Vol. XXXVI, No. 36

September 24 , 2007

This Week at Valencia

Monday, September 24

Student Affairs Leadership Team, 10 a.m., Winter Park, Room 220

Wednesday, September 26

Valencia Foundation Executive Committee mtg., 12 noon, Downtown Center

Thursday, September 27

College Planning Council, 2:30 p.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 225

District Board of Trustees Meeting Summary

Reports

East Campus - Ruth Prather, provost of the East and Winter Park campuses, informed the board that the East Campus set an enrollment record this fall with 16,000 students. She then introduced Steve Myers, East Campus biology professor, who gave a presentation on an expedition he led to the Guyana rainforests over spring break with five of his biology students. The group studied the neotropical ecology and indigenous peoples of Guyana, and were required to take extensive field notes and give presentations of their study-abroad experience.

East Campus Student Government Association Report - Ms. Prather introduced Chris Brady, East Campus SGA president, for an update on SGA activities. Mr. Brady said the SGA’s goal for the coming year was to get 90 percent of East Campus students to register to vote.

Strategic Planning Update - Ms. Kelley, co-chair of the College Planning Council, presented for the board’s review a draft of a document, to be discussed later at the October board meeting, with revised statements of the college’s vision, values and mission, a list of strategic issues, recommended strategic goals for 2008-2013, and a more ambitious list of “Big Hairy Audacious Goals,” all of which will serve as the college’s strategic plan for 2008-2013. Ms. Kelley said that the plan represented the combined work of volunteers throughout the college, while giving special thanks to Suzette Dohaney, co-chair for the College Planning Council, and David Rogers, former special assistant for the Learning Centered Inititative.

Office of Resource Development Report- Ms. Kelley, vice president, Institutional Advancement, introduced Liz Gombash, assistant vice president of Resource Development. The purpose of the Resource Development office, Ms. Gombash said, was to assist in achieving the mission of the college to secure and manage grants from public agencies, and private and corporate foundations. She gave the board an overview of the department’s work and introduced some of its staff. At least 70 percent of the grant proposals submitted by Resource Development are funded. In the past several years, their funding rate has been closer to 90 percent, well above the average rate of 30 percent.

Year-End Financial Indicators - A summary of the college’s end-of-year financial report was given by Keith Houck, vice president, Administrative Services. Mr. Houck said that as a result of last year’s operations, the unallocated fund balance increased by $1.15 million to $10.4 million. Valencia’s operating revenues were $116.7 million, with 58 percent of that derived from state funding and 40 percent from student fees. Valencia, Dr. Sanford Shugart said, is the most dependent on state funding for its operation than any other community college in Florida.  Houck continued his comments, noting that 75 percent of the colleges $116.1 million in expenditures last year were attributed to personnel costs. The college currently has $192.6 million in total assets, mostly in buildings. Mr. Houck also reported that the Valencia Foundation has continued to do very well, with $60 million in total net assets, and $919,000 going toward student scholarships in 2006/07.

Construction Report - Dr. Shugart informed the board that the college had completed negotiations for several acres of property on the north side of East Campus. Mr. Houck provided an update on West Campus construction. He said that site preparation had begun on Module 10 (Allied Sciences Building), with a new parking lot also under construction that will provide 518 additional parking spaces. Mr. Houck also announced that the college expects to have the “signature building” (Module 8) on West Campus completed by October 2008.

Foundation Report - Valencia Trustee Raymer Maguire reported that the board members of Valencia Foundation had set a goal for themselves of $2 million in personal contributions as part of the college’s ongoing capital campaign. As of today, the board has contributed $2.1 million in money and pledges and will continue to strive for their stretch goal of $2.5 million in the nine months left in the campaign. Mr. Maguire announced several upcoming Foundation events, including a breakfast Oct. 10, the annual donor recognition gala on Dec. 1, and Taste for Learning on April 12.

President’s Report - Dr. Shugart discussed at length the state’s projected shortfall in recurring revenue and its possible impact on Valencia. He said that the state has already begun to hold back four percent of our operating funds even though the Legislature’s special session to decide on budget cuts will not take place until Oct. 3-12. In the mean time, the college has instituted a “chill” on hiring, has conducted a budget analysis and has held a manager’s meeting to develop a process for budget revisions. Dr. Shugart introduced Kaye Walter, executive vice president and chief learning officer, and Joyce Romano, vice president, Student Affairs, to give the fall enrollment report. Dr. Romano said that Valencia had a historic number of students enrolled in a single term (32,774), with a headcount increase over the previous fall of 9.2 percent and an FTE increase of 11.7 percent. She also said that applications for admission increased by 9 percent, or 13,414 new students applying. Financial aid applications grew by 18.8 percent to 12,084. Dr. Walter reported that the college had increased its prep, entry-level and Flex Start course offerings and that the average class size increased just a fraction from 23 students per class to 23.4. Dr. Romano reviewed the student characteristics report that showed an increase this fall in the number of new, first-time-at-Valencia students, an increase in recent high school grads, and an increase in Hispanics who now make up one-quarter of Valencia’s student body.  Dr. Shugart closed the discussion on fall enrollment by saying that in spite of having record increases, it’s a mixed blessing that taxes an infrastructure that is already stretched to capacity. He praised the way Valencia’s staff and faculty performed in meeting the challenges of record enrollment and said that complaints from students had dropped dramatically. The president ended his comments with the announcement that a management decision will now permit more members of an employee’s family to obtain the college’s health insurance at their own expense. 

New Business

Consent Agenda  - Approved under a consent agenda were the Prequalification of Contractors; Central Plant Expansion for West Campus; Continuing Contract for Roofing Building Envelope Consultant; new policy adoption: 6Hx28:07-43 Domestic Violence Leave; additions, deletions or modifications of courses and programs; Valencia Enterprises courses and fees; Human Resources agenda; submission of grant proposals and property deletion.

