Area Report for Board of Trustees

The Institutional Advancement division is made up of the following groups: Communications and Marketing (CM), Grants and Government Relations (GGR), Foundation and Alumni Relations (FAR). IA is involved in many different areas on and off Highline’s campus, assisting with writing grants for key programs and raising money for student support and special projects, or skillfully crafting advertisements to placement on or in wide array of medium such as busses, billboards and movie theaters.  Institutional Advancement is there to do just that: advance our institution. Our 2023-2024 reports to the board will focus on our goals and objectives identified in Institutional Effectiveness Reports (IE). The SBDC/Startzone and COE for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management also report through IA and updates on these programs and their goals will be shared periodically.

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

• IA team participated in a two day workshop for the Highline Promise Partnership to advance the work of HPP in association with Puget Sound College and Career Network, Highline Public Schools, NWEA and Becoming A Man (SWYFS). 

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

• Highline College Foundation Scholarship Program received record number of applications, with 752 applications started, 411 submitted and 80 awarded for fy24. 
• Grants and Government Relations worked with AA Leadership to learn, research and ultimately submit a letter of interest for Economic Recovery Corps Fellows program to provide funding for a ‘Fellow’ to serve as liaison between instruction programs, business, industry and government programs to work on aligning programs with industry and employer needs. 

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

• In June, the Foundation sponsored events with Why Not You Academy, Soroptimist of Seattle Southside and Kent International Festival and supported attendance and participation to create engagement and promotion of Highline College. 
• HC Foundation facilitated meetings with Nursing and Medical Assistant and Foundry 10 to review results of FY23 grant and submit $50,000 funding request for FY24. 
• IA provided introductions and support for Port of Seattle Grant and Workforce Summit held at Highline College on Saturday, June 1. Special thanks to Conference Services for their excellent work in helping make this important community event a success. 

Division Honors and Achievements

• We want to recognize work from all IA teams in support of Cross the Stage (Commencement 23) and in support of amazing efforts across campus. Communications and Marketing, with special work by the Design Team and Printshop are evident in all the materials. Our 2023 Distinguished Alumni Josias Jean Pierre was featured in the video and personally onsite throughout the day. Alumni Relations and Foundation staffed a table to congratulate graduates and welcome special guests 
• As the Outreach and Recruitment team has officially moved to be under the umbrella of the Student Services division, IA wishes the team the best in this next step of the department’s journey. 
• The Highline College Foundation held their annual retreat on campus on June 28th. The day was full of learning, not just about the inner workings of the Foundation, but about the board and how they work together as a team. In bringing in several new board members over the last few months, the Foundation is thrilled for this upcoming year and what we will accomplish together. 

Report submitted by Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joshua Gerstman