Vol. XXXIV, No. 39

October 10, 2005

This Week at Valencia.

Benefits Fairs- each day at a different campus, see announcement towards the end of the issue

Wednesday, October 12

College Executive Council, 8:30 a.m. Osceola Campus 1-258

Collegewide Curriculum Committee, 2 p.m., West Campus 6-202

Learning Evidence Team, 2:30 p.m., West Campus 9-123

Friday, October 14

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

Achieving the Dream needs you!

WANTED: Faculty, advisors, and staff who are interested in participating on work teams for Achieving the Dream (AtD). Achieving the Dream is a college initiative supported by the Lumina Foundation and is aimed at improving student performance and closing the achievement gaps across diverse populations.

You are invited to attend an AtD Inspirational Summit on Wednesday, October 26, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., West Campus 6-202. Please respond to Joseph Cruz in groupwise or jcruz53@valenciacc.edu.

The summit will feature Dr. Crystal Kuykendall, educator, attorney, and founder of Kreative and Innovative Resources for Kids (KIRK). She is also the author of the highly acclaimed best seller, From Rage to Hope.

This "inspirational summit" is meant to gather interested faculty, advisors, and staff to "kick-off" the work teams that will be associated with closing the gap. The emerging AtD teams will continue to expand their role over the next four years to help the college remain focused on the goal of closing the achievement gaps and improve success for students. We hope that you will be able to join us for this inaugural event and contribute your ideas and talents to the initiative as we move forward. Thank you!

Focus on the Workplace Program

Don't miss out on your opportunity to participate in Valencia's "Focus on the Workplace" program during 2005-06 and be on the cutting edge! We are now accepting applications for Spring Term and Summer Term A 2006. This is a great opportunity to gain information about today's job market...get a different perspective...learn about the future trends and technological advances in your field, and validate "first hand" the critical skills your students need to be successful in the workplace!

All full-time, tenure or tenure-track faculty, full-time counselors & advisors and professional staff are eligible to apply with your supervisor's approval. Eligible faculty are released from two 3 credit hour classes to participate. Advisors/counselors and professional staff are released for 40-80 hours (one-two weeks) and can participate any time during the year.

For more information and to get an application, go to: http://valenciacc.edu/focus/ or call LeSena Jones at ext. 3344. The deadline to apply is October 28.

Sick Leave Pool Enrollment

Enrollment materials for the Sick Leave Pool were sent out October 3, 2004, to eligible full-time employees. A full-time employee is eligible to join the Sick Leave Pool if he or she:

a) has been employed full-time with the College for 12 months, and

b) has accumulated at least 10 days of unused personal sick leave as of September 30, 2005, and

c) has not declined a previous enrollment opportunity as a regular employee of the College.

If you are eligible and elect to join, your Letter of Authorization must be received in Human Resources, by the close of business on Thursday, October 13. Three days of sick leave will be transferred from each new member's personal balance on October 21. Membership in the pool is voluntary and will be effective October 24, 2005.

If you are eligible to join and elect not to, you may not receive another opportunity, but please return the form to 4-25 with the waiver information completed.

SLP enrollment packets are not sent to those employees who are current members of the SLP nor to employees who have declined a previous enrollment opportunity. Contact Sue Bouchard, ext 1780, if you did not receive your materials or if you have any questions.

News from Procurement

Oracle preparers: When creating a requisition, the Requestor field is what prints on the Purchase Order to the supplier. It is also who Accounts Payable forwards the invoice to.

If you want to remain the Requestor, but you need the item delivered to another person/campus, please change the Location field for campus location and use the 'Note to Receiver' field under the Details tab to specify person/building/room number.

The Shipping/Receiving departments on East and West can pull this information up, if provided. We can't always depend on the suppliers to put all the data on shipping labels or packing slips. This will help deliver your package in a timelier manner.

Hiring Freeze

A 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 14, 2005. 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 9, 2006.

The latest from Leadership Valencia

Reading Circle: Life Launch - This Reading Circle will discuss Life Launch by Frederic Hudson and Pamela D. McLean. This book considers why people may succeed at work but fail in life and how individuals can learn how to take charge of their lives. Sponsored by the Valencia Chapter of American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC). Note: A copy of this book will be provided. Thursday, October 13, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 226, registration code GRCLL.

Employee Orientation Part II: Discovering Valencia - Explore the history and vision of Valencia Community College. Join us to find out who's who, what's what, and where they reside. Topics include Valencia's academic programs, services, facilities, image, and role in the community. Tuesday, October 18, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code GNEO1018.

Designing a Fitness Plan - This workshop will provide guidelines on how to create a fitness plan that will keep you healthy and fit. Note: Sponsored by the Valencia Chapter of Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC). Tuesday, October 18, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., East Campus, Room 5-112, registration code GDFP1.

