The Blue & White is published weekly for St. Petersburg College employees and friends. 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 *.
 Happy Independence Day!
The college will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.
NOTE: There will be no Blue & White on Friday, July 3.
Next issue - Friday, July 10. |
News stories
» Collegiate high school earns county’s only ‘A’
» NASA praises SPC’s education students
» Graduation July 25 in Largo
» Clearwater Cultural Conference July 31
» InfoFest 2009
» Foundation meeting notices
» July birthdays/anniversaries (pdf)
» Cultural Corner
» Wellness
» SPC This Week
» Sustainability
» On SPC TV
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FINAL OPEN ENROLLMENT DEADLINE TODAY
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Take a final look at our Open Enrollment checklist to make sure you didn't forget anything:
1 - Online benefits enrollment
2 - Verify your benefit selections
3 - Dependent verification
4 - Non-smoker verification
5 - Health Risk Assessment |
At a time when many employers are reducing benefits or placing more of the financial burden on employees, SPC has done the opposite by keeping employee costs stable and expanding benefits. The college spent an average of $850,000 per month for employee medical/dental claims in 2008-09. And while these costs are expected to rise about 8 percent this year, the Board of Trustees decided not to pass the increase on to employees. The cost of benefits has increased the college's average contribution to 38 percent of a budgeted employee's base salary.
IMPORTANT PAYCHECK DEDUCTION CHANGE: Because there are three paydays in July and to allow time for processing changes in benefits, benefit deductions will not be taken out of the July 3 paycheck. Instead, deductions will be taken from the paychecks on July 17 and 31. The next time there are three paydays in a month (January), the deductions wil be taken from the first two paychecks.
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Collegiate high school earns county’s only ‘A’
The St. Petersburg Collegiate High School was the only Pinellas County high school receiving an "A" from the Florida Department of Education for 2008-09.
“We’re thrilled to be an A school,” Principal Starla Metz said. “And I’m very, very proud of the students and staff; they worked really hard.”
The grades are based on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores in reading, math, writing and science. SPCHS was one of 1,822 schools statewide earning “A” grades.
SPCHS also has excelled and been recognized in several other areas:
» It received an "A+" designation by the City of St. Petersburg.
» Ninety percent of the SPCHS grads received both high school and Associate in Arts diplomas.
» The dollar value of scholarships awarded to SPCHS students was more than $1.5 million.
» The school also had one National Merit scholarship finalist and one National Achievement scholarship finalist.
» SPCHS had five students who were named National Merit scholars.
Metz attributes SPCHS students’ achievement to the school’s outstanding staff and faculty, curriculum tailored to the individual student, and relationships staff and faculty build with students.
“We’re teaching critical thinking skills, writing and reading across the curriculum,” Metz said. “When you do all those things well, that’s what empowers students to achieve at high levels.”
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Open Enrollment checklist
Online benefits enrollment
Open enrollment has been extended through tonight (June 26) at midnight. Even if you have no changes you must go through online benefits enrollment. Follow the step by step instructions (pdf).
Verify your enrollment selections
If you've already finished Open Enrollment, you still can log in to MySPC and make changes through tonight (June 26) at midnight. If, after reviewing the Benefits Summary you have a change, just select "Benefits Enrollment," make your changes and submit.
Dependent verification documentation
Please submit your dependent verification documentation ASAP if you want your dependents to be covered as of July 1.
Non-Smoker Verification
If you want the discounted rate, you must complete the non-smoker verification screening. Extra Non-Smoker Verification Screenings are still available today! Stop by Human Resources (at EpiCenter Services) today (June 26) before 4 p.m.
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
The confidential Health Risk Assessment is required if you want the discounted rates. If you currently are covered through the college, your deadline is June 30. If you're new to Aetna as of July 1, your deadline to complete the HRA is July 31. Don't forget: use your Aetna user name and password (not your SPC username and password).
The Open Enrollment News Web site has been updated. Get all the details on the recently updated Open Enrollment News Web site.
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NASA praises SPC’s education students
Elementary students ready for "take-off" during a technology lesson. Photo courtesy of NASA Ames Research Center. |
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) commended St. Petersburg College for sending six outstanding Education students to take part in the NASA Ames Research Center Pre-Service Teacher Summer Institute (PSTI).
The college has partnered with NASA for six years, sending college students planning to teach in elementary and middle school to participate in the program.
Lisa Valencia of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Education Office told Adeniji Odutola, Dean of SPC’s College of Education, that the SPC students were “exceptional.”
“We appreciate your sending us six outstanding students,” Valencia said. “Your students were exceptional. You can be very proud of them and the way they represented your school.
“Their desire to be the best teachers they can be is inspiring,” she said. “We know they will motivate their students to become future leaders of our great nation, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.”
The SPC students, all minority future teachers, were Ashley Edwards, Yvonne Nkwocha, Sandra Santos-Garbutt, Giovanna Thomas, Wanda Wilson-Corbett and Tina Davis. They stayed at the Space Center for the two-week program, which began May 31.
NASA paid the students’ expenses and supplied each with an $800 stipend.
“Our students have gained much from this partnership arrangement with NASA,” said Kay Burniston, Vice President of Baccalaureate Programs. “It is one of a number of creative programs that benefit SPC students.”
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Graduation July 25 in Largo
The college’s 110th Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 25 at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Largo, which features a 3,000-seat auditorium with major audio and video performance enhancements.
Approximately 300 graduates are expected to march, including baccalaureates. As in previous non-May ceremonies, a full faculty and staff procession with regalia will not be held. However, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend to show support for the graduates. Because of limited seating, reserved seating (ID required) can be arranged by contacting Tina O’Daniels at Ext. 5720.
The commencement address will be delivered by President Carl M. Kuttler Jr. A Student’s Perspective will be shared by two graduates, one a two-year student and one a four-year student from the Management and Organizational Leadership program of the College of Technology and Management. The 2009 Outstanding Alumnus Award, announced at Spring 2009 Commencement, will be presented to E. Ann McGee, President of Seminole Community College. Invocation and benediction will be delivered by Rev. Terry Collier of the Network of Christian Counselors.
Other notables onstage: members of the Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, Baccalaureate Deans and Faculty Senate.
For those students, family and friends who cannot attend the graduation ceremony on July 25, a link to view a live broadcast of the ceremony will be available beginning at 9:50 a.m. under “Click to View Broadcast.”
Summer graduation details are online.
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Clearwater Cultural Conference July 31
SPC faculty and staff are invited to the Hispanic Leadership Council’s Annual Conference, “Embracing Our Changing Community: Responding to Cultural Differences,” from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. July 31 in the Teaching Auditorium building on the Clearwater Campus.
Representatives from SPC, the Pinellas County School Board, the Juvenile Welfare Board and other community entities will present on topics such as understanding and appreciating differences, perceptions, and connecting with immigrant families for student achievement.
“Our demographics at SPC are changing and they’re changing fast,” said Student Activities Coordinator Rod Davis, who will be a moderator at one of the discussion panels at the event. “I think our faculty and staff could pick up some interesting facts pertaining to diversity at this conference.”
The registration cost is $20 on or before July 23 and $25 afterward. For further information, contact Karen Sandini at 727-547-5680.
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InfoFest 2009
Faculty, advisors and staff from Student Services and Financial Assistance will be available to answer students' questions and help them enroll at InfoFest 2009.
The event, scheduled Thursday, July 9, from 5 - 7 p.m., serves students at five sites.
The 2008 InfoFest resulted in more than 100 applications.
Direct students to the InfoFest 2009 Web page for details.
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Foundation meeting notices
The Finance and Investment Committee for the St. Petersburg College Foundation meets Wednesday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m. at the District Office (Consular Corporate Conference Room 102), 6021 142nd Ave. N, Largo, followed by the Board of Directors meeting (President's dining room) at noon.
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This article and other health information are available on our Wellness blog.
Exercising in hot weather
For many people, the onset of summer and hot weather leads to a rush outdoors for activity and exercise. Get active, by all means, but be aware of the dangers that come with hot weather exercise.
You should begin taking hot weather precautions when the temperature rises above 80° Fahrenheit. High humidity (above 75 percent to 80 percent) can contribute to overheating, so be especially careful when it is hot and humid. Precautions are especially important for the very young and the very old, as well as for anyone with high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or any other kind of cardiovascular disorder.
Dehydration and Overheating
The most general dangers from heat are dehydration and overheating. Water lost through perspiring comes directly out of your bloodstream. If the water isn't replaced, you can develop heat exhaustion, a condition marked by fatigue, dizziness, pale skin and shortness of breath. Heat exhaustion can occur in as little as 30 minutes if you're sweating heavily.
