September 9, 2013 | SharkAdmin If you were able to participate in the NVC Convocation on Aug. 22, you know that the Alamo Colleges will soon be rolling out a new set of shared values and that all the Colleges will be adopting those values. At least four of the six new shared values are already part of the fabric of Northwest Vista, so adopting those values will seem much like business as usual to us. The new Alamo Colleges shared values are: Students First; Collaboration; Respect for All; ‘Can Do’ Spirit; Data Informed; and Community Engaged. While we are supportive of the shared values and pleased that most of them come from foundations already established here, the change does raise the questions, “What do we do about our existing set of nine NVC values? Most folks with whom I have conversed over the past couple weeks have indicated a desire to keep those nine values to guide our way of being as a culture. There have been several excellent suggestions of what to call them, and I thank each of you who made suggestions. The suggestion that seems to appeal to the majority is to call our nine existing values “Touchstones” of our culture. This idea came from faculty Ignacio Magaloni who also suggested that we might actually use stones to depict the “Touchstones.” One definition I found refers to a touchstone as “an excellent quality or example that is used to test the excellence or genuineness of others.” Folks with whom I have conversed seem to like the idea and the possibilities for depicting our nine “Touchstones” – Learning, Community, Caring, Creativity, Diversity, Integrity, Openness, Synergy, and Joy. Let me know what you think, and thanks to those who have already given me feedback. I look forward to hearing from you.
