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 *.
SPC finding ways to further reduce energy costsSt. Petersburg College is redoubling its efforts to reduce energy costs in the face of tighter budgets and the increasing cost of electricity and other energy sources. The college has come up with a plan to tighten its energy belt, a plan contained in “SPC’s Comprehensive Energy Plan, put together by Jim Waechter and Diana Wright of Facilities Planning & Institutional Services. The plan offers strategies for reducing costs, investing in the future, becoming more efficient, and reducing the college’s overall carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption. It begins with a look at the college’s base year energy costs for 2007-08. In 2008, SPC maintained facilities totaling 2,319,848 square feet of space, a number that now is up to 2,473,877 square feet for the 2008-09 fiscal year. During the 2007-08 fiscal year, the college consumed 178,248,034 kBtus of energy at a cost of $4,951,044. Most of that cost, $4,083,235, was spent on electricity. According to Wright, a typical building consumes 53 percent of its energy costs in heating and air conditioning. Office equipment consumes another 20 percent, while lighting is responsible for 17 percent. By instituting a number of cost-saving steps, the college is showing a five percent decrease in consumption per gross square foot so far in 2009 as compared to 2008 – a significant saving that equates to $356,919. But the report shows a number of areas throughout the college that are ripe for improvement. They include:
A number of energy-saving projects are now under way, including lighting upgrades, upgraded exit signs, occupancy sensors, temperature setbacks and changes, new heat recovery chillers, and changes to more efficient electric motors. “There is opportunity for further savings, but some investment is required,” Wright said. “For example, upgrading to more efficient lighting is estimated to cost $133,700. But the payback time is estimated at 1.6 years, and the cost savings is estimated to total $81,526 per year.” Future energy savings are projected to save $455,319, or 9 percent, and should pay back in 2.3 years. They include:
Read more about simple energy savings in this week's sustainability column. Screening to verify non-smokersNon-smokers who participate in wellness save about $1,000 annually
Medical rates are not rising in 2009-10, but this year employees who want the And the discounted medical insurance rate is significant: About $1,000 less for The documentation is through a brief (it takes less than 1 minute) test in which the employee blows into a device that shows whether there is carbon monoxide in their system. The testing will be offered at each site during the two-week Open Enrollment period Employees are not required to go through the Non-Smoker Verification Screening. The regular rates apply to those opting out of the screening and other wellness activities. Sign-up for the screening will start soon. Look for more information in a Open Enrollment newsletter next week. Note about 15/15 and 18/18 faculty Benefits Open Enrollment going onlineSigning up for 2009-10 benefits is going electronic. The college is implementing an online Open Enrollment process this year called PeopleSoft eBenefits that will be available through the portal. To access eBenefits, you will need a network userID and password. Those budgeted employees who do not currently possess a network userID and password will be notified shortly on how to obtain one. Also, please be reminded that to maintain the integrity of the college’s insurance programs, employees, retirees and COBRA participants who are college insured will be asked to provide verification of their dependents who also are covered under the plans for 2009-10. All employees should have received notice of this at their home address. If you have questions about the Dependent Eligibility Verification process, contact Ron Boyce in Human Resources at Ext. 6827. “In a New Light” art exhibit opens at FIM SaturdayThe Florida International Museum at St. Petersburg College will host “In a New Light: Selections from the Gulf Coast Museum of Art Collection” a display of work by artists and craftsmen from throughout the Southeast, from Saturday through Oct. 4. The works are now part of SPC’s collection. The college acquired them from the Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo, which closed earlier this year. “SPC’s acquisition of this fine collection ensures that it will be kept intact and remain in the area for the community to enjoy,” said Carl M. Kuttler Jr., SPC’s President. “It is in keeping with our desire to continue to find ways of enhancing the quality of life in this region.” The display features the work of more than 125 artists and craftsmen from Florida and beyond, including Tampa Bay favorites Theo Wujcik and Duncan McClellan as well as such internationally known artists Salvador Dali, Clyde Butcher, George Inness, Miriam Schapiro and Sam Gilliam. “We are thrilled to bring these works to the museum,” said Kathy Oathout, Director of Operations, The Palladium, Florida International Museum & SPC Downtown Arts. “St. Petersburg College’s acquisition of the collection is yet another example of what a tremendous impact SPC has on our community.” Florida International Museum (FIM) at St. Petersburg College is at 244 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.). Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors (62+) and members of the military; $5 for groups and students; and free for those 6 and younger. To learn more, call Kathy Oathout at 727-341-7904. Carney named provost at Tarpon Springs
Conferlete Carney was named provost of the Tarpon Springs Campus Tuesday morning at the Board of Trustees meeting. He was one of several candidates interviewed for the position. Previously, Carney served as Vice President of Information Systems. He has worked for the college since 1996. “Conferlete has proven his ability to handle whatever assignment comes his way,” said Carl M. Kuttler Jr., SPC President. Carney received his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida in 2008.
New student fees approved for Fall 2009 termAt its May 19 meeting, the college Board of Trustees approved a new schedule of student fees effective for the Fall 2009 term.
SPC financial aid in the news
Older students who are out of work and starting over find a way to go back to school by asking for help from SPC. Use the icons above to rate or send this video, featured recently on WTSP, to a friend. You can also read the article on 10connects.com. SSI Spring results available online for facultySSI survey reports are now provided through the online SSI Administration Site. The Spring SSI results are available for faculty who taught courses during the Spring term. The login information is the same as your college network username and password. There are two ways to view the SSI results:
Comparison information is included in the PDF reports and can be viewed online when selecting the "plus" symbol for each measure. Please be patient for larger comparison measures (e.g., Campus, all SPC). The college is in the process of creating a tutorial for navigating the results site. It will be available on the SSI informational site very soon. SSI results can be downloaded to a PDF or printed in a document (though we are attempting to be "green" by limiting the amount of paper used). Work is continuing to improve the process in terms of performance and productivity. If you have any questions about the SSI results, please contact us at SSI_Admin@spcollege.edu College of Ed students invited to NASA programSix College of Education students will participate in this year’s two-week Pre-Service Teacher Institute, an annual program sponsored by NASA at its Kennedy Space Center. The program begins May 31. Among the many activities they will participate in will be developing and launching rockets. This year’s participates, all minority future teachers, include Ashley Edwards, Yvonne Nkwocha, Sandra Santos-Garbutt, Giovanna Thomas, Wanda Wilson-Corbett and Tina Davis. They will stay at the Space Center for the two-week program as they complete a series of NASA-designed assignments. They also will work on SPC coursework. NASA pays all of the students’ expenses, and supplies each student with an $800 stipend. St. Petersburg College has partnered in the program with NASA for the past six years. “In past years, our students have gained much from this partnership arrangement with NASA,” said Kay Burniston, Associate Vice President of Baccalaureate Programs. “It is one of a number of creative programs that benefit SPC students.” Professional Guardianship Training courseSt. Petersburg College is offering the 48-hour, state-approved Professional Guardianship Training course beginning June 5 at the Clearwater Campus. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays for three weekends. The fee for the class, including text, is $295. Students will learn the full range of activities and requirements necessary to become professional guardians. This course is suitable for anyone who is serving, or wants to serve, as a guardian - whether as a professional, family member or volunteer. At the end of the course participants will receive a certificate of completion and a roster of students will be forwarded to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs/Statewide Public Guardianship office. For more information or to register, visit the Lifelong Learning Web site department at 727-341-3184. Meeting noticesThe Development Committee for the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art's Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, June 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Museum Archives to discuss general museum business. The Alumni Association Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. at a location to be announced. Cultural Corner
Continuing through July 17 Continuing through July 19
May 23-Oct. 4 May 28 May 28 May 29-31 June 5-6 June 5-9 June 5-28 Friday, June 12 Saturday, June 13 Saturday, June 20 July 24-Aug. 16 Sept. 25-Oct. 11
Revitalize your spice rackHealthy eating doesn’t need to be bland. Have you stopped flavoring your favorite dishes with salt and butter? Do you broil instead of fry chicken and fish? If so, here are some healthy ideas for adding spice and flavor back into your favorite foods.
Sources: “The Flexitarian Diet” by Dawn Jackson Blanter; “The New American Plate Cookbook” by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Contact SPC’s wellness coordinator, Cathleen Shears, at shears.cathleen@spcollege.edu To explore additional wellness updates, visit the SPC Wellness blog. Simple energy savingsThe Issue The Larger Issue Amazingly, according to the Department of Energy, about 75 percent of electronics’ electricity usage is consumed while the products are turned off. Implementing a desktop power procedure can save the college $35,000 per year in energy costs based on current usage. Be Part of the Solution If leaving your office for more than two hours, turn off your computer. Faculty: Require students to turn off all computers at the end of class. This is a current practice and important to reset computers for the next class. Set all office and classroom computers to utilize Microsoft “Energy Star” settings. Monitors should be set to turn off/sleep after 10 minutes and computers should be set to sleep/hibernate after 30 minutes. Unplug anything that you aren’t continuously using, including chargers for handheld vacuums, power drills, toothbrushes and mobile phones. Also unplug computers, automatic coffee makers, VCR’s you don’t use anymore, guest room TVs, empty garage refrigerators, etc. If you really want to save time, buy a power strip from your local hardware store. It may take a few minutes to plug everything into it, but by pushing one button to turn off everything at once, you'll save time over the long run. These simple steps can result in a 5% utility savings and less carbon dioxide in the air we breathe. Want to become involved with SPC’s exciting sustainability initiatives? Onward and upwardJonathan Barnes and Kim Kirchman, Fine & Applied Arts instructors at the Clearwter Campus, are showing their work at an instructor/student show and have chosen the work of two of their students, Nick Abrami and Christina Smeltz, to be part of this show, as well. The show is called Cultivate! Incubate! Facilitate! and is at Gulf Coast Community College this spring. In the fall it will move to East Central College in Union, MO. Marjorie Greene and Kevin Grass, Fine & Applied Arts instructors at the Clearwter Campus, are showing their work in the Florida Artist Group’s 58th Annual Exhibition, a show from May through July at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. Grass also has a one-person show at the Brooker Creek Preserve Gallery called Landscapes, and is also showing his work at the Naples Museum of Art. Vicki Westergard, Director of Web and Instructional Technology Services, was awarded an ANGEL Impact Award for her individual contribution to the ANGEL community for our work on the Southeast User Group and online conference. This was a very informative and well received conference, with many valuable sessions all accessible from home or work – saving St. Petersburg College (and other colleges throughout the region) a lot of travel time and money. HR Notes: Don't forget your Allstate Cancer Plan wellness reimbursement.For those who have the Allstate Cancer Plan, don’t forget the wellness reimbursement feature of $75 per year. When you have one of 11 listed screenings, Allstate will reimburse $75 per covered person per calendar year. You can find the Wellness Claim Form online at the HR Benefits Web page. You can review the list of acceptable screenings in the Cancer Insurance Pamphlet. On SPC-TV » CoMotion Dance Theatre - Spring 2009 Dance Concert Watch the video on the CoMotion Web site. » Frontline: Behind the Lines » The Music Center Presents: St. Petersburg College Band » A Night at the Palladium: Harambee; African Culture Showcase » The Music Center Presents: Percussion Ensemble |
Check out the upcoming events at the Florida Orchestra in their online calendar:
