There is so much going on lately that it is making my head spin. Will the United States be at war in the near future? Are students going to begin demonstrating on the college campuses and, if so, what will I do in response? Will the California Community College System have to dismantle programs and services that have been core to student success for decades because of extreme budget reductions? Will my personal retirement portfolio continue to move in an inverse direction to the increase in federal and state deficits? Under the circumstances, it is hard to remain calm and keep things in perspective. The future appears to be uncertain.

When issues get complicated, my best survival technique is to talk things over with friends and colleagues; to determine what they are experiencing, what measures they are taking, and gather some new ideas for the future. It helps to remember that there are always different perceptions for every issue.

Since it’s inception, one of the primary purposes of the iJournal has been to encourage statewide communication, not only by providing information, but also by sharing perceptions and ideas. This dialogue, this conversation, is especially meaningful when stress levels rise and we are involved in making decisions that have major impact on our students and staff. This dialogue also needs to happen on our own campuses. It assists us in clarifying issues and information; in reaffirming the importance of what we do for students; in documenting discussions and chronicling where we are at any given time in decision making; in building on new and creative solutions to problems; and in involving everyone in planning for the future. And let’s not forget to include students in this dialogue. One of the lessons I learned in the late 60’s and early 70’s was that students acted responsibly when they had a venue in which to express themselves.

At the request of the readers, this issue of the iJournal is presenting additional perspectives on assessment. The new accreditation standards will be refined and clarified for Student Services over the upcoming years. In the meantime, it is our professional responsibility to discuss what are appropriate outcome measures and assessment techniques within the services and to differentiate, when necessary, what is unreasonable. There are three articles in this issue that present various aspects of assessment for your consideration. I have no doubt that all three of these authors will help to shape college practices in the future.

While the news remains bleak throughout the statewide system, there is still plenty to celebrate. Two programs presented in this issue, the Transition to College Program at San Mateo College, and the Student Health Services and Wellness Program at Santa Barbara City College have received many commendations for their successful support of students. Congratulations to them for their good work.

Keep in touch. Let me know what you want discussed in the iJournal. And, keep the dialogue going.