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New college President Mark Rocha who began at PCC on July 1 has begun going from division to division, discussing the challenges the college has been facing.One of the college’s biggest challenges, he said, is its current status of warning from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Rocha has called an open meeting on Tuesday to address the issues that ACCJC presented. A required follow-up report is due to the ACCJC on October 15.

The Educational Master Plan plays a key role in his plans to address the ACCJC warning. The EMP will provide clear goals for the college for the future, tied to strict deadlines for accomplishing each part of the plan. Rocha has set a deadline for the EMP to be completed by the end of 2010.

“I want to finish the EMP to show the community what our priorities are and allocate our resources to reflect those priorities,” said Rocha in an interview this week.

Those two concerns, coupled with the task of establishing working relationships with campus organizations, are part of Rocha’s fall semester goals.

“Once we get those done, we can move on to the implementation of the EMP and moving the college into the future,” he said.

Rocha had previous experience with the accreditation process when he served as the president for West Los Angeles College.

At WLAC, his contributions to the students and the community were described as his strengths.

“He works tirelessly to accommodate everyone,” said Rodney Robinson, the student trustee of the Los Angeles Community College District. “Sometimes I thought he worked too hard trying to help everyone out.”

Community outreach is high on Rocha’s agenda, not just because it’s a key part of his job as superintendent/president, but also because he enjoys doing it.

After a six month long search Rocha was selected as president by the Board of Trustees in a unanimous decision on June 9.

Rocha joined PCC students and the community at the college’s 5k run on Saturday, running with his son and Trustee Geoff Baum. His calendar is packed with community events over the next few weeks, including a reception for the new Pasadena police chief and a community outreach event with Trustee Berlinda Brown.

“I’ve learned how much this community truly cares for this college,” he said.

It’s also a way for Rocha to listen and learn what concerns the community has for the college. Rocha hopes to build a good relationship with the community so it can support the college.

“I’m really looking forward to developing relationships with every corner of the community on and off campus,” he said.

This drive to involve the community falls into his philosophy of “servant leadership,” which he learned from his mentors over the years.

“I work for the people in the college, they do not work for me,” Rocha said.

Rocha aims to discover what is important to the faculty, staff and students, and do what he feels is best for them. According to him, the servant leadership system allows him to listen to all input, helps establish transparency, and allows him to make decisions that he is willing to be held responsible for.

Student success, the primary focus of PCC’s mission statement, is a priority for Rocha. “I treat students with a profound respect,” said Rocha.

Rocha has been interacting with members of the Associated Students Board, finding out the key issues from the students themselves. “He seems eager to meet with students and seek our input,” said Student Trustee Nolan Pack.

Rocha hopes to move past the political issues that the board and campus have faced in the past. “I try to focus on what’s important, the student,” Rocha said.

Since his start, it appears the college is welcoming Rocha’s philosophy.

“I think he’s going to be an exceptional leader. First and foremost he’s dedicated to students and making sure the college is doing everything it can to serve them,” said Trustee Baum.

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