Forum for Financial Questions - This workshop will address a variety of financial topics identified by participants. Prior to the workshop, participants will be asked to submit at least one question by e-mail to: AEGISmail@earthlink.net. Presenters will address attendees questions (time permitting), providing insightful and relevant information. Note: Sponsored by the Valencia Chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) and the Valencia Foundation. Lunch will be provided. Tuesday, October 18, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., East Campus, Room 3-108, registration code GFIN1.

Graphics and Imaging - This fun and informative course will teach you the basics of computer graphics. Participants will create their own electronic designs using PowerPoint as a toolbox. No artistic background is needed. Wednesday, October 19, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., Osceola Campus, Room 2-116, registration code TGI1016 or Thursday, October 20, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., East Campus, Room 4-203, registration code TGI1020.

Oracle 11i for Beginners - This workshop is offered to new employees or first time users of the Oracle Financial Software System. The two-day class presents information on general purchasing procedures, creating requisitions, understanding your budget, and printing reports. Thursday, October 20, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 219, registration code TOR1020.

Nutrition Facts and Fallacies - Learn what's right or wrong and true or false about nutrition. This workshop will discuss the importance of nutrition for a healthy lifestyle. Friday, October 21, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, registration code GNFF1.

The Principles and Qualities of Genuine Leadership: Manager's Version - More than ever, everyone in an organization needs a deep knowledge of leadership best practices and help in tailoring those practices to their own situations. This workshop outlines the universal leadership principles and qualities that help individuals become genuine leaders. Friday, October 21, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., location TBA, registration code MPQGL.

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.

On the Move.

Susan Kelley and Rita Moore have been moved to the East Campus to Building 6-101. Their new telephone extensions are 2969 and 2967 respectively, their fax extension is 2970 and their mail code is 3-12.

Kudos

Dr. Tami Rogers and Dr. Susan Stone, Nursing Professors, West Campus, recently presented at the National League for Nursing Summit 2005 in Baltimore, Md. on Heutagogy and Beyond: Technology In and Out of the Classroom

Louise M. Gouge, adjunct professor of English and Humanities at the Osceola Campus, has been awarded the Reviewer's Choice Award from Road to Romance, an online book site, for her novel Hannah Rose, Book Two in her Ahab's Legacy series. Hannah Rose also won second place in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Contest in the Historical Romance division.

Dr. Ellen Pastorino, Professor of Psychology at the Osceola Campus, has co-authored a new General Psychology textbook published by Thomson/Wadsworth. The first edition is currently being used at Valencia and other colleges across the United States. Congratulations Dr. Pastorino!

Don't miss out! BENEFITS FAIR is October 10 - 17, 2005

October 10, East Campus, Bldg. 5, Rm. 111-112, 11 am-1 pm & 5-6 pm
October 11, Winter Park Campus, Rm. 225-226, 11 am-1 pm
October 12, Sand Lake Center, Rm. 2-120, 11 am-1 pm
October 13, West Campus, Health Sciences, Rm. 105, 11 am-1 pm & 5-6 pm
October 14, Downtown Center, Conference rms., 11 am-1 pm
October 17, Osceola Campus, Bldg. 1, Rm. 232-234, 11 am-1 pm

***DOOR PRIZES*** ALL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES COME REGISTER FOR THE GRAND DOOR PRIZES:

1. 7" Widescreen Portable DVD & $100 in Gift Cards (or)

2. 1-Night Stay at Best Western in Cocoa Beach

Visit the United Way table to register for a 1-night stay at the Days Inn - Cocoa Beach
(Also register for additional door prizes to be drawn for each campus/center. All attendees, who register, will be eligible for the Grand Door Prizes.)

Special thanks to the vendors attending the Fair: Valencia Foundation, Aegis Financial, VALIC, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Way, Hartford - LTD, TIAA-CREF, Liberty Mutual, AFLAC, AAA, Metlife Investors, The Allen Group, Florida Insurance, CFE Credit Union, On-site Health & Vaccines and Sam's Club.

Our thanks to these sponsors: AEGIS/Valencia Foundation, Medieval Times, Best Western and Days Inn-Cocoa Beach, StoneWood Grill & Tavern, Chipolte Restaurant, Liberty Mutual, AFLAC, Bencor, Planet Smoothie, Subway, Pizza Hut, Josie's Pizza & Wings, California Pizza Kitchen, Pebbles Restaurant, Target, Cypress Gardens, Arabian Nights and Panera Bread.

Open Enrollment: October 24 - November 4, 2005. Forms must be returned by November 4, 2005. Any changes to health and dental coverage and the flexible benefits plan will begin January 1, 2006.

Submissions to the Bulletin are encouraged, so please e-mail your 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