Vol. XXXVI, No. 34

September 10 , 2007

This Week at Valencia

Wednesday, September 12

College Operations Council, 9:15 a.m., Osceola Campus, 2-219B

DOT mtg., 1 p.m., West Campus, 6-202

College Curriculum Committee, 2 p.m., East Campus, 3-113

Thursday, September 13

Faculty Senate

• East Campus, 1 p.m.,     5-112
• West Campus, 1:15 p.m., 6-202
• Osceola Campus, 1:30 p.m., 2-237

We look forward to seeing you on Learning Day, Tuesday, October 23 on East Campus.

Stay tuned for more information.

Operations Council Annual Summary 2006-2007

Valencia’s Operations Council focuses on the operational systems of the college and provides recommendations on broad-based college management topics. The Council examines student, employee, technology and facilities issues, such as capital master planning, strategic technology support and budgeting/audit operations. Specific committees that report to the Council include those that address career staff and professional staff issues, the college calendar, admissions and records, commence-ment, reclassifications, grants, Atlas and Banner systems, strategic equipment and technology and facility operations.

Substantive issues examined by the Operations Council during the 2006-2007 fiscal year include the following:

Banner Conversion - The Operations Council provided oversight and support for the conversion from Oracle to Banner for college financial records. The project was a challenge for the Human Resource staff, requiring conversion of all department and position names to Banner equivalents for budget, financial, recruitment, and contract processes.

Grant Proposals - Over 4.4 million dollars in grant proposals were approved for submission by the Operations Council in the past fiscal year.

Academic Calendar - The Council reviewed and approved the college academic calendar for the 2007-2008 college year as well as tentative calendars for the 2010-2017 periods. Changes to high school fall beginning dates, spring breaks and holiday placement favor broad communications to college faculty and staff by the Calendar and Scheduling Committee.

Crisis Management Team - The Council reviewed the plans for Security to form a Crisis Management Team that will have specific responsibilities during college crises. The team will involve representatives from each of the campuses. A multi-layered communications system is also being developed for the college.

Leadership Valencia

Banner Finance, INB, and Self Service Refresher Workshop - This workshop is designed for users who have previously completed a Banner INB or Self Service class, and currently use the new financial system. Bring your questions for an open discussion on how to maneuver around the system. September 12, 1:30-4 p.m. Osceola Campus, Room 3-330, registration code: TBR-2 OR September 18, 1:30-4 p.m., Sand Lake Center, Room 2-110, registration code: TBR-3.

Hittin' The Road: Valencia Travel Tips and Tricks - Questions and answers covering travel and SPD related information. September 10, 2-4 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code: GHTR-1 OR September 11, 9-11 a.m., East Campus, Room 5-112, registration code: GHTR-2.

The New Microsoft Office 2007 Interface -This workshop will introduce attendees to the new Microsoft Office 2007 Ribbon interface, as well as exploring features such as the MS office button, contextual tabs and SmartArt Graphics. September 11, 1-2 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 2-142, registration code: TNMOI-2 OR September 12, 1-2 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-133, registration code: TNMOI-3

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 begin with Teaching with Fire, a collection of educators' stories and poems and prose they have chosen that gives sustenance and courage to continue their work with others. September 11, 1-2 p.m., registration code: LFORM-1.

Banner Finance Self Service - This workshop is for first time Banner users. Learn to create a requisition, look up available funds, and create a budget transfer in this self-service module through Atlas. INB Banner is NOT required prior to this workshop. Self Service is for the staff member who occasionally uses the Finance system for simple look-ups. If you are just interested in looking up available funds or financial transactions, this is the class for you.  Wednesday, September 12, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Osceola Campus, Room 3-330, registration code: TFSS-1

Banner Finance Internet Native Banner (INB) - This workshop is for first time users. Learn to create requisitions, look up your budget, query on requisitions, purchase orders, expenses, etc. This class is designed for the staff member who is responsible for the financial needs of the department and must query on all aspects regarding their budget. September 18, 8 a.m.-12 noon, Sand Lake Center, Room 2-110, registration code: TINB-1.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Training, Part One - A workshop to train faculty and staff in the college's new Institutional Review Board (IRB) process. Part one will provide an overview of human research protection and how our IRB works with an aim to be as unintrusive as possible while complying with Federal regulations. (Note: Completion of this workshop satisfies the IRB training requirement for investigators of Valencia projects that have been approved through expedited or full review.) September 20, 1-3 p.m., West Campus, Room HSB-120, registration code: PIRB1-1.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Training, Part Two - A workshop to train faculty and staff in the college's new Institutional Review Board (IRB) process. Part two will walk through the Valencia IRB application process through interactive discussions, including questions and discussion of examples. (NOTE: Recommended prerequisite:  IRB Training, Part One.) September 20, 3-4 p.m., West Campus, Room HSB-120, registration code: PIRB2-1.

American Heart Association HEARTWALK is quickly approaching. September 29 is just around the corner, so gather up your co-workers and sign up to walk. It’s not only fun but you’ll be raising money for a great organization. Get involved and sign up TODAY!!

Take the Valencia Body-for-LIFE Challenge. Body-for-LIFE champion, Porter Freeman and trainer, Eric Shrieves, will be speaking on the East campus at 1 p.m., September 27 in Room 5-112; and on West campus at 1 p.m., September 25 in HSB120. Please join us and learn how to get “your” Body-for-LIFE!

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. Challengers are judged on their physical transformation through 'before' and 'after' photographs and on their internal transformation through an Inner Transformation Essay.

The most rewarding benefits of completing a Body-for-LIFE Challenge may be the transformations of the body and mind and spirit as competitors lose fat, gain muscle and increase their self-confidence. Additional benefits include:

• Overall health benefits
• Optimized cholesterol levels
• Improved circulation
• Increased cardiovascular capacity
• Increased energy
• Consistent blood sugar levels

Kudos

Ann Farrell and Lana Powell traveled to La Cucarita, Dominican Republic over the past summer.  The purpose of this trip was to help the people in a small mountain town, La Cucarita, by teaching them English, helping them make crafts and teaching them music.

Ann, Tracy Harrison, and the Study Abroad and Global Exchange Office are coordinating a Service Learning Project for Valencia students to La Cucarita, D.R. for August 2008.