Vol. XXXV, No. 37

September 25, 2006

This Week at Valencia.

Tuesday, September 26

New Student Orientation, 2 p.m., East Campus, 5-117D

Wednesday, September 27

Student Leader Program Team, 9 a.m., West Campus, SSB-110E

Valencia Foundation Board of Trustees meeting, 12 noon, Downtown Center, Room 106

Thursday, September 28

College Planning Council, 2:30 p.m., East Campus, 3-113

Friday, September 29

Collegewide Student Development Team, 9:30 a.m., Osceola Campus, 1-258

Annual Hiring Freeze

The annual hiring freeze for new full-time employees will soon be in effect. To hire an employee before the freeze becomes effective, the employee must begin work on or before November 13, 2006. After that date, recruitment activities may be conducted through Human Resources department and offers of employment may be extended; however, the employee may not begin work until January 8, 2007.

A Note From Food Services

VCC Friends, thank you so much for the warm welcome and support that you have shown in our first few weeks of operating the food courts. We are excited about the successful opening of the East and West campuses, and look forward to the future success of Osceola. We have received a great deal of positive comments about the menu and the new look. People are surprised we were able to remodel those two facilities in just six weeks.

East and West Food Court - The Twisted River Grill and Charleston’s Landing are up in full swing with the Subway operating as normal at East. The Little Bean Company is continually adding new products and you can look for pizza, gelato and Italian ice coming this week.

Osceola Food Court - We had hoped to be open when the school year started, but the building was under construction for the addition and we were not allowed to be in the building until August 26. We scrambled to open with the old menu on August 28 and are now waiting for electrical capacity to be increased so we can add our new equipment. We anticipate a late September or early October opening for the Twisted River Grill with the Little Bean Company soon to follow.

Cabin Creek Catering - We are excited to announce that we have a new catering coordinator, Reena Vaid, who joined us on September 12. Reena has an economics degree from Rutgers University and comes to us from Mystic Dunes Country Club, where she held a similar position. She can be reached at 407-376-7522. We have not changed any of the procedures to book a catering event, so continue business as normal. We anticipate that the new catering menu will be ready by early October. Please join us in welcoming her.

Thank you once again for your support and we look forward to continuing to serve you.

- Gini, Larry, Paul and Ryan, Cabin Creek Food Services

Career Service Evaluations

Many full-time Career Service evaluations have already been received in HR. Thanks to supervisors and employees who have taken the time to complete this state mandated task.

If you haven't sat down with your supervisor yet, suggest some accomplishments to include in your evaluation and your goals for the '06-'07 fiscal year.

SUPERVISORS - If you haven't put your thoughts on paper yet concerning the employees you supervise, helpful suggestions are in the evaluation packet sent by e-mail on July 5. The evaluations are DUE in HR by September 29. [September 30 in on Saturday this year.]

Contact Sue Bouchard, extension 8080, with questions.

Digital Media Auditions

Valencia Community College's Digital Media Technology program is holding auditions on East Campus in 3-113 on Thursday, September 28, 5-9 p.m., Saturday September 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Monday October 2, 5-8 p.m.

The students in our program do several digital media projects throughout the year.
These include original narrative short motion pictures, motion graphics and web based projects. Actors of all ages and experience are welcome to attend.

Script sides will be available to read before you audition and you are welcome to come with your own prepared short comedic or dramatic monologue. We will take photos during the auditions, but please bring a headshot if you have one.

For those who cannot attend these dates, headshots may be mailed to: Robert McCaffrey, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Mail Code 3-2, Orlando, FL 32825. For additional information, please contact Robert McCaffrey at 407 582-2784.

News from the Osceola Campus Learning Center

The Osceola Campus Learning Center (3-100) is offering FREE workshops for students every Tuesday & Thursday from 2:20 to 3:20 p.m. during activity hour.

Microsoft Office Series, Thursdays
• MS Word: Sept. 28, Oct. 19, Nov. 9
• MS Excel: Oct. 12, Nov. 2
• Power Point: Oct. 5, Oct. 26, Nov. 16

Valencia Online Series:
• Atlas, Email, WebCT 6, Online Tutoring: Sept. 26.

Upcoming Leadership Valencia Classes

Formation is For Everyone - Join us for ongoing, relaxed lunch conversations around Parker Palmer's essay, "13 Ways of Looking at Community." Our first meeting will be to introduce Parker Palmer and Formation; thereafter, alternating lunch on East and West campuses throughout the year, each time talking with others about one of the 13 ways. This is a time for faculty, staff, and administrators to practice ways of speaking and being heard that allow a group to become a deeply respectful and caring community-in-learning where each person has a voice. Tuesday, September 26, 1-2 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-212B, registration code: LFORM2 and Thursday, October 5, 1–2 p.m. West Campus, Room 9-140B, registration code: LFORM5.

Next Level Thinking - Are you considering making an internal career move? Learn how Valencia employees have made transitions to new opportunities. Tuesday, September 26, 2-4 p.m., West Campus, Room HSB-211, registration code: PNLT.

Phone and E-mail Etiquette - This session will focus on utilizing phone and e-mail for great service. Learn tips on phone and e-mail etiquette with ideas on how phone and GroupWise features can assist you! Wednesday, September 27, 2:30–4:30 p.m, Winter Park Campus, Room 225, registration code: PPEE. Note: This session is sponsored by the Career Staff Council.

What's New in WebCT 6? - This orientation will cover the key features of WebCT Campus Edition 6. The latest version of WebCT retains much of what you love about working with WebCT, but also delivers unprecedented advancements in ease of use and cutting-edge teaching and learning functionality. The enhancements in WebCT 6 make course preparation, delivery and management easier and more efficient when you apply the many new tools available. Friday, September 29, 1–3 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 3-300, registration code: TWCT929.

Fall Formation Retreat: The Threads We Follow - There are many threads to follow throughout our lives and sometimes it seems the thread is following us rather than the other way around. This overnight retreat is for each of us to find, redeem or begin new threads for ourselves. We all can use a time to weave these threads of our lives while renewing our spirits. If the semester is wearing you down, take a break and join us for some R & R in the woods with colleagues and friends, good food, and a safe space. Sunday, October 1, 2 p.m. to Tuesday, October 3, 1 p.m. Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center, Oviedo, Florida, enrollment is limited, registration code: LTWF. Note: This retreat has an all inclusive fee of $300 which may be covered by SPD for eligible full-time employees.

Graphics and Imaging - This fun and informative course will teach you the basics of computer graphics. You will create your own electronic designs using PowerPoint as a toolbox. No artistic background is needed. Wednesday, October 4, 1–5 p. m., West Campus, Room 6-326A, registration code: TGI or Thursday, October 5, 1–5 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-122, registration code: TGI2.

Excelling with Excel: Introduction to Microsoft Excel - This session will provide participants with basic Microsoft Excel worksheet skills including entering and editing data, navigating, formatting and printing the worksheet-along with basic Excel functions and formulas. Wednesday, October 4, 2–3:30 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-210, registration code: TIE1 or Friday, October 6, 2–3:30 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-326A, registration code: TIE2.

News from Procurement

Valencia Community College policy is written specifically for our college, using Florida Statues and Florida Administrative Codes as reference and guidelines. College policy is approved by our District Board of Trustees. Auditors review procedures to ensure that the college is following policy. The following list is pertinent to purchasing:

Description and statue, rule or policy:

• Expenditures - VCC Policy: 6Hx28:06-06
• Bidding Requirements - VCC Policy: 6Hx28:06-12
• Agents, Sales Persons, and Solicitors - VCC Policy: 6Hx28:04-04
• Purchasing categories, threshold amounts - 287.017 F.S.
• Purchasing from state term contracts - 287.056 F.S.
• Preference to Florida businesses - 287.084 F.S.
• Preference to businesses with drug-free workplace programs - 287.087 F.S.
• Minority business enterprises - 287.093 F.S.
• Public meetings and records - 286.011 F.S.
• Restriction of Expenditures - 69I-40.103 F.A.C.

Web sites to find statues, rules or policies:

• Valencia policy can be found on-line at: http://valenciacc.edu/policies/
• Florida Statutes can be found on-line at: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/
• Florida Administrative Code can be found on-line at: http://fac.dos.state.fl.us/

Office Depot Update - the new 2006/2007 Office Depot catalogs are in! You can order your new catalog, item number 566-130, free of charge on your next office supply order. Be sure to throw away your old Office Depot Catalog because order numbers have changed.

Kudos

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has chosen Dr. Tami Rogers, professor of Nursing, as a member of the panel of expert nurses meeting in Chicago, IL, who will write items for the NCLEX-RN Examination.

Marilyn McLatchey, professor of Humanities, will have her poetry featured in an upcoming issue of The Comstock Review.