return to Campus
With approximately 10% of classes currently offering in-person opportunities this fall semester, you don’t have to look hard to find students who are returning to campus. In-person, remote, hybrid and online, GCC offers several options to serve our students’ needs.
Deadline Approaches for Vax Requirement
In less than eleven weeks all GCC employees will be required to be fully vaccinated whether working in-person or from home. The Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the new board policy (BP 3507) in August which sets a December 21 deadline for employees to complete the vaccination cycle. Employees and students coming on campus to work or attend classes are required to be fully vaccinated by October 31.
Dr. Viar recently sent a message to all GCC staff reminding them of the vaccination requirement which you can read here. In the letter, he mentioned that the college has partnered with Kokomo 24/7 to offer an easy, secure platform to upload all of your documentation. For more information about the vaccination requirement, go to glendale.edu/vaxmandate where you will also find a link to the Kokomo portal and a list of frequently asked questions.
Vaccination Opportunities
If you have not yet been vaccinated, the college is holding COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinics that began this week. The free drop-in COVID-19 vaccine clinic is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in SC212, providing the Pfizer vaccine only. The COVID-19 testing is held Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in SC212. Please visit glendale.edu/VaxMandate for more information and to download the form.
You can also go to myturn.ca.gov to make an appointment near you.
SharePoint Easier to Access
It’s now a lot easier to access SharePoint Online if you’re working remotely. As part of the Microsoft Office 365 Suite, you can access the SharePoint intranet portal without having to use a virtual private network (VPN). Information Technology Services (ITS) worked with the Office of Communications to create a new and improved look that maintains the original navigational structure for ease of use. If you have any questions or run into issues accessing SharePoint Online, please email the Helpdesk at helpdesk@glendale.edu.
Distinguished Faculty Award: Dr. Javier Gago
If you missed it, Dr. Javier Gago’s Distinguished Faculty lecture is available via this link. Dr. Gago’s lecture focused on the fundamental ideas and importance of biodiversity. The Glendale College Foundation generously donated a $1,000 award to Dr. Gago for his outstanding work which he has chosen to donate to the Baja Program, a unique field study opportunity for GCC students at the Baja Field Study station in Mexico.
While you are away...
The existing Verdugo Gym project is nearing completion with competitive sports set to begin using the facilities in mid-October. The seismic retrofit is now complete on the main gym; crews have resurfaced the gym floor while adding new striping, paint and updated branding logos. Employees will also begin using their refurbished offices with the remainder of the project expected to be completed before the start of the spring semester.
To see all the construction projects go to glendale.edu/campusprojects.
Wayfinding Signs Light the Way
Phase 1 of the Wayfinding Sign Project is now complete. This includes the painted wall signs and electrical connections which are very important for lighting with sunset occurring earlier every day. Click here to see a gallery of the signs that are now on the Verdugo Campus.