Vol. XXXVII, No. 16, May 5, 2008

This Week at Valencia

Monday, May 5
Career Program Advisor mtg., 3 p.m., Osceola Campus, 3-319H

Tuesday, May 6
Senior Staff mtg., 1 p.m., West Campus, 14-100

Thursday, May 7
College Planning Council, 2:30 p.m., West Campus, 6-202

Wednesday, August 20
Academic Assembly, 8:30 a.m., East Campus

Academic Assembly will be held the morning of Wednesday, August 20 on Valencia's East Campus. This traditional "welcome back" is an important gathering for all full-time faculty and professional staff that provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our colleagues while also gaining information and updates regarding work underway and future plans. Please save the date for this event. Additional information and details will be forthcoming.

Notice for Full-Time 12-Month Employees: Annual/Fiscal Year Salary Distribution Change

Beginning in July an important change will be made to the way most annual/fiscal year salaries are distributed. This change will affect ALL full-time 12-month employees and includes full-time career service employees, full-time administrators, full-time professional employees, full-time counselors and librarians.  The change does not apply to work study, part-time hourly and adjunct employees. Ten-month faculty, eight-month faculty, and four-month faculty will not be affected by this change. 

During the month of May, Human Resources will be conducting meetings on each campus to explain the change. In an effort to provide information to everyone this effects, the meetings will be published in the Bulletin; an issue of HR Notes will be devoted to this subject; a notice will be posted on the HR Web site; and a college-wide email will be sent.

Contact Human Resources at ext. 8033 or Payroll at ext. 8100 if you have any questions. 

Salary Distribution Change Meeting Schedule

• May 6, 10-11 a.m., East Campus, Building 3, Atrium
• May 6, 1:30-3 p.m., Osceola Campus, Building 2, Room 101
• May 7, 2-3:30 p.m., Downtown Center, First Floor Conference Room
• May 9, 9-10:30 a.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 225
• May 12, 4-5:30 p.m., Osceola Campus, Building 2, Room 101
• May 14, 9-10:30 a.m., Criminal Justice Institute, First Floor Auditorium
• May 20, 2-3:30 p.m., Criminal Justice Institute, First Floor Auditorium
• May 22, 3-4:30 p.m., West Campus, HSB, Room 105
• May 22, 5-6:30 p.m., West Campus, HSB, Room 105

Study Abroad Announcement

Interested in learning how to develop a study abroad program?  Join us May 15 at 1:30 p.m. on East Campus, for an information session with Isabelle Leibrecht, a Study Abroad Representative of Customized Educational Programs Abroad (CEPA Europe).  CEPA programs specialize mainly in developing, organizing and planning customized faculty-led programs, as well as internships.  Email Thera Woodard, twoodard@valenciacc.edu, by May 8 if you are interested in attending and receiving additional information.

Accounts Payable News

Due to the increased number of calls regarding in-district travel reimbursement in the last couple of weeks, the Accounts Payable Department prepared an excel spreadsheet to assist with the calculation of the excess miles for allowable reimbursement. The spreadsheet is located on our website at http://www.valenciacc. edu/accountspayable/forms.cfm and is titled “Excess Mileage Worksheet”.

Please be aware that College Policy only allows reimbursement for excess mileage. Excess mileage is any extra miles over your normal daily commute. As an example, your normal daily commute to work is 10 miles round trip. The college will reimburse anything over 10 miles for that day. However, if you travel less than your normal daily commute, no reimbursement is owed, even if your travel is between campuses during the business day.

In the new Banner system, the in-district travel invoices are entered as your initials and the last day of travel on the in-district form. So, if your initial are NB and the last day of travel is 03/30/08 the invoice number will be NB 03/30/08. Please be certain to capture all dates within a range. If your first date of travel is 03/01/08 and the last is 03/30/08 and AP processes the check for that date range, it can become an audit issue if AP enters a date for travel reimbursement of 3/29/08 that you forgot to include in the original 03/1/08-03/30/08.  AP assumes that when you completed the in-district travel on 03/30/08 you claimed all your miles up to that date.

We strongly recommend submitting your in-district travel reimbursement on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. This helps ensure accuracy, increases chances of available funding and helps with budget allocation. A reimbursement request for a period longer than those outlined becomes cumbersome and will not be on AP’s priority list to process. All requests for in-district travel reimbursement must be for the current fiscal year. 

In order to make the in-district travel policy more understandable, AP will post weekly quizzes in the Bulletin. The first correct response sent to nbrandolini@valenciacc.edu will receive a gift.

Quiz # 1:  When traveling directly from your home address to an approved location, then to your home campus, then home address again at the end of the business day, how you would calculate your mileage?

1. Calculate only the miles for the location to your home campus.

2. Calculate the whole leg of the trip: home address-to the location-to home campus-to home address, minus your normal commute to your home campus.

3. Calculate home address to the location then to your home campus.

Quiz # 2: When attended a meeting/conference in Orange or Osceola County and assuming an Authorization for Travel form was previously submitted for the trip, do I claim my excess miles on the Per Diem or on the In-District Travel Report?

1. Of course, on the Per Diem

2. On the In-District Travel Report

3. Neither, not entitled to any mileage         

Please submit your answers to nbrandolini@valenciacc.edu and look for the correct answers in the next Bulletin.

Valencia Foundation's Endowed Chairs for Learning Leadership

Endowed chair awards fund learning experiences and educational resources for full-time faculty on continuing contract.  Applications are now being accepted for 23 chairs which have a total value of $91,300 so don't miss out on this opportunity. The guidelines, application, and list of available chairs can be found on the Foundation's Web site at http://www.valencia.org. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 7.

If you have questions about the Endowed Chair program or application process, please contact Becky Gallup at ext. 3218 or email bgallup@valenciacc.edu.

What does your heart say about you? An EKG can detect heart problems and give you and your physician important information about the condition of your heart. Join us for a free EKG and blood pressure reading by Florida Hospital East Orlando Cardiologists on Wednesday, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 3-113 on East Campus. These are by appointment only and space is limited. Call 407-582-2281 to schedule. **Waiting area and blood pressure readings will take place in the atrium.

Brown Bag Lunch, May 15 - Cholesterol: What You Need to Know 

• East Campus, 11 a.m.-12 noon, Room 3-113
• West Campus, 1-2 p.m., Room 6-202
• Osceola Campus, 11a.m.-12 noon, Auditorium
• Winter Park Campus, 1-2 p.m., Room 224                                                   

Look for more Brown Bag Lunches over the summer semester!

A new Body-for-LIFE Challenge will begin on 5/12/08.  The Body-for-LIFE Challenge is a structured 12-week fitness and nutrition program where challengers compete against themselves to get into the best shape of their lives. Email djakubcin@valenciacc.edu or call ext. 2281 to schedule an appointment for your before pictures and measurements.  Winners of the Spring Challenge will be announced soon. 

The Wellness program has many healthy offerings to help you keep in shape for the summer. Wellness classes start the week of May 12 and end the week of August 4. No pre-registration is required and you can attend any class at any campus.

East Campus:

• Tai Chi - Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m., 6-105
• Yoga AM - Thursdays, 7-7:45 a.m., 6-104, Note-this time can be adjusted if needed
• Yoga PM - Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 6-105
• Boot Camp -Thursdays, 7:15-7:45 a.m., 6-105
• Weight Watchers -Tuesdays, 12 noon-1 p.m., 6-217

West Campus:

• Tai Chi - Tuesdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m., HSB-123
• Golf -Thursdays, 5-6 p.m. (first class meet in HSB-123)
• Boot Camp - Wednesdays, 7:15-7:45 a.m., HSB-123
• Weight Watchers - Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30 p.m., 1-229

Downtown Campus:

• Yoga - Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Conference Room

Winter Park Campus:

• Yoga - Tuesdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Room 224

Osceola Campus:

• Weight Watchers - Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., Room 3-103

Procurement News

Best Buy Gov is committed to providing Public Sector customers with a dedicated account management, as well as Best Buy’s broad product selection and strong retail network.  Basically, it is the same top quality products that one will find in their retail stores and the same excellent customer services (plus a lot more) now focused and priced specifically for the Government and Education customers. New contact information:

• Name:  Best Buy Gov, LLC
• VID #: V03122719
• State Contract #: 880-001-06-1
• Contract Expires: 1/22/2009       
• Account Manager: Anneke H. Riess
• Phone Number:  1-888-224-8181, ext 60854
• Fax Number: (952)430-6453
• E-Mail Address: Anneke.Riess@BestBuy.com

How long does litter last? It just might surprise you!

• Orange peel: 2-5 weeks
• Paper bag: 1 month
• Cigarette butt: up to 5 years
• Leather shoe: 45 years
• Plastic bottle: 430 years
• Aluminum can: 200-500 years
• Disposable diaper: 550 years
• Glass bottle: approximately 1 million years
• Styrofoam container: 1 million years

(Information provided by Subaru Owners Newsletter)

Tax Credit on P-Card Purchases - If a vendor accidentally charges you tax on a purchase using your P-Card, a tax credit must be given from the vendor. A copy of that credit should be reviewed and approved on PaymentNet.  Should you have any questions, please call Procurement at ext. 5532.

Leadership Valencia

Banner - Faculty Schedule, Course Schedule, Reassign Time Entry Training -  This training is for all Administrative Assistants to the Dean and Academic Department Staff Assistants for entering courses, faculty schedule, faculty load and re-assign time. Choose from one of the following:

May 21, West Campus, Room 6-221

• 10 a.m.-12 noon, Registration Code: TBAN-3
• 1:30-3:30 p.m., Registration Code: TBAN-4

May 22, East Campus, Room 4-133

• 10 a.m.-12 noon, Registration Code: TBAN-5

Microsoft Office Essentials ONLINE - This is a 6-week online course beginning May 12 through June 16, and covers the main applications in the new Office 2007 Suite. There is an optional on-site orientation May 12, 3-4:30 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-326A. Participants who have no prior WebCT or Microsoft 2007 experience are strongly encouraged to attend the on-site orientation. For more details, please contact your instructor via e-mail at: ehowell@valenciacc.edu. Registration Code: TMOEO

Classroom Performance Systems - This is a face-to-face professional development section which will guide faculty through the interface and practical application of this formative assessment tool for traditional courses. May 13, 1-2:30 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 2-116, Registration Code: TCPS

Podcasting 101 - Podcasts and vodcasts can deliver educational content for listening or viewing on students' computers and MP3 players, freeing learning from constraints of the physical classroom. There is a required face-to-face orientation to this introductory course, which begins on March 25. The remainder of the coursework will be completed online using WebCT. Participants who have never used WebCT are strongly encouraged to attend. Please contact the section instructors if you have any questions. May 20, 1-2 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 2-116, Registration Code: TPC101

Session II of IV: Different Retirement Investment Choices - What is the best for you? How can you know? Investment choices include 403B, ROTH IRA, 403B ROTH, 457, FRS Pension vs. Investment Plan. Sponsored by the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) NOTE: A box lunch and beverage will be served. May 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, Registration Code: GDRIC

Banner for Beginners (Finance & Procurement) - Banner for Beginners includes Finance and Procurement. April 30, 8-11:30 a.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 219, Registration Code: TBB-5

Refresh Banner for Finance & Procurement - Open to all who have attended a Beginner’s Class. April 30, 1-3:30 p.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 219, Registration Code: TBR-5

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Training - Part I and II - 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 I provides 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 the Part I workshop satisfies the IRB training requirement for investigators of Valencia projects that have been approved through expedited or full review. Part II will walk you through the Valencia IRB application process through interactive discussions, including questions and discussion of examples. Contact Liz Gombash at ext. 2919 or lgombash@valenciacc.edu for "Upon Request" training.

To register for any Leadership Valencia workshop go to http://valenciacc.edu/leadership/regstr.cfm. Please be sure you have the approval of your direct supervisor prior to registering for a workshop. If aworkshop is canceled, only those registered will receive a cancellation e-mail.To view the status of any workshops go to the Leadership Valencia calendar located online.

Does Your R.S.V.P. Matter?

People sometimes ask why an R.S.V.P. to college events, workshops, and seminars is critical. Well, the answer lies in the acronym R.S.V.P. It is an abbreviation of the French term répondez s'il vous plaît which means please reply. And when an invitee replies--Yes or No--the event planners can accomplish two things: (1) make hospitable preparations (copies, catering, nametags, seating, etc.) and (2) save money.

Events that include catering can carry a price tag of $5-40 per attendee, and the caterer usually requires a guaranteed head count at least 48 hours before the event. If folks who have replied Yes don't attend, the college is still required to pay for each no-show. If folks show up who have not responded 'Yes', there may not be a place for them. In addition, a reply of No from those who don't plan to attend is critical for an accurate head count. If an invitee's status changes any time prior to the function, the planners will always want to know.

Please remember your yes or no truly counts!

A Warm Welcome to New Full-time Employees:

Lindi Kourtellils, senior instructional assistant, English, East Campus, mail code 3-20, ext. 2633

Heather Ford, administrative assistant, Math, West Campus, mail code 4-23, ext. 1848

Alina Porter, technical document specialist, Registrar’s Office, West Campus, mail code 4-8, ext. 1377

A Fond Farewell and Best Wishes to Retiring Full-time Employee:

William Oelfke, interim dean, Physical Science, West Campus, retired April 30

Mike Bosley, assistant provost West Campus, Aida Diaz, dean, Humanities, Foreign Language, and Performing Arts, East Campus, and Michele McArdle, dean, Winter Park Campus, completed their participation in the Advanced Academy for Leadership on April 23. The Academy is sponsored by the Chair Academy housed at Maricopa Community College. The Academy was held in Jacksonville, Florida and required a six month practicum where each participant developed a plan that focused on their strengths.

Tamla Thomas, staff assistant for Linda Downing in College Transitions, graduated May 2 from UCF with a BS Degree in Legal Studies.

Meeting Services & Technology Labs at Valencia Enterprises - Valencia Enterprises provides Meeting Services & Technology Labs for businesses and organizations. Every imaginable configuration for groups large and small:  smart classrooms, technology labs, boardrooms and executive learning/training rooms complete with wireless access, state-of-the-art equipment and hospitality services.

For internal Valencia groups and organizations, we can host your collaborative or planning meeting, based on availability. For all meeting requests, please contact Valencia Enterprises’ Client Service Center, ext. 6775, or email: ve_info@valenciacc.edu.