President Ortiz says the Chancellor's Office has issued a special memorandum announcing that the furlough pay and time reduction program will end July 1 for employees subject to furlough through June 30. For employees on academic year schedules, the furlough program will conclude at the end of the July or August pay period, depending on pay plan categories.

He also recounts the remarkably newsworthy academic year: the men's basketball team's championship run, the historic performance of the Rose Float entry, "Jungle Cuts" - and, of course, the unprecedented budget crisis.

He also looks forward to the annual rite of spring, graduation.

"While eight ceremonies over three days require an extraordinary amount of effort, these events are truly a celebration of what we do," he says. "For many of our graduates, as well as their families and friends, this is a life-affirming moment. It is unquestionably a time they will remember forever."

For a transcript of the video message, visit /news/img/stories/presidentmessage060710.pdf.

PC & Mac links

High Bandwidth (Broadband Connection Rate)
https://video.cpp.edu/President/WeeklyAddress-100607-655.asx

Mid Bandwidth (Broadband Connection Rate)
https://video.cpp.edu/President/WeeklyAddress-100607-245.asx

Low Bandwidth (56 K dialup Modem Rate)
https://video.cpp.edu/President/WeeklyAddress-100607-035.asx

The following links are for viewing Closed Captioning on a Mac Only; otherwise Mac users use the above links

High Bandwidth (Broadband Connection Rate)
https://video.cpp.edu/President/WeeklyAddress-100607-655.mov

Mid Bandwidth (Broadband Connection Rate)
https://video.cpp.edu/President/WeeklyAddress-100607-245.mov

Low Bandwidth (56 K dialup Modem Rate)
https://video.cpp.edu/President/WeeklyAddress-100607-035.mov

In order to view these files, users will need Windows Media Player. To download the latest player for PC, Mac OSX, Mac OS9 or below, visit www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx.