Vol. XXXIV, No. 37

September 26, 2005

This Week at Valencia.

Monday, September 26

Instructional Affairs Committee, 8:30 a.m., East Campus 3-113

Career Program Advisors, 3 p.m., West Campus 9-140B

Tuesday, September 27

Learning Day, 8 a.m., Double Tree Hotel, across from Universal Studios

Summary - District Board of Trustees Meeting

Recognition: Dr. Sanford Shugart, president, began the meeting by introducing Dr. B. Kaye Walter, Valencia's new Executive Vice President and Chief Learning Officer. Dr. Shugart noted that Dr. Walter joins Valencia after many years in higher education, most recently in a similar position at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Dr. Walter thanked the board and the college for the warm welcome she has received and said she looks forward to the exciting opportunities for learning-centered work at Valencia.

Winter Park Campus Update: Dr. Shugart then introduced Dr. Ruth Prather, Provost of the Winter Park and East Campuses, and asked her to present the Winter Park campus update. Dr. Prather gave the board a brief overview of the demographics of the Winter Park campus, noting that the age range of the student population at Winter Park was beginning to trend lower. She then introduced Michele McArdle, Dean of the campus, for a presentation on Winter Park's Cooperative Learning Community. Ms. McArdle explained that the faculty of the Winter Park campus, in an effort to improve student completion rates, student retention, and student engagement in course curriculum and campus activities, created a cooperative learning community. Instructors are integrating study skills, personal achievement activities and course content focusing on students in preparatory courses. Ms. McArdle explained that the prep course focus was in keeping with Valencia's Achieving the Dream initiative and the college's Strategic Learning Plan. She introduced the faculty responsible for the Cooperative Learning Community, and each explained their curriculum and the integration of their courses with their peers.

Student Government Association Report: Ms. McArdle introduced Amber Bieger, president of the Winter Park Student Government Association. Ms. Bieger reported that the SGA would be devoting its work this year to improving student to student connection and increasing the level of participation in community and college events. She noted that Winter Park students were actively raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims and that recruitment was ongoing for participants in a local Breast Cancer awareness and fund raising event. She also reported that the SGA's on all four campuses were trying to plan a fall retreat to study better communication and collaboration between them.

Annual Financial Report: Dr. Shugart introduced Keith Houck, Vice President of Administrative Services, for the Annual Financial Report. Mr. Houck reported that while Valencia's enrollment did not increase to the level projected, the college still fared well last year in revenue, due primarily to more aggressive collection of funds owed and to exceptional stewardship by its administration. The college saw revenue of $103.4 million and expenses of $102.9 million in 2004-2005.

Internal Auditor Report: Ms. Undria Stalling, Internal Auditor to the Board of Trustees reported that the audit of the Fall 2004 semester was well underway and that report would be forthcoming to the board. She said other activities on the audit schedule for fall included a review of the Procurement card system. 

Construction report: Ms. Helene Loiselle, Assistant Vice President for Facilities, reported that the renovations done to buildings 3, 5, and the PEC on West were completed two months ahead of schedule, an excellent performance by the contractor. Dr. Shugart reminded the board that the grand opening of the former PEC would be held later that day and that all were invited to attend. Ms. Loiselle also reported that the new Criminal Justice Institute was proceeding according to schedule, and that Hunton Brady Architects had started working on the educational specifications for Module 10 on West Campus.

Faculty Association Report: Ms. Amy Bosley, President of the College-wide Faculty Association reported that Faculty council had overwhelmingly approved the new intellectual property policy currently under discussion and that she expected to be able to bring the new policy to the board for its approval at the board's next regularly scheduled meeting. She said that faculty were also appreciative of the recently compensation plan workshops that were being conducted on each campus.

President's Report: Dr. Shugart discussed the recent resolution passed in conjunction with the University of Central Florida to build a joint-use facility on Valencia's West campus. Dr. Shugart said that cooperative work such as this with UCF would be the best possible solution for access to bachelor's degrees so desired by Valencia students. Dr. Shugart said the agreement would provide an unprecedented level of access to higher education for students who might otherwise be squeezed out of a university setting due to increased competition. He said that Valencia and UCF won't compete head to head but will cooperate with each other to offer training and education for high-demand professions. Dr. Shugart also reported that other regional community colleges want to join this agreement, forming a consortium to guarantee admission to students from consortium colleges. He said the agreement is nearly ready, and would likely be signed soon.

The president also reported that he was exploring expanding Valencia's international student population through the development of an international business degree and through exchange programs with colleges in Europe. He recently spent several days in Denmark with a college board there exploring a variety of educational options for Valencia students and students of the Danish university. He noted that he had appointed a member of senior administration, Ms. Ann Puyana, to focus on expanding international enrollment and programs.

Dr. Shugart said Valencia had opened its hearts and doors to 13 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and that 30 more residents of Mississippi and Louisiana were in the wings, waiting for late-start courses at the college. He also noted the diligence of Representative Rick Keller, who had worked with Congress to ease Pell restrictions for students affected by Florida's hurricanes last year, and that Rep. Keller was going to try to help the students in the Katrina states this year - he asked the board members to express their thanks to Rep. Keller and to Senator Mel Martinez, who had also helped move the Pell bill in the Senate.

Dr. Shugart concluded his report with a brief overview of fall registration. The president noted the final enrollment numbers were not in yet, but that he expected enrollment to be up by about one half of one percent. He indicated that strong employment and increased competition in the educational marketplace were likely reasons for the relatively flat enrollment picture at Valencia.

News from Procurement

To help provide a better understanding of buying and contracting transactions, a few of the most common Procurement terminology words and phrases are listed below for your information.

Addendum: an official written modification to specifications or other documents in a request for quotations or request for proposal issued by the purchasing office of an institution prior to receiving quotations or proposals.

Bid: an offer to perform a contract for services, work & labor, or the supplying of materials or goods at a specified price in accordance with specifications in a request for bids.

Contract: an agreement between two or more persons which creates an obligation to do or not to do a particular task. An agreement to procure, provide or dispose of goods and services in accordance with mutually acceptable terms and conditions for a specified price.

Invitation to Bid: Notice or advertisement of an intent by an institution to purchase or dispose of materials, supplies, equipment, services, printing or any other item of value.

Quotation: an offer to perform a contract for services, work and labor, or the supplying of materials or goods at a specified price in accordance with specifications in a request for quotations, usually for commodities which cost $25,000 or less.

Requisition: a document prepared by a person or department within an institution that is used to officially request goods or services. It contains specifications for the item or service requested. A requisition is generally the document utilized to initiate the beginning of the procurement process.

Purchase Order: a document that is issued to accept a suppliers quote, bid or proposal and authorizes the supplier to provide the specified goods or services.

Unauthorized signature: one made without actual, implied or apparent authority and includes a forgery.

The latest from Leadership Valencia

Diabetes - Hosted by representatives from Orlando Regional Medical Center, this workshop will cover several health care issues and topics such as risk factors for and the prevention of diabetes. Note: Sponsored by the Valencia Chapter of Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC). Friday, September 30, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., East Campus, Room 5-112, registration code GDIA1.

PowerPointers - Learn innovative tips and tricks for utilizing PowerPoint outside as well as inside the classroom. Topics to be covered include successful student PowerPoint projects, taking PowerPoint on the road, building a digital portfolio, and more. Friday, September 30, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.,West Campus, Room 6-221, registration code TPP930.

Turnitin.com - Turnitin.com is an online resource for educators and students concerned with developing quality writing and research skills. Specifically, it provides a reliable, efficient, and powerful deterrent to digital plagiarism as well as giving instructors the ability to aggregate student works into digital portfolios. Come see how this tool can help ease your workload when it comes to managing student papers. Friday, September 30, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-221, registration code TTII930 or Friday, October 7, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 2-116, registration code TTII1007.

Smoking Cessation - This workshop is designed to share information regarding methods that can assist participants work through issues they may encounter when trying to stop smoking. Note: Sponsored by the Valencia Chapter of Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC). Wednesday, October 5, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code GSC1.

The Fred Factor - Based on the book The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn, this session will discuss how passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into extraordinary. Wednesday, October 5, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., West Campus, Room 9-220, registration code MTFF.

Zoonotic Diseases - This workshop is designed to discuss diseases connected with rabies, mad cow, anthrax, and toxoplasmosis. Information will be provided on pet vaccines, which ones are recommended and why. Note: Sponsored by the Valencia Chapter of Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC). Thursday, October 6, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code GZOO1.

Community Building in Classrooms & Work Teams - We are all connected, yet we behave like we are alone and separate--fighting our individual and sometimes, somewhat less than meaningful and fulfilling battles through life. Through unique activities and discussions, we will expose the myth of separation and explore ways of restoring connectivity without endangering expression and acceptance of our creative diversity. This is a creative, participatory adventure in community building. Thursday, October 6, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., East Campus, Room 8-145, registration code LBUILD.

I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You: 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 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! Monday, October 24, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m., East Campus, Room 5-112, registration code GMB1024. This workshop is open to everyone. Note: Deadline for registration is September 30, 2005.

To register for any Leadership Valencia workshop, mail a completed registration form to DTC-1, fax to ext. 3134, or register online at http://valenciacc.edu/leadership/regstr.asp . For additional information, please e-mail or call Janice Swanson at ext. 3126 or jswanson5@valenciacc.edu.

Kudos

Marilyn McLatchey, Professor of Humanities at East Campus, is featured in The American Poetry Journal (Fall 2005), with her poem "Leaving the Mainland." In addition, her poem "On Recognizing Saints" is this year's winner of the Annie Finch Poetry Prize and will appear in the Spring 2006 issue of The National Poetry Review.

The Florida Department of Education's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) has appointed Colin Archibald, Professor of Computer Programming, West Campus, to the position of Faculty Discipline Coordinator for Computer Science. Dr. Archibald will chair the Computer Science committee that determines the course numbers for undergraduate and graduate courses in Florida community college and state university system.

Diane Reed, Retention Specialist for the Pathways into Nursing Program, successfully defended her dissertation for her doctorate in Organization & Management from Capella University on September, 14, 2005.

Hello and Goodbye.

A warm Valencia welcome is extended to Kaye Walter, Executive Vice President/Chief Learning Office, Downtown Center, mc DTC-4, ext. 3421; Edgar Castaneda and Steven Acosta, Security Officers, East, mc 3-14, ext. 2000; Teresa Elliott, Security Officer, Osceola, mc 6-5, ext. 4000; Denise O'Neill, Administrative Assistant to the Dean, East, mc 3-16, ext. 2438; Berkis Rivera, Business Office Manager, Valencia Enterprises, mc 8-1, ext. 6600; Wendi Rowlett, Student Services Specialist, Depot, Winter Park, mc 5-1, ext. 6885; Harold Seabrook, Coordinator, Computer Services, Winter Park, mc 5-1, ext. 6819; Jose Armstrong and Ileana Mercado Padilla, Custodians, West, mc 4-9, ext. 1217; Tina Crane, Financial Aid Clerk, West Campus, mc 4-17, ext. 1734 and Katherine Harris, Librarian, East, mc 3-4, ext. 2883.

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,mc 4-34 or mjjones@valenciacc.edu