Vol. XXXVII, No. 08, March 3, 2008

This Week at Valencia

Monday, March 3

Student Development Collegewide, 8:30 a.m., West Campus, 7-107A

Career Program Advisor, 3 p.m., Osceola Campus, 3-319h

Tuesday, March 4

Info Sessions for Tenured and Tenured-Track Faculty, every half hour from 1-3 p.m., West Campus,HSB-211

Thursday, March 6

Atlas Access Managers, 9 a.m., Winter Park Campus, Rm. 123

Info Sessions for Tenured and Tenured-Track Faculty, every half hour from 1-3 p.m., East Campus, 8-122

Friday, March 7

Professional Development Day, 8 a.m., East Campus PAC

Rental of Academic Regalia for Commencement

Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 3. The college is using a new vendor this year for the regalia, and the order process has changed. This is the same vendor that will be providing regalia for our students. Head sizes will no longer be necessary because caps are adjustable. Please contact Patty Nicholas for an order form. All orders must be submitted to Patty Nicholas at mail code DTC-3 prior to March 14.

Valencia will pay for the rental of your regalia if ordered by March 14. Payment for any orders received after March 14 will be the direct responsibility of the employee along with any surcharges for shipping. Regalia rates are as follows:

Associate-$38.70; Bachelor-$28.70; Master-$32.15; Doctor-$41.85 (all prices include gown, cap, tassel and hood)

You are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to order your regalia without charge. If you have any questions, please contact Patty Nicholas at ext. 3465.

You will be notified via email when the academic regalia has been delivered to your campus Business Office.

PDT Information Sessions for Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty

The Professional Development Implementation and Oversight Team (PDT) will be holding thirty-minute information sessions for the Professional Development Component to the Faculty Compensation Plan on the following dates and campuses:

• West Campus, March 4, 1-1:30, 1:30-2, 2-2:30, and 2:30-3 p.m., Room HSB-211
• East Campus, March 6, 1-1:30, 1:30-2, 2-2:30, and 2:30-3 p.m., Room 8-122

Full details about the plan can be found at: http://faculty.valenciacc.edu/association/pdtTeam2.asp

Internal Search for 4-Month SLS Faculty Opening at West Campus, Deadline March 7

If you have a Master's Degree, experience teaching student life and study skills, and would like to be considered for a 4-month SLS 1122 teaching position for Fall and Spring Terms 2008-09 at the West Campus, please submit your resume and a statement of interest to Interim SLS Director Mary Allen, mallen@valenciacc.edu, mc 3-24. For more details, please contact SLS Administrative Assistant Myrna Figueroa at ext. 2802, or mfigueroa@valenciacc.edu. 

Destination 2008

Teaching and Learning Support would like to invite you to join us this summer in Destination 2008, Valencia’s annual faculty development opportunity which brings educators together to define outcomes, design lessons, and learn techniques that will lead to improved student learning. All faculty, full and part-time, including counselors and librarians, are eligible to participate. 

Destination 2008 is designed to offer different programs to faculty who wish to experiment or are curious about various tools to improve student learning. We are able to provide the following tracks this summer:  Action Research, LinC, Alternative Delivery, and General Education Outcome. A full schedule, online application form and flyer are all available at http://faculty.valenciacc.edu/destination/

Procurement News

Purchasing Card FAQ - Q: Should I pay state sales tax on purchases made with my PCard? A: Because all PCard purchases are for Valencia business use, you should not pay sales tax when making purchases in the state of Florida. For a copy of Valencia’s tax exemption certificate visit the Procurement website at http://www.valencia cc.edu/procurement/vendor.asp. For your convenience, Valencia’s Florida tax-exempt number is printed on the front of your PCard. Some vendors may ask for this number, or even a copy of the certificate itself.

Responsive and Responsible Bidders - A contract that is to be established through competitive sealed bidding generally will be awarded to the responsible bidder whose offer is responsive to the invitation to bid and is lowest in price.  Hence the phrase “award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.” A responsible bidder or offeror means a person who has the capability in all respects to perform fully the contract requirements, and the integrity and reliability which will ensure good faith performance. Factors to be considered in determining whether the standard of responsibility has been met includes whether a prospective contractor has:  (1) the appropriate financial, material, equipment, facility, and personnel resources and expertise - or the ability to obtain them - necessary to indicate its capability to meet all contractual requirements; (2) a satisfactory record of performance; (3) a satisfactory record of integrity; and (4) the legal qualifications to do business with the college. A responsive bidder means a person who has submitted a bid that conforms in all materials respects to the invitation to bid or request for proposals. Examples of non-responsive bidders include those who:  (1) substitute their standard terms and conditions for those included in the solicitation document; (2) qualify their offers in such a manner as to nullify or limit their liability to the college;(3) fail to conform with required delivery schedules as set forth in the solicitation or the permissible alternatives; (4) qualify their prices in such a manner that the price cannot be determined; (5) make their bids contingent upon their receiving award on other bids that are currently under consideration; (6) make the college responsible for determining that the bidder’s products or services conform to the specifications; and (7) limit the rights of the college under any contract clause.

The responsiveness of a bid or proposal is determined at the earliest opportunity after the document is removed from its sealed envelope. Determination of responsiveness is objective and based on the criteria stated in the solicitation document. The responsibility of an offeror can be determined any time after opening of the bids or proposals but prior to the award process. 

Creating Banner Requisitions - When creating a Banner requisition, the requestor is the person who will receive the invoice. The field for “Attention To” is the person who will receive the goods or item.

Copy Center Charges and Copier Overage Charges - Any charges to your account can be viewed in Banner. This includes Copy Center charges and copier overage charges. Use the form FGIBDST and type in the pooled account 6200 for your Index/Orgn. Under the YTD column for 620040, go to Options-Transaction Detail Information. Your charges will be clearly marked. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding either charge, call the Copy Center or Mary Ellen Davies.

Leadership Valencia Offerings

Formation: A Little Lunch, A Little Literature and A Lot of Lively Discussions - Bring your lunch and join us for lunch and literature. This is a one-hour relaxed discussion with colleagues around poetry or short prose chosen each meeting by one of the group. We will discuss educators' stories and poems and prose they have chosen that gives sustenance and courage to continue their work with others. All workshops are held on East Campus, Room 4-212B.

• March 4, 12 noon-1 p.m., registration code: LFORM-8
• March 11, 1-2 p.m., registration code:LFORM-9
• March 18, 1-2 p.m., registration code: LFORM-10

Authentic Engagement and the Creativity Imperative - This session could be called "from good to great". It is about you; it is about finding your passion in life, your path, and taking the right actions. This conversation is about transforming any individual or group effort from good to great. Whatever collective, collaborative situation you're in - classroom, family, study team, peer group, department, committee, taskforce - all could benefit from more authentic engagement and creativity. For more information, contact jswanson5@valenciacc. edu or JBelcher@valenciacc.edu. If we are to lead the world or at least develop the leaders to lead the world out of the current and deepening economic, social, environmental, political, religious crises, authentic engagement and creativity are imperative. March 4, 1-4 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code:LAECI-2.

New Multimedia Tools - This workshop will assist participants in identifying and incorporating multimedia and instructional tools to accommodate students' diverse learning styles. This workshop is optional for faculty seeking certification as a digital professor. Please note: All activities that are to count toward a full-time faculty member's professional development plan need to be approved in advance by their dean or director. March 6, 1-2:30 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 2-116. registration code: TNMT.

The Leader's Edge, Presented by Dr. Rick Bommelje - A highly interactive professional development program that focuses on how to lead more effectively. It is designed to benefit all employees, regardless of their position at Valencia. Participants will raise their leadership awareness in all areas of their lives, receive specific assessment on their leadership behaviors, learn specific leadership tools, techniques and strategies, and develop leadership action plans to use immediately. March 12, 2:15-4:15 p.m., West Campus, Room 4-120, Registration Code: PTLE.

Student Assessment of Instruction Tool: Class Climate - This is a face-to-face, hands-on professional development section that will support administrative assistants with entering and administering student evaluation of instruction surveys using the Class Climate system. Choose from one of the following:

• March 18, 1-4 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-133C, Registration Code: TCC-1
• March 19, 1-4 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-326A, Registration Code: TCC-2
• March 20, 1-4 p.m., Osceola, Campus, Room 2-116, Registration Code: TCC-3

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Training – Part One - Planning to conduct a study involving Valencia students or employees? Not sure if your study needs to comply with Valencia's new mandatory Institutional Review Board (IRB) process for research projects? The Valencia IRB process is designed to encourage faculty, staff and student research while protecting the participants, the college, and even the researcher. Part One will provide an overview of human search protection; and how our IRB works with an aim to be as unintrusive as possible while complying with Federal regulations. Completion of this workshop satisfies the IRB training requirement for investigators of Valencia projects that have been approved through expedited or full review. March 21, 9-11 a.m., East Campus, Room 3-113, Registration Code: PIRB1-2.

Institutional Review board (IRB) Training – Part Two - Planning to conduct a research project that will require completing the application for Valencia's new Institutional Review Board (IRB) process? Part Two will take you through the Valencia IRB application process with interactive discussions, including questions and discussion of examples. (Recommended pre-requisite: IRB Training - Part One.) March 21, 11 a.m.-12 noon, East Campus, Room 3-113, Registration Code: PIRB2-2.

Visit the Leadership Valencia Web site at http://valencia.cc.fl.us/leadership to register for all Leadership Valencia workshops and additional information.

Freedom From Smoking

Do you want to quit smoking but have a hard time quitting? Have you had a hard time trying to stay smoke-free after you quit? Do you feel like you owe it to yourself and those you love? Then the Freedom From Smoking program is for you. This program consists of eight sessions over eight weeks. Each session will focus on a different topic:

• Orientation/Discussion Process
• Coping with Urges
• Making a Plan to Quit
• Stress Management
• Weight Control
• Relapse Prevention
• Graduation and Celebration!

Freedom From Smoking offers a good support system and provides you with the resources to stay smoke-free for good. We will meet every Friday starting March 14 through May 9 (except April 4). The cost is $15 for a participation kit. Each kit includes a workbook from the American Lung Association used in each session and a relaxation CD.

Please contact Debi Jakubcin at ext. 2281 or email djakubcin@valenciacc.edu to register.

Make plans to join us for the next brown bag lunch: “Stressed? Don’t Blow It!” presented by Valencia’s Wellness Program in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida on March 20

• East Campus, 11 a.m.-12 noon, 3-113
• West Campus, 1-2 p.m., HSB-120
• Osceola Campus, 11 a.m.-12 noon, Auditorium
• Winter Park Campus, 1-2 p.m., Room 224

An exciting extra bonus for Valencia employees:  Sign up today for a YMCA membership and have the enrollment fee waived! Employees who join can go to any YMCA in the area. The YMCA has many benefits so please take advantage of this great offer!!

Man Who Broke Nazi Enigma Code During World War II to Speak at Valencia

British-born mathematician Peter Hilton, best known for his work during World War II to break the secret codes used by German military, will speak at Valencia Community College on March 13 at 7 p.m. His talk titled “Breaking High-Grade German Ciphers in WWII” will take place on the West Campus, 4-120.

Hilton, who turns 85 this April, is still in high demand as a speaker. The work done by he and others at Bletchley Park was considered important to the ending of WWII.

“I don’t know if the Allies would have won if the German codes hadn’t been broken,” Hilton said. “Certainly, it would have taken much longer to beat them and the Americans and British would have suffered much more.”

Hilton is currently Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Mathematical Sciences Department at Binghamton University in New York.

His lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact West Campus Science Department at ext. 1407.

West Campus Math Support Center Needs Your Scrap Paper

You can help students in the West Campus Math Support Center while saving trees! We need any scrap paper you have..AND we will even help you sort out the sensitive paper from the recycled if you happen to be located on the West Campus. Just send an email to Carol Thompson at cthompson39@valenciacc.edu the day before you want one of us to come help you in your recycle efforts. If you don’t need help sorting sensitive paper from the recycled paper, just mail the scrap paper, old computer paper etc. in an inter-office envelope addressed to the Math Lab, mail code 4-23 or drop by anytime in building 7, room 240 on the West Campus.

Kudos

Jeffery Donley, West Campus humanities professor, spoke at Valencia's Winter Park Campus to faculty, students and guests from Rollins College and the University of Central Florida. Donley's presentation was titled, "Conquest and Empire: The Military Campaigns of Alexander the Great."

Lisa Macon was selected to serve as a faculty conferee for the STEM Transitions project through CORD, the Center for Occupational Research and Development.  The STEM Transitions project was created to enhance math and science rigor through evidence-based curriculum projects. Macon will be working with the Information Technology Cluster as the Interactive Media Pathway specialist. 

A Warm Welcome to These New Full-time Employees

Landon Shephard, manager, Academic Success Center, East Campus, mc 3-4, ext. 2497

Melanie Hunter, senior instructional assistant, English EAC, East Campus, mc 3-20, ext. 2017

A Fond Farewell and Best Wishes to These Retiring Full-time Employees

Hazel Wright, Custodial Services, West Campus, retired 2/29/08

Bruce Everson, Library, Osceola Campus, retiring 4/30/08

Jackie Melley, Provost Office, East Campus, retiring 5/31/08

Peggy Green, Science Department, West Campus, retiring 6/30/08

Rafael Guindin, Counseling Department, West Campus, retiring 6/30/08