Be Prepared for Winter Driving

This coming Sunday evening, October 26, could bring the valley its first winter snowflakes. While the chance is already low, and the chance to accumulate even lower (near zero percent), it is time start preparing our minds and lives for winter safety. 

New rain and snowmelt could lift oils on the roads to the surface, making them slick and increasing the distance it takes for you to stop. Drive just a little more slowly than you normally do and keep a greater distance from the vehicles in front of you. Also make sure your tires and brakes are ready to do the stopping you need. 

On November 12 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the parking lots on the west side of the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, Utah Highway Patrol will be helping people check their cars for winter readiness. Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to stop by to have their tire tread, air pressure, and brake pads reviewed for safety for free. You may also receive a free safety kit (while supplies last). 

It's also smart to assume there will be at least one day this winter with either a delayed class start time or campus closure due to snow. The best way to get that message is to download SLCC Safe and allow it to send you notifications. The only notifications you will ever receive from this app are hand-typed by me and intended to keep you safe. Use one of the links below to download it. 

SLCC Safe App for Android phones

SLCC Safe App for Apple phones

If you have any questions or concerns about your safety, you can message me using the app or email me at Michael.Gipson@slcc.edu and I will be happy to talk to you about your concerns. Stay safe, Bruins! 

A Note on Elevator Safety

Everyone has either watched a scene or imagined what it would be like to be trapped in an elevator. If any horror movies you’ve watched this Halloween season has had a scene like this, I’m sure it was quite terrifying. In reality, however, there is absolutely no need to be frightened. From time to time, elevators in any building may stop or become stuck. While this may initially seem pretty scary, the following information may help you see just how mundane of an event it is — you are much more likely to be bored for a few minutes than frightened. 

Every elevator is equipped with an emergency call button. These will reach help even if power is out and the elevator is stuck. The elevator doors may not be able to be opened by your strength alone, but technicians will be able to open the door regardless of where it is stuck. People tend not to be stuck for very long, and we can assure you the elevator will never fall to the ground. Elevators have many safety mechanisms in place to make sure you either never get stuck at all, or can reach help if you are. 

Take time to familiarize yourself with the buildings you frequent and their stairways and emergency exits. Visually locate the emergency call buttons in the elevators you use. And take a moment to download SLCC’s safety app, aptly named “SLCC Safe.” While the app won’t teach you how to repair stuck elevators, it will make that scenario and others like it far less frightening for you to deal with. 

If you have questions about your safety, you can submit them using the “Comments / Questions” button at the bottom of the app, and they will come directly to me, your friendly SLCC Emergency Manager. And as always, never use an elevator to evacuate during a fire alarm!

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Michael Gipson, Deputy Director of Emergency Management, at michael.gipson@slcc.edu or 801-657-4538.

Opening Doors Across SLCC: Contest Winners!

President Greg Peterson recently kicked off the new academic year with a challenge and a theme: "Opening Doors." He reminded us why our mission matters, stating, "I’m proud to tell everyone that we are their community college and that we can help them build a better life for themselves, for their families, and for their neighborhoods." He then asked us to consider how we, in our unique roles, open doors for our students and community members. The response was incredible, with 18 entries across the college participating in a door decorating contest that brought this theme to life in wonderfully creative ways. 

SLCC President Greg Peterson delivers convocation speech

After visiting every entry, we are thrilled to announce the winners! 

First Place: The ESL Office (South City Campus) 

The grand prize winner is the ESL Office! Their door was a beautiful and moving tribute to the student experience. It featured several small, decorated doors, each opening to reveal a handwritten note from an ESL student explaining how the program is opening doors for their future. 

One note from a student, A.D., perfectly captured the profound impact of their work: 

"ESL at SLCC is opening the door for me to... Achieve my dream of becoming a heart surgeon. Living with heart disease myself, I know what patients go through. My mission is to heal not only their bodies but also their hearts with understanding." 

This powerful entry stood out by directly showcasing the student voices at the heart of our mission, reminding us all of the life-changing pathways we help create. Congratulations to the ESL Office on a well-deserved win! 

ESL Department at South City Campus

 

Second Place: The Bursar's Office (Taylorsville Redwood Campus) 

Our second-place winner is Bursar's Office! Their design also featured mini doors, but with a unique twist: behind each door was a statement from a staff member describing how they personally open doors for students. One simply stated they support student success by, "Greeting them with kindness." This was a fantastic reminder that every interaction matters and that every department plays a crucial role in helping our students feel welcome and supported. 

Office of the Bursar Taylorsville Campus

Third Place: Division of Healthcare Technologies (Jordan Campus) 

Taking third place is the Division of Healthcare Technologies! Their door masterfully illustrated the "Thrive" component of our strategic vision. Each program created a mini door showing how a single certificate can open multiple career pathways. The Pharmacy Technician door, for example, listed 12 different career paths, proving how education at SLCC is a direct return on investment for our students.

Division of HealthCare Technologies

 

Honorable Mentions 

Two entries were so creative they earned special recognition: 

• Most Clever Design: The Office of Information Technology (OIT) used old computer parts to create a door showing a computer mouse navigating a maze, cleverly illustrating how they help students and staff avoid getting trapped by tech troubles.

  
  

  

  OIT

  
  
  
  
  Best Mind/Body Connection: The Center for Health and Counseling (CHC) designed a door with a bear's head whose mind opened into a cloud of supportive services, beautifully representing their work in opening doors to both mental and physical wellness. 

 

CHC

Take the "Door Tour" 

The creativity on display was truly inspiring. We encourage you to take a walk, get to know your colleagues on other campuses, and see how we all come together under one mission. Thank you to everyone who participated! 

South City Campus (SCC) 

• SCM Building 

• ESL (1-163B) 

• Fashion Institute (1-191B) 

Taylorsville Redwood Campus (TRC) 

• AAB Building 

• Student Publishing (136) 

• SWRC (127) 

• HULA (165) 

• Controller's Office (311K) 

• CT Building 

• Engaged Learning (252) 

• STC Building 

• Office of the Bursar (244) 

• Center for Health & Counseling (CHC) (035A) 

• Trio (244) 

• Accessibility/Disability Services (244) 

• TAB Building 

• Division of Apprenticeship (202) 

• TB Building 

• OIT (101) 

Jordan Campus (JC) 

• JHS Building 

• Health Care Tech (143D) 

Larry H. Miller Campus (LHM) 

• MCPC Building 

• VBRC (201F) 

• MFEC Building 

• Miller Library (123) 

• PSET Building 

• Institute of Public Safety (270A) 

 

This contest was a fun and powerful reminder of the work we do. As President Peterson said at Convocation, "Here's to a fantastic year ahead! Let's go make great things happen." Thank you again to everyone for showing the countless ways you open doors at SLCC every day. IMC will be calling our top three winners and arranging prizes in the next few days. A reminder to participants to please clean up your doors with in the next few weeks.