News from Procurement

If your PCard is due to expire soon, don’t be alarmed. A replacement will be ordered and sent to you on or before the last day of the expiration month. Be sure to update your new expiration date with all of your vendors and with Susan Ioder or Annmarie Wise in Procurement, to prevent the disruption of your online Office Depot account. Please contact your PCard Administrator, Kacy Weeks, at ext.1974 for this or any issues regarding your Master Card. If a transaction appears in PaymentNet under your account and you have not received the items and/or an invoice, please contact the responsible vendor immediately to rectify the problem. In good practice, a vendor should not charge your account until the items have been shipped. If this is a continued problem for you despite attempts to remedy the situation, you may want to consider obtaining your items from another vendor. 

Do you ever wonder about the different shipping terms that may appear on your quotes? FOB Destination Point is the preferred shipping designation. It is a shipping term that means Freight on Board Destination Point and it implies that the seller owns the goods in transit, is responsible for freight charges, assists with the settlement of claims and is responsible for full replacement of damaged items. Also, the title passes at the time the goods reach their destination.  In other words, the seller retains title and control until delivered and accepted by the buyer. When requesting a quote, ask for the shipping terms to be FOB Destination.  The seller will build any shipping charges into the cost of the product. Questions?  Call Valencia Procurement at 407-582-5532.

There is a change to the upcoming Weight Watchers Open House for West Campus ONLY. Due to the Body-for-LIFE presentation, the Weight Watchers open house originally scheduled for Tuesday, September 25 will be held Tuesday, October 2 at 1 p.m. in room 5-251.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 building 5, room112; and on West campus at 1 p.m., September 25 in the HSB, room120. 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 ontheir 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 level

Leadership Valencia

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 25, 1-2 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-212B, registration code: LFORM-2.

Distracted/Decision Driving - Attend this informative workshop to learn how to become adefensive driver. This session will help you sharpen your driving skills and hone awareness while preparing you for the upcoming summer rainy season. September 26, 2–3 p.m., West Campus, Room HSB-120, registration code: GDRIVE-1.

Estate Planning: What Everyone Needs to Know - Estate planning and procrastination often go hand-in-hand. This session will provide tools to help you understand the benefits of planning, including maintaining estate control, how this helps your heirs, ways to avoid or minimize probate, and methods that save on estate taxes. You will be introduced to the four basic estate planning documents: will; health care surrogate; durable power of attorney; and living will. In discussion, attendees will weigh the costs and benefits of a will versus arevocable living trust and discuss charitable planned giving strategies that benefit you today and your charity tomorrow. Bring your favorite beverage; a free box lunch will be served. Sponsored by American Association for Women in Community Colleges. September 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 108, registration code: GEPL.

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 ave been approved through expedited or full review.) September 20, 1-3 p.m., West Campus, Room HSB-120, registration code: PIRB1-1 OR September 28, 1-3 p.m., East Campus, Room 3-113, registration code: PIRB1-2.

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 1. September 20, 3-4 p.m., West Campus, Room HSB-120, registration code: PIRB2-1, OR September 28, 3-4 p.m., East Campus, Room 3-113, registration code: PIRB2-2.

Circles of Belonging - Ever wonder what makes a person tick?Individual experiences play a huge part in shaping the way we interact with others and view the world around us.This in-depth interactive workshop will examine how diversity of experience impacts our interpersonal communications and relationships.Through discovery and discussion, learn more about yourself and the people around you.Participants will leave the session with an increased understanding of and appreciation for similarities and differences. October 2, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., CJI Auditorium, Room 100, registration code:PCOB1.

Register for all Leadership Valencia classes at http://www.valenciacc.edu/leadership/.

Third Annual A Gift for Teaching - Push for Pencils Supply Drive Going on Now

Remember when you were ready to start a major project at work, than found you need a different software program? Or the other day when you need to take notes on while on an important call and didn't have either paper or pen on hand? 

This is the way some of our public school students feel everyday.  You know your frustration, just imagine theirs.

Even though life isn't always fair, there is a way to make life fairer for these kids. Join us and support A Gift for Teaching by donating new school supplies so no child has to show up empty handed.

If you're a shopper, shop with the eyes of a child, select items they would want to use in class. If shopping isn't you hobby or if you just can't make the time donate money. The A Gift for Teaching organization takes one dollar and will turn into ten dollars worth of upplies for teachers to take back to their classrooms.

Supplies are being accepted at any campus library, bookstore, and monetary donations can be made at any VCC finance office.

Give from the heart! For more information about A Gift for Teaching, please visit their website at www.agiftfor teaching.org. For more information about the "Push for Pencils Supply Drive, contact Priscilla Gray at pgray@valenciacc.edu. or call ext. 6816.

Buy a 2008 Entertainment Book and Help the Alumni Association’s Scholarship Fund

Valencia’s Alumni Association is once again selling the Entertainment Book for only $25, with all proceeds going to scholarships. Please take this opportunity to buy a book and try that restaurant you have been wanting to go to... And don’t forgot those Publix coupons ... bowling discounts ... oil change discounts ... there are too many to mention!

Contact any of these people to get your copy today!

• West Campus – Teresa Gallagher, ext. 1745 or Pat Lee, ext. 1608
• DTC – Lisa Lovell, ext. 3433
• Sand Lake Center – Teresa Gallagher, ext. 1745
• Osceola Campus – Deborah Donohue, Est. 4145
• Winter Park Campus – Teresa Gallagher, ext. 1745
• East Campus – Richard Williams, ext. 2350