Vol. XXXV, No. 2

January 17, 2006

This Week at Valencia.

Tuesday, January 17

Design & Operations, 1 p.m., Winter Park Campus, 123

Calendar & Scheduling Committee, 2:30 p.m., East Campus, 5-217D


Wednesday, January 18

WP Career Staff Council, 10 a.m., Winter Park Campus, 226

Collegewide Curriculum Committee, 2 p.m., West Campus, 7-114

Learning Evidence Team, 2:30 p.m., East Campus, 3-113

Student Affairs Leadership Team, 2:30 p.m., Winter Park Campus, 123

Thursday, January 19

Faculty Council, 2:30 p.m., Winter Park, 221

New Minimum Wage Information

Effective January 1, 2006, Florida's new minimum wage is $6.40 per hour. This will affect all federal and institutional work study student employees and part-time security escorts, student assistants and compliance aide employees which were previously paid at $6.15/hr.

Please verify that time sheets reflect the new hourly rate of $6.40 for any hours worked starting January 1, 2006.

Strategic Budget Initiatives

Each year, Valencia plans to allocate funds to Strategic Budget Initiatives (SBI), specific projects linked explicitly to Valencia's Strategic Learning Plan. SBI funding provides support for promising innovations that may be scaled to reach large numbers of students, moving them beyond the original trial to "venture capital" investment by the college. Once selected and funded, the college would expect to have the evidence needed to make a decision regarding full institutionalization of such projects.

Proposal abstracts for Strategic Budget Initiative funding for fiscal year 2006-2007 are due on Friday, February 24, 2006. Proposals are encouraged from Valencia faculty, professional and career staff. Interested staff members should attend one of two Leadership Valencia training sessions this month: Tuesday, January 17, 2-4 pm, West Campus SSB-211; and Thursday, January 19, 9-11 am, East Campus 3-113. For more information, visit the Leadership Valencia website at

The SBI training session, along with all other documentation for proposals, is also available on the Valencia website at . For more information on the process, please contact Dave Rogers x3223, or Liz Gombash x2909.

Important Notice from the College Diversity Committee

Effective February 1, 2006, a diversity representative (formerly known as the EA/EO representative) will be appointed to each Selection and Hiring Committee at the college. As a vital member of the committee, the diversity representative assists in ensuring that the process is fair and unbiased, and adheres to the college's commitment to equal opportunity in its hiring practices. A diversity representative may serve on the College Diversity Committee; however, membership on this committee is no longer required. Additionally, the Human Resources and Diversity Department will be responsible for training the diversity representatives and maintaining a list of qualified individuals.

If you are interested in serving as a diversity representative, please contact Deborah McCoy, employee relations and diversity specialist, Human Resources and Diversity, for an application. The application deadline is January 27, 2006. She may be reached at ext. 8081 or mail code 3-33. Information concerning the mandatory training will be forthcoming.

Procurement News

Toner Cartridges - All toner cartridges have a 30-day return policy. Order what you currently need. Storing toner cartridges for more than 6 months is not recommended. If the cartridge is more than 30 days old, the cartridge cannot be returned to the supplier. Please make sure to check all cartridge packages when they arrive for any defects.

Mail Room - The Mail Services webpage has been updated with the recent move of several departments: When sending interoffice mail, do not use building numbers or room numbers. Valencia mail codes should always be used for proper delivery.

Supplier Database - Aida González, supplier specialist, is on maternity leave. All requests and questions concerning paper requisitions or vendor business profiles should be directed to valenciaprocurement@valenciacc.edu or by calling extension 5532. We will share the news of the birth of her twins when the happy occasion takes place.

General Operating Fund 1 Expenditures - These funds are considered 'State' funds and expenses should be limited to educational or administrative expenses. We are required by statute and rule to apply a fiduciary responsibility over the expenditure of tax payer funds. Except for some promotion and public relations accounts, these funds CANNOT be used for: food or beverages, coffee or coffee supplies, entertainment, departmental social functions, holiday decorations for the office, office decorations for the office, employee awards, gifts or recognitions, party supplies, personal items, and cleaning supplies.

Summer Term Professional Development Planning for Faculty & Staff

Are you willing to share your department knowledge collegewide? Would you like an opportunity to serve the college on a committee? If so, please consider sharing your skills, enthusiasm and input by serving on the Leadership Valencia Task Force.
Leadership Valencia offers professional development programs designed to enhance job performance and career growth for Valencia faculty and staff. The Leadership Valencia Task Force meets once each term to develop and implement workshops. The task force meeting to plan for Summer Term is scheduled on Monday, January 23, 2:45 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202.

If you are interested in joining the Leadership Valencia Task Force, please contact Donna Dudash at extension 3128 or e-mail your interest at: ddudash@valenciacc.edu

Leadership Valencia

Distracted Driving: Expect the Unexpected - Driving is a common activity, one that we often take for granted. But, it is a serious responsibility that deserves your full and undivided attention. Attend this informative workshop and learn how to become a defensive driver. Friday, January 20, 2-3 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code: GDRIVE.

Records Retention: What Files to Keep, What to Trash - Are your files overcrowded with outdated and possibly unnecessary paperwork? Are you afraid to clean through your files because some of the information might be needed in the future? Guidelines set by the State of Florida will be presented and participants will leave this workshop with the knowledge of what files to clean without fear, retain exactly what is needed, and at the same time, find additional storage space. Monday, January 23, 2-4 p.m., West Campus, Room 4-120, registration code: PRECORD.

Five Wishes: Living Will - Five Wishes is the first living will that addresses your personal, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as your medical wishes. There are many things in life that are out of our hands; attend this session to help you to prepare for unavoidable life issues. Thursday, January 26, 1-2 p.m., East Campus, Room 8-105D, registration code: GWISH1.

Grading Tools - Learn how to electronically manage your gradebook utilizing three primary grading tools; MS Excel, Micrograde and WebCT Gradebook. Participants will have a hands-on opportunity to try out these tools to determine which of these three software packages best meets their needs. Thursday, January 26, 12:30-2:30 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-204, registration code: TGRADE1.

I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You: Myers-Briggs In The Workplace - Through the use of the Myers-Briggs personality assessment, team members will come to understand their own personality types and those of others. This understanding leads not only to a better understanding of one's self, but also to a higher quality work environment, which aids in the development of respect for different work styles. This is a must-see workshop that will include a murder mystery and lots of fun! Note: Attendees should register by February 1, 2006. Workshop is scheduled for Monday, February 20, 9 a.m.-12 noon, East Campus, Room 5-112, registration code: GMBT1.

To register for any Leadership Valencia classes and more information go to http://valencia.cc.fl.us/leadership/regstr.asp

Valencia Alumni Association Scholarships

Faculty and staff: do you know of any students who can use some extra money for school? Direct them to http://valenciacc.edu/alumni/scholarships.asp for all the details and online applications. Deadlines and dollar amounts vary per scholarship.

Who Will Be Valencia's Next Distinguished Grad?

The Valencia Alumni Association is now accepting applications for Valencia's Distinguished Grad award. For submission deadline and additional information go to valenciacc.edu/alumni/scholarships.asp or call Alumni Relations at ext. 3124.

Tutors Needed

The West Campus Tutoring Center is looking for tutors. Please contact Ron Woodruff at ext. 1249 for details.

Hello and Goodbye

A warm Valencia welcome is extended to Nancy Boss, professor, English as a Second Language-Osceola, mc 6-1, ext. 4292; Roberta Brown, professor, Mathematics-East, mc 3-16, ext. 2240; Michelle Foster, assistant provost-East, mc 3-1, ext. 2007; Tammy Gitto, professor, Humanities-Osceola, mc 6-1, ext. 4108; Margaret Gonzalez, professor, Speech-East, mc 3-20, ext. 2132; Mehdi Khoumassi, classroom technology support specialist-West, mc 4-4, ext. 1230; Kimberly Little, instructional assistant, Biology-West, mc 4-3, ext. 1226; Chryssa Moyer, professor, Humanities-Osceola, mc 6-1, ext. 4108 and Therese Simpson, accounts payable specialist-DTC, mc DTC-3, ext. 3312.

Kudos

Congratulations to Patti Riva, past-president of the Valencia chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) who has been selected as the Region IV AAWCC Champion. Her photo and write up of her contributions to the Valencia AAWCC chapter can be viewed at http://www.aims.edu/aawcc/. This AAWCC website showcases the Regional AAWCC Champions and provides information to AAWCC chapters.

In addition, the Valencia AAWCC scholarship for female students was recently renamed the Patti Riva Honorary Scholarship for Women in recognition of Patti's many contributions to the success of women students and staff. We are very proud of Patti and thank her for the inspiration and dedication she has given to the Valencia AAWCC chapter.

The Internship and Placement Office and the Employment Guide Diversity Job Fair

On October 25, 2005 at Valencia's East Campus, The Internship and Placement Office partnered with the Employment Guide and offered a Diversity Job Fair to Valencia students, alumnus and the Valencia community.

The job fair attracted more than 800 attendees and over forty employers, who braved the cold weather after the passing of Hurricane Wilma to make this event an outstanding success.

The highlight of the fair was the Employment Guide's presentation of a $1,500 scholarship check to Valencia's Internship and Placement Office. This fund has been placed with Valencia's foundation and usage is being created by the Internship and Placement Office.
 

Pictured left to right are Marya Williams and Jennifer Garcia, Internship and Placement Office; Joe Rinaldi, The Employment Guide; Gar Vance, assistant to the provost, East Campus; Vertrilla Hunt, Internship and Placement Office coordinator, East Campus

Submissions to the Bulletin are encouraged, so please e-mail your achievements, awards, recognitions, and relevant information for the college community to Mary Jane Jones, Staff Assistant in Marketing and Media Relations. Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding each Friday's distribution. Mary Jane can be reached at ext.1017, or mjjones@valenciacc.edu.