Area Report for Board of Trustees

This month IA takes a moment to recognize the work on the top level website and a chance to present to colleagues statewide about the process and product. Work continues on grant and project fund applications such as TRiO Talent Search and the Soccer/Sportsfield Complex. Foundation has begun reviewing scholarship applications and engaging with scholarship donors such as the Connell and Glennon Families. IA members continue to participate in the Joint Information Center (JIC) group to monitor, discuss and share campus updates on federal and state policy, budgetary and legislative impacts to the campus.

Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

• Tony Johnson and Melodie Smith of Communications and Marketing presented at recent Public Information Commission on Highline’s migration and development of the top level website on Omni by Modern Campus. Highline received compliments from PIC members and an outside consultant engaged by SBCTC on both the student facing website and the high level of student facing social media engagements produced and published.
• Work continues in conjunction with the TRiO team on upcoming grant submissions including Talent Search in conjunction with Mt. Rainier High School, Foster High School, Why Not You Academy and Pacific Middle School.

Core Theme 2: STUDENT LEARNING, Increase educational success, collaborate to improve

• Foundation annual scholarship application review is now underway. More than 340 students applied by the May 11th deadline.
• On May 6th, the Foundation team hosted a visit with the Connell family and the recipients of the Connell Family Scholarship. In 2024-2025, 59 students received funding totalling $150,000. The scholarship is for students who have earned credits in prof/tech programs and/or have a defined career goal after earning 45 credits or more.
• During the 7th Annual Equity Development Institute breakout session with the IA division, the team examined data provided by the IR team in relation to student achievement and scholarship and emergency support fund awarding. Examination of this data will continue as we learn more about how additional funding helps to both retain our students and help them reach their educational goals via program completion.

Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued, visible relationship with communities we serve

• Highline College, Highline College Foundation and MaST participated and spoke at What’s Up Des Moines on 5/13/25. This is a quarterly gathering of business, city leaders and non-profits in the Des Moines area. Rus Higley with MaST spoke about Des Moines becoming Six-Gill Shark Capital and upcoming commemoration on July 6, 2025.
• Highline College will be the site host for the upcoming Second Annual Southside Leadership Conference on Friday, June 20, 2025
• Government Relations resubmitted a Community Fund Project request through Congressman Adam Smith’s office in support of the Highline Soccer/Sports Complex. The previous request had made it through initial approval but was held up when the FY25 budget did not include funding for Community Projects.

Division Honors and Achievements

• IA salutes all the organizers and volunteers for the YELL Summit held on May 17 and the recent 10th anniversary celebration held to raise funds to support YELL on April 26.

Report submitted by Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joshua Gerstman