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Friday, March 20, 2009
The Blue & White is published weekly for St. Petersburg College employees and interested visitors. It is designed for you to be able to scan the headlines quickly. If you are interested in an article listed below, click on the link and you will be directed to that article. You also can view the paper version locations or the printable pdf.
Calendar items with a specific deadline are marked with an *.
New lending program starts in fall
The system, Federal Direct Loans, will do away with the current complex and confusing system in which students have had to deal with many different lenders, guarantee agencies and service providers. “The new system, in which the federal government is the direct lender, is simpler and much easier to understand,” said Marcia McConnell, SPC’s Director of Financial Assistance Services. “It provides a ‘one-stop shopping’ mode of lending that is much easier for everyone involved.” McConnell said the new system is simpler for students and their families, while being easier to manage for SPC. SPC will have guaranteed access to loan capital under the new plan, while no longer having to maintain preferred lender requirements. “Students and their families will have to deal with only one source of funding, and that will mean fewer complications when it comes to financing a student’s education,” McConnell said. “It offers a true, income-contingent loan repayment option with loan forgiveness after 25 years of repayment.” That forgiveness factor means that those who prefer to work in relatively low-paying, community service jobs can do so without fear of defaulting on their student loans, since remaining loan balances are forgiven after 25 years of payments. Under the old system, lenders could sell loans they held, and the new loan holders did not always have to honor the commitments of the original lenders. The federal government will never sell the educational loans they hold, so the loan terms can never change, and students and schools that participate in the Federal Direct Loan program will not be subjected to the marketing campaigns of lenders. The new system goes into effect in time for the Fall 2009 term. Safe boating course in one lesson
This class meets the requirements for certification of youthful operators of a vessel with 10 HP motor or larger. It is also a great refresher for any boater, can be used for boater insurance discount credit and satisfies the mandatory education class required for boating violators. The course includes an exam and a certificate of completion, which allows boating violators immediate resumption of their water activities. Topics include: » boat types The tuition for the class is $35 and includes classroom instruction, hands-on experience, text, certificate of completion, registration with the State of Florida, and boater ID card. The class also is offered on Saturday, May 16. For information or to register, call SPC’s Lifelong Learning Department at 727-341-3184 or visit http://www.spcollege.edu/ac/lifelong/. Visit Atlanta Aquarium and King Tut ExhibitionTravel with St. Petersburg College for this wonderful springtime adventure! Atlanta Antebellum Arts and Historic Tour The trip itinerary includes:
There's a little bit of everything for everyone on this tour – big and small cities, art and antiques, food and history, and old and new friends! Space is limited to 36 travelers (double occupancy). This trip includes lots of walking, so wear your most comfortable shoes. For information or to register, call SPC’s Lifelong Learning Department at 727-341-3184 or visit http://www.spcollege.edu/ac/lifelong/. Meeting NoticeThe Development Committee of the Board of Directors for the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art will meet on Wednesday, April 8, at 3:30 p.m. in the Archives Room on the Tarpon Springs Campus to discuss general business. Graduation reminder to faculty and staff
Spring graduation is at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 9, at Tropicana Field, and the deadline to order rental or keeper graduation regalia is March 31. Attendance is mandatory for all full-time faculty and Administrative and Professional staff. Adjuncts and percent-of-load faculty are not required, but are welcome to participate. Required faculty and staff may seek to be excused by submitting a written request to President Kuttler by April 24 with the purpose clearly stated. Regalia can be ordered from Follett’s Bookstore on any campus. Follett’s will need your name, height (with shoes), weight, cap size (or head measurement, in inches), full title of your degree, and the school which conferred your degree along with the university’s location (city and state), and a phone number where you can be contacted. Orders received after March 31 will incur a late fee. Questions should be directed to your campus bookstore.
Onward and UpwardThomas Loveland, College of Education instructor on the Clearwater Campus, is the winner of the 2009 Professional Practice Award for Region 2. He was selected by the Board of Directors of Epsilon Pi Tau. His name also will be included as a 2009 Warner Award winner in the next issue of the EPT Preceptor newsletter. The certificate will be presented at the upcoming ITEA conference during the Epsilon Pi Tau Breakfast on Saturday, March 28. David Manson, Fine and Applied Arts instructor at SP/G, was a guest composer/performer at Subtropics, Miami's international new music festival sponsored in part by the Knight Foundation. Thank youNathaniel Golden Jr., Security Officer at HEC, and family would like to thank the SPC family for their thoughts, prayers, cards and gifts during his recovery from an auto accident. Cultural Corner
St. Petersburg College: Legacy of Leadership, St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. NE, on the approach to the Pier. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. $12 general, $9 seniors and students, $7 ages 7 to 17, ages 6 and younger free. Continuing through April 5 Continuing through April 12 Friday, March 20 Friday, March 20 March 20-22 Friday, March 27 March 27-29 Sunday, March 29 Tuesday, March 31 Thursday, April 2
April 3-5 Friday, April 3 Sunday, April 5 April 6-24 Thursday, April 9 Friday, April 10 Monday, April 13 NEW - Wednesday, April 15 NEW - Thursday, April 16 NEW - Thursday, April 16 NEW - Friday, April 17 NEW - April 17-May 10
Do lifestyle habits make you look older?Americans spend countless hours and money in pursuit of maintaining a youthful appearance. What works and can we control aging? A study of 200 sets of identical female twins helps answer that question. The study conducted by Dr. Bahman Guyuron was published in the February 2009 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In this study, an independent panel judged the age of each twin. Because identical twins have the same genetics, they should age the same way. If one twin looks 5 to 10 years older than the other, it may be because of one of the following lifestyle factors:
What to do?
To explore additional wellness updates, visit the SPC Wellness blog. Locker Room: SPC baseball win streak snapped at 5The baseball team had its five-game Suncoast Conference win streak snapped Saturday afternoon at five and hasn't been able to get back on the winning track since. South Florida Community College outslugged SPC 12-7 and Monday night the Titans again gave up double-digit runs in a 14-7 loss to Manatee CC. Wednesday Manatee CC won 5-4. The losses left SPC 5-3 in the conference and one game behind Manatee CC. The two teams end a three-game series tonight (Friday) at MCC. The next home game is Saturday at home at Carpenter Complex at 5 p.m. against Hillsborough CC. The softball team trails Manatee CC by a game in the Suncoast Conference. Manatee is 5-1. The teams met Tuesday and split a doubleheader. SPC is home Thursday (March 19) at 5 p.m. in a doubleheader against Pasco-Hernando CC. For results please visit www.spcollege.edu/athletics. The issue - insect repellentThe larger issue
Be part of the solution
To participate in the sustainable SPC initiative, e-mail green.jason@spcollege.edu or call 727-341-3283. HR NotesTo take better advantage of your Aetna health coverage, please visit the HR Benefits page. Learn more about wellness discounts (pdf) available to budgeted employees who have Aetna health coverage. You can take advantage of discounts such as: vision, hearing, and weight management discount programs. On SPC-TV  Monday 9 p.m, Wednesday noon and Saturday 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. For details on other Department of Music events, visit the Department of Music Web site » The Music Center Presents: St. Petersburg College Band » A Night at the Palladium: Harambee; African Culture Showcase » A Night at the Palladium: An Evening with Rosa Rio » A Night at the Palladium: Valentine and Stardust |
The college soon will move to a system of direct lending in which students will be able to borrow tuition money directly from the federal government.
Register now for an eight-hour boater safety class at the Seminole Campus library Saturday, April 4. This state-approved, hands-on course appeals to boaters who can't find the time for a four-week boater course. 
Check out the upcoming events at the Florida Orchestra in their online calendar:
