Georgia Perimeter College staff gathered to “Take a Break for Happiness in Life and Work” at the college’s annual Staff Development Day on May 14.  

Dr. Rufus Larkin, who oversees GPC’s personal counseling services, set the tone for the day in his keynote address. He offered four words for the audience: Be. Do. Cause. Smile.

“Be the best that you can be … and whatever you are charged to do, do it well,” he said. “As you take on more active roles, you must cause something good to happen.”

Don’t forget the power of a smile—or a touch, act of kindness or word of encouragement, he added. “Any of these can help turn someone’s life around.”

The bonus: “It makes us feel good” to know that we are making a difference in the lives of students and co-workers.

Reports were given by Julius Whitaker and Patrice Masterson, who are heading up a committee to implement a smoke-free campus policy by Oct. 1, and by Bill Moon, co-chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee.

“Not only do we have ‘a better way forward,’” said Moon, referring to the college’s new branding message, “but we also need to take a look back.” Moon unveiled the new logo for GPC’s 50th anniversary celebration, which will kick off this fall and continue for 20 months.

Those attending the staff development event spent much of their day attending information sessions on topics ranging from home repairs to photography to career advancement.

The staff then got updates on the college from vice presidents Dr. Vincent June, Student Affairs, and Ron Stark, Financial Affairs.

June highlighted a program piloted by Advising, Counseling and Recruitment Services and the new career services website. The program, GPC C.A.R.E (COMPASS Academic Review and Enrichment) offers students who do not pass the COMPASS admission test an eight-week remediation session. The program gained the attention of the Fitzgerald Foundation, which recently awarded the college $1 million, June said.  

“Use it up, wear it out, make do without.” That was part of the comments from Stark, who gave staff members a summary of the financial state of the college. He noted that he will be retiring next March and “wouldn’t be leaving unless I thought everyone was OK.”

 Among Stark’s positive highlights: The college’s negative rating from Moody’s bond rating company has been changed to stable, and the college can afford some improvement/repair projects for offices and campuses.

“This is because we changed our culture and changed our [spending] behavior,” said Stark. Prior years’ audit findings have been fixed, he added.  

The financial change in status is positive, he said, but cautioned, “We can’t just be satisfied where we are; we have to aim higher all the time in what we do.”

Stark noted that the Board of Regents reduced the college’s budget allocation by $6 million for FY 15. “In 2012, GPC lost 2,500 students, and we are charged to bring enrollment up by at least 1,000 students,” he said.

Earlier in the day interim GPC President Rob Watts had urged staffers to play a part in bringing enrollment back up. “Don’t forget what our goal is for this year: for each of us—1,200 full-time employees—to recruit or retain one student.”

Watts also spoke about the value each employee brings to the college and its students. “Everyone here is a teacher, [and] you are all changing lives every single day.”

Staff Development Day was sponsored by the Staff Senate; senators Theodora Johnson and Patricia Young chaired the staff development committee.