MISSION COMPLETE: NASA astronaut and SPC alumna Nicole Stott completed the first of three spacewalks Wednesday. Stott was joined by fellow astronaut Danny Olivas for the more than six-hour mission. Watch video footage and get more details on www.nasa.gov. News stories » Overall college enrollment up 15 percent » New online forms for printing requests » Enroll for Sick Leave Pool by Sept. 15 » Don't lose your health insurance discount In the news » Community colleges get another endorsement Calendar notes » Meeting notices » September birthdays/anniversaries (pdf) Regular columns » Cultural Corner » Wellness at SPC » SPC This Week » Sustainability » Onward & Upward » SPC TV Board of Trustees » BOT Meeting Highlights (pdf) » BOT Rules (pdf) » BOT meeting notice Happy Labor Day! The college will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. There will be no Blue & White on Friday, Sept. 11. The next issue will be on Friday, Sept. 18.

Artist Talk Series Local artist Rebecca Sexton Larson is the guest artist at the Florida International Museum's Artist Talk Series on Sat., Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. Pictured above, one of three images in the 38 x 89-inch triptych entitled Ceremonies and Rituals, pinhole photograph. "The images are captured on film using either a 4x5 Leonardo pinhole camera or a pinhole camera made from a Tide detergent box," Larson said. Read more about Larson's unique methods and other upcoming artists featured on the Florida International Museum Web site.

Overall college enrollment up 15 percent (3,600 students)

The college’s fall enrollment spiked sharply upward in both two-year and four-year programs.

As of Monday, overall fall enrollments increased 15.2 percent (3,600 students). That figure includes a 14.2 percent increase in two-year programs and a very healthy 25.4 percent hike in four-year programs.

“With high unemployment rates and significant enrollment cuts at a number of Florida colleges and universities, we did expect that enrollment would rise sharply since we had decided to maintain our open enrollment policy even in these difficult times,” said SPC President Carl M. Kuttler Jr. “Still, we are delighted with these increases, especially in our four-year programs.”

By far, the most impressive enrollment gains were noted in online classes in both two-year and four-year programs. In two-year programs, enrollment in traditional classes rose 6.9 percent while enrollment in online classes went up 25.1 percent; in the four-year programs, enrollment in traditional classrooms showed little change, while online enrollment was up an impressive 41.1 percent.

Kay Burniston, vice president of baccalaureate programs, said the college’s ability to absorb students into online programs was the key to the greatly increased enrollment figures.

“We were determined to make sure there was room for students who may have had trouble finding room in other institutions,” Burniston said. “Making space in our online programs means more students can attend SPC without us having to make major investments in new brick-and-mortar construction.”

Enrollment increases by campus:

Leading enrollment increases for four-year programs:

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New online forms for printing requests

In an effort to save employee time, paper and printing costs, Institutional Advancement (IA) and Printing Services have developed new online forms.

We have been testing and revising the new forms for several weeks. The most recent versions now are posted on the Printing Services page of the IA Web site. Please discontinue use of previous printed and electronic versions and follow the updated directions to order:

• Copies (use a copy machine in your department for fewer than 50)
• Print supplies and commonly used inventory
• Business cards
• Custom-printed pieces

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Enroll for Sick Leave Pool by Sept. 15

Short of being a fortune teller, most people never know what calamities are awaiting them around the next bend of life. Calamities could include anything from a car accident to a slip down a flight of stairs.

Whatever the reason, the end result is the same — time off from work. If the accident or misfortune is bad enough, the calamity could cause the employee to utilize all sick and vacation time.

Once all time is used, the employee will stop receiving a paycheck. However, more than 900 SPC employees have thought about these potential problems and joined the Sick Leave Pool (SLP). The SLP is the only way an employee can continue to get paid for an additional 45 days after all vacation and sick time have been used.

However, only those SPC employees who have thought in advance and signed up for the SLP during enrollment are eligible for its benefits.

The SLP is for all budgeted SPC employees who have worked at the college for at least one year and who accrued nine sick days. The eligible employee will make a onetime contribution of five of those days into the SLP and will enroll during the SLP enrollment through Sept. 15. The enrolled employee then will be able to utilize 45 paid days for personal illness after vacation and sick time have been expended.

Are you interested in signing up? If so, please complete the SLP form, and send it to Anh Nunag in HR or visit Staff Central, click on HR forms, and click on Sick Leave Pool Enrollment under leave requests.

If you already have completed a SLP form, please do not resubmit this form. It is not necessary. If you have questions, please contact Anh Nunag at 727-341-3044.

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Don't lose your health insurance discount

Complete either of the following options by Dec. 31 to maintain your discounted insurance rates:

• Two healthy living programs
• One healthy living program and the college’s fall wellness challenge.
  

The healthy living programs are easy to follow and provide step-by-step guidance for making health changes.  Each program provides action steps to help build skills for long-term success and tools for tracking progress.     

Those who were employed at the college on July 1 will need to complete these programs by Dec. 31. Those hired after July 1 will need to complete the program by the end of their sixth month of benefits coverage.

Please note: Employees who started a healthy living program in June and completed it by Aug. 14 will receive credit for it.

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Meeting notices

The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College will hold a public meeting to which all persons are invited, commencing at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the EpiCenter conference room (1-453), 13805 58th St