Although he's dressed in a forest green suit and tie with a Hancock College pin on his lapel, José Ortiz isn't the typical administrator. He walks around campus every once in a while with an air of humility, not pretension, according to students and staff.

One staff member walked by Monday, greeting him as "Mr. President." Ortiz said he felt uncomfortable, later explaining that only the president of the United States should be referred to as such.

"He doesn't talk like a normal administrator. He's not pompous, he's humble," said Gordon Rivera, president of Hancock College's classified employees union. "He's a servant leader - he leads by being a servant, which is a way we're not used to."

In his first three months as Hancock's president/superintendent, Ortiz, 56, admits he's still in the honeymoon period. He's attended a few board meetings, served as the keynote speaker at community meetings and stood among Hancock's bustling student population when classes started in late August.

Ortiz spent the first day of school visiting classes and chatting with students waiting in line to buy textbooks and adjust their schedules.

"He's the type of person who can go up to people and start talking," said Robert Brazil, student trustee on the college's board of trustees. "He seems hands on. It doesn't seem like he wants to overpower other people's will."

For example, Ortiz hopes to change how new teachers are hired to include more people in the interview process, Brazil said.

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Ortiz's main goal is to be accessible to students and staff, which many agree he's accomplished. During Hancock's welcome-back activities this fall for its 1,000 employees, Ortiz asked them to reply via e-mail or in person to six questions. He wants input on what they like about Hancock, what they'd change, what they want to see him do as president and any advice they have for him.

"I really got a feeling, a sense about what is the reality here, what issues people are concerned about, how they perceive me and what they'd like to see from me," Ortiz said.

After attending several community meetings with groups such as the local League of Women Voters and chamber of commerce, he's observed a trend of challenges facing the community college. These include a growing student population that needs more space, the deterioration of facilities, the necessity of keeping up with technology and the lack of student and staff housing.

To solve the first two issues, Hancock officials and trustees are testing community support for a general obligation bond to pay for new construction and renovations. Before making a final decision, officials are collecting input from the college's various constituencies, Ortiz said, referring to the shared governance.

Officials are more cautiously and slowly reviewing the possibility of providing on-campus student and staff housing. Right now, the idea is to have a private company run the complex.

Ortiz supports the concept of on-campus housing to help attract quality faculty to the high-priced area, as well as support students to maintain the caliber of programs such as the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Despite the limelight and challenges, Ortiz tries to keep his upbeat, but serious personality. Staff are just hoping people don't get cold feet and shy away from the prospect of change.

"He's not there to be served, but to serve," Rivera said.

"I just hope the public and the board will stay the course with his ideas for change."

Michelle Hatfield can be reached at 739-2216 or mhatfield@

santamariatimes.com.

September 27, 2005