CALAIS, Maine — It’s time.
Joyce Hedlund said her recent decision to retire after a long career in higher education came not so much as an epiphany but as a result of seeing what a great time her husband, Wesley, has been having since he retired 18 months ago after 41 years as a biology teacher at Bangor High School.
Now the president of Washington County Community College in Calais, Hedlund will step down on June 30 after a 43-year career in education that includes 25 years in Maine’s community college system. Prior to taking the top job in Calais in 2010, Hedlund was president of Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor for 16 years.
“I think over the years I’ve worked in just about every office on a community college campus, except maintenance,” she said. “And then, when I became a community college president, I began overseeing that, too.”
Unlike many students who head off to four-year colleges and universities wondering what career path they should pursue, Hedlund said most community college students arrive on day one with a career direction in mind.
“Community college students come in the door with a career focus, a sense of direction and a sense of purpose,” she said. “Whether they want to be a welder or a nurse, our job is to help them achieve that goal, rather than helping students figure out where they’re headed. It’s a magical environment.”
The community college approach to postsecondary education, she says, combines a strenuous general education requirement with technical and career skills development.
“It’s a total package,” Hedlund said. “It’s teaching and learning in the way most people learn best, learning through application. The core of our mission is career education. It’s clear that, in order to get a job in Maine, you need some sort of postsecondary education. Community colleges are often the source of the education, and we are working hard to provide Maine with an intelligent work force. The better educated the work force, the better the economy.”
Hedlund will soon turn 65, and she seems eager to begin enjoying retirement as much as her husband seems to be, she said. “I love this school, and I really understand the concept of student success and what it takes to make students successful, but I don’t want to work forever,” she said. “It’s time. I’m looking forward to getting a small camper and traveling throughout the U.S. to enjoy natural environments like wildlife refuges and national parks. I’ve worked with watercolors, off and on, and now my husband and I are both taking a drawing class. So, we’ll travel and draw.”
A national search is now under way for Hedlund’s successor. The next president of Washington County Community College will step onto a campus with 500 students and a 21-member faculty. The average age of students in Calais is 26, with about 30 percent living on campus in apartment-style housing. Students come from throughout Maine, not just Washington County, including eight students from Canada. Enrollment has been growing slowly, Hedlund said, with a target of reaching enrollment of 700 students over the next five years through program development.
Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons said he realizes Hedlund’s successor will have a tough act to follow.
“She is an advocate of students and someone who believes in the power and potential of the community colleges,” he said. “We have been blessed with her leadership at both Eastern Maine Community College and Washington County Community College as president. What makes Joyce so special is that she places students at the heart of every decision she makes.”
Only 18 months on the job? Of course that was easily predictable. She got her relocation costs paid and added to her pension base and now she’s gone. The Board accomplished nothing with this appointment except to maintain the status quo. What are they going to do now to move this school forward to serve the community and make full use of this resource? Please, no more place-holder bureaucrats. We need some inspired leadership with a vision for dynamic growth.
Why do we have to conduct a national search? This is quite expensive. We should try to find someone locally and we should have a program of training people locally in anticipation of some upward mobility. When Ms. Hedlund was appointed in Calais, I am quite sure that the system did not engage in a national search. Maine Education seems to like paying for national searches and demonstrating favored treatment. Like “downandeast” I am suspicious of Ms. Hedland’s transfer to Calais and the payment of perks for a person who was expected to retire soon after leaving Bangor. What have her accomplishments been in Calais? It sometimes seems like an inside job when there is no accountability.
Actually, I’m impressed that the college is now offering an International Business major. Being on the US/Canada border, as well as near the port of Eastport, this is a good direction for the college.
If Ms. Hedlund was responsible for that initiative, then I’d too be impressed…but is that her brainstorm?
Just wondering
Was proposed by the Business Department, but approved by Joyce. So may not have been her idea, but she approved it.
I was a student at EMVTI when Joyce Hedlund started there as a counselor. She worked her way up through the ranks and has done a wonderful job. Her main priority is the success of the student at any school she has worked for. She looks beyond the politics and keeps focused on what is best for the students and their education. She has worked very hard and her retirement is well deserved. I don’t understand why people think building up a retirement is a bad thing even if it is as a state or government employee. Those are jobs just like any job in the private sector. It isn’t like the people created them for themselves. They applied for them just like anyone else does in private sector and worked hard to keep them. Anyone working in any job deserves a retirement after 43 years of service to any agency government or private section. Congratulations Joyce I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy retirement!
Joyce has done well, but I still like Hope Better. Shes a sweetheat!
ie: sweetheart!
The last three presidents at Calais’ campus have been MCCS long time “sweethearts” that were given a golden parachute before retiring…Flahive, Cassidy and now Hedlund. John Fitsimmons (MCCS President) will conduct–and pay for– a national search and then choose who he wants to be there; regardless.
Seen it more than once, twice, three times…..
Can you please define your definition of “golden parachute?
Sure: A generous package of benefits offered to an employee as an inducement for early retirement or departure from a company.
Any other questions?
Sure, I have another question for you… You have “facts” that these people were offered said golden parachutes to retire early?
I like Joyce, but to go through a search and let them hire her on knowing that she would retire in a year or two seems unfair to WCCC. Now they need to go throught the process all over again.