Earlier this semester, I was pleased to address students, faculty, and community members gathered to celebrate substantial completion of construction and renovation projects at our Douglas and Sierra Vista campuses. I asked our guests to notice the letter “C” located on signage across campus and talked about all of the things that letter can mean.

For many of us, “C” is symbolic of the place we call home, a place of learning, creativity, camaraderie, and a place we call Cochise College.

It also can have other significance, such as the opportunity to join as “colleagues” to celebrate the creation or re-creation of the college, as a symbol of our “commitment” to the values of providing educational opportunities to students where they want it, when they want it, and how they want it, simply a commitment to higher education in southeast Arizona.

The “C” can stand for the “courage” that our college founders demonstrated as they developed the little college that could, past and present Governing Board members and community leaders who worked to see that Cochise College took root. Or the courage that our current leaders demonstrate as they guide us into the new age of higher education. Or maybe it is the courage that they demonstrated by investing in facilities when social and economic indicators suggested otherwise. This type of courage will be passed on as an example to our students that with hard work and dedication, all things are possible.

Our “C” stands for the “charisma” of President Emeritus Karen Nicodemus who led Cochise College through an era of unprecedented growth. Through her charisma and leadership, plans have been laid, buildings built, and campuses reinvigorated.

The “C” stands for the “collaboration” that occurred with our partners in this master facilities planning. The DLR Group and the Breckenridge Group staffs ably collaborated with college staff to design learning environments that meet the requirements of today’s teaching and learning. “C” also stands for the “construction crews” that so diligently worked to see the construction of new facilities and the repurposing of the old. We thank Sundt Construction and Lloyd Construction for what they have contributed to our campuses.

For many, the “C” stands for the “careers” shaped by a Career and Technical Education Buildings that will provide the kind of technical education and training students and employers demand today. Or maybe it stands for “catalyst,” a type of action or reaction that is being encouraged in the new science facilities.

The “C” can stand for “caring” and “competence,” the greatest requirements of nurses who will be trained in facilities that meet the current expectations for the next generation of health care providers. May the competencies learned only be surpassed by your caring for others.

“C” stands for “community,” the type of community that can naturally occur in facilities designed for students to meet, relax, and spend time together in the learning endeavor. Whether we are talking of the Learning Commons or the Student Union in Sierra Vista, the One Stop facilities in Douglas, or our remodeling projects, opportunity abounds for students to collaborate and engage with a community of faculty, staff and each other, both in and out of the classroom.

“C” stands for the “colors” we’ve added, causing the campuses to stand out, a recognition that what the college stands for is central to the greater community. Or maybe “C” stands for “cool,” the response we are receiving from students who are proud of the college they attend!

As you visit our campuses, I hope you will be mindful of what some of these “C’s” stand for: celebration, creativity, courage, commitment, colleagues, charisma, creation, campus, collaboration, curriculum, communication, careers, catalysts, communities, camaraderie, color, cool, and a host of others. But most of all let’s remember what “C” really stands for and what it has always stood for, Cochise College, a college that provides accessible educational opportunities that are responsive to a diverse population and lead to constructive citizenship, meaningful careers, and life-long learning.

J.D. Rottweiler is president of Cochise College. Contact him at jdr@cochise.edu.