The solution: Stay well hydrated at all times. Drink at least a pint of water before your workout, and continue taking water during and after the exercise session. Drink even if you're not feeling thirsty. Your thirst mechanism is not always a reliable indicator of how much water you've lost.
Helpful Tips
- To tell whether you're dehydrated, check the color of your urine. It should be pale yellow. If it's darker, you need to drink at least a pint of water.
- Work out in the early morning or late evening when temperatures have dropped.
- Don't judge your hydration level by how much you appear to be perspiring. In a dry climate, you'll actually sweat up to 10 percent more than in a humid climate, even though you seem to be sweating less. (Reason: the sweat evaporates much faster in dry weather.)
- In hot weather, wear light-colored, porous clothing that allows sweat to evaporate freely. Full evaporation requires wet clothing, so avoid changing into a dry shirt.
- Drink as often as possible. When exercising or competing for more than an hour, use sports drinks in addition to water. If you prefer a fruit juice instead, dilute it with water and a pinch of salt.
- If you move from a cool environment to a hotter one, allow your body several weeks to adapt.
- If the temperature and humidity are too high, move the workout inside.
Source: Aetna InteliHealth
If you have questions regarding wellness, contact Cathleen Shears, Wellness Coordinator.
To explore additional wellness updates, visit the SPC Wellness blog.
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Another sustainable tip for the office
SPC’s mission is to provide accessible, learner-centered education; I think this can be further demonstrated by carrying that idea into additional aspects of daily life.
For example, it’s nice to see the “please print only if necessary” or “please consider the environment before printing this message” at the end of e-mail messages, but if you are going to add a tag (signature) to the end of every email you send, consider an educational message. Think about changing (or adding) the e-mail tag to include an environmentally meaningful and thought-provoking fact:
- paper makes up 40% of landfill waste. print only what is necessary
- save up to 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year by printing only what is necessary
- save up to 4 million tons of copy paper each year by printing only what is necessary
- save a 100-foot-tall tree every year by printing only what is necessary
- save up to 7.5 pounds of paper per week by printing only what is necessary
To create a new signature, follow these steps:
- From the main Microsoft Outlook window, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
- Under Signature, click Signatures, and then click New.
- In the Enter a name for your new signature box, enter a name.
- Under Choose how to create your signature, select Start with a blank signature.
- Click Next.
- In the Signature text box, type your name, additional information and the text you select from above. You also can paste text to this box from another document.
- To change the paragraph or font format, select the text, click Font or Paragraph, and then select the options you want. These options are not available if you use plain text as your message format.
- Click Finish when you are done editing the new signature.
To edit an existing signature, follow these steps:
- From the main Microsoft Outlook window, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
- Under Signature, click Signatures, and then click New.
- In the Enter a name for your new signature box, enter a name.
- Under Choose how to create your signature, select Use this existing signature. And select the existing signature you wish to edit.
- Click Next.
- In the Signature text box, type your name, additional information and the text you select from above. You also can paste text to this box from another document.
- To change the paragraph or font format, select the text, click Font or Paragraph, and then select the options you want. These options are not available if you use plain text as your message format.
- Click Finish when you are done editing the new signature.
To participate in the sustainable | SPC initiative, visit www.spcollege.edu/sustainability or call Jason Green at 341-3283.
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Here is the broadcast schedule for the original cultural programs recorded by SPC for broadcast on the college station. SPC-TV can be seen on Bright House 620, Knology 19 and Verizon 47 in Pinellas County.
NEW – The Music Center Presents: Rebecca Penneys - WATCH THE VIDEO: (1 Hour)
Or watch it on SPC TV: Monday at 9 p.m.; Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.
For details on other Department of Music events, visit the Department of Music Web site
» Stories from the Campfire: Living Life Without Limits
Sunday at noon and 9 p.m.; Wednesday at 9 p.m.
» CoMotion Dance Theatre - Spring 2009 Dance Concert
Sunday at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Thursday at 8 p.m.
Watch the video on the CoMotion Web site.
» Frontline: Behind the Lines
Tuesday at 9 p.m. For details on other Palladium events, visit the Palladium Web site.
» The Music Center Presents: Percussion Ensemble
Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Thursday at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
For details on other Department of Music events, visit the Department of Music Web site.
» A Night at the Palladium: Divertissement Ensemble
Saturday at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. For details on other Palladium events, visit the Palladium Web site.
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