FAIRFIELD, CA., — Wednesday evening in the Denis Honeychurch Boardroom, located in the 600 building on the Fairfield campus, the Solano Community College District Governing Board held a swift second and final Board meeting of February, filled with announcements and the approval of multiple action-items partnered with their brief presentations, such as the acknowledgement of the retirement of 28-year Solano Mathematics instructor Alan Jian and the unanimous approval of new Program Coordinator positions for the Solano women’s and men’s basketball teams respectively.
In place of the absent Director of Human Resources Salvatore Abbate, the Vice President of Academic Affairs David Williams presented the two new job descriptions in front of the Trustees. V.P. Williams began by mentioning how the Board has passed similar items in the past, in reference to the Tennis Program Coordinator position and its holder Rafeal Rovira, right before diving into the importance of the two proposed roles.
According to the action-item submitted to the Board regarding the Men’s and Women’s positions, each Coordinator “oversees all non-academic aspects of the Men’s [Women’s] Basketball program,”
V.P. Williams believes that the addition to the Solano College’s basketball teams’ staff hierarchy can “provide opportunities for assistant coaches,” and “allow us to get coaches and pay them a competitive rate.”
After being first motioned by Trustee Quinten R. Voyce followed by a second by Trustee A. Marie Young, and just before the aforementioned unanimous approval, Vice President Jacqui Nguyen Greer reached her microphone to pose a question for V.P. Williams.
“Is there a height requirement for these positions?” Greer asked.
Just before this agenda item came the highlight of the nearly three-decade span of Mathematics instructor Alan Jian, presented by the Dean of Mathematics and Science Jessica Cromheecke.
The statement contained notes on Professor Jian’s instructing style, specifically during lecture and his “kindness” that he brought when interacting with students.
“Peers also observed [that] the lecture was well-prepared and well-paced, with time for students to ask questions while covering the topics in detail.” Cromheecke stated.
“Alan is enthusiastic about mathematics as a whole, and multivariate calculus in particular. Everyone’s favorite subject.”
Cromheecke also stated that students felt that Jian was “very thorough and excellent at helping students understand the materials.”
After listing his extensive contributions to the Mathematics department and Solano College as a whole, Vice President Greer and Trustee Thurston moved to approve Jian’s retirement, which was met with congratulations from Trustee Amber Cargo-Reed and a spread of applause from people in attendance.
