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Dear Students, On behalf of the faculty I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Grayson County College this year. As you have no doubt noticed, many changes are taking place. In addition to the opening of our South Grayson Campus this past summer, buildings on our Main Campus are being remodeled and expanded, and while we are all excited about these improvements, the construction may cause a few inconveniences. One could argue that the changes on campus, in a way, reflect larger changes in our community and our world. As Grayson County College prepares to better serve our growing population, we are mindful of the economic changes that may have influenced your decision to pursue higher learning. To quote Griff Witte from the Washington Post in his recent article, "As Income Gap Widens, Uncertainty Spreads," Jobs at the low and high ends have replaced those in the middle -- the ranks of janitors and fast-food workers have expanded, but so have those of lawyers and doctors. The problem is, jobs at the low end don't support a middle-class life. And many at the high end require special skills and advanced degrees. "However you define the middle class, it's a lot harder now for high school graduates to be in it" [economist Frank Levy of MIT].While the middle class is not exactly disappearing, it is certainly being redefined in this era of global marketplaces and information technology, and adapting to this brave new world will be a challenge for us all. High finance aside, the faculty at Grayson would like to encourage you to develop a true relish for lifelong learning. The passion, or at least the habit, of learning new ideas and skills will bring you rewards of a personal nature that will ultimately, almost invariably, enrich our community. Sincerely, Mark Taylor, Faculty Association President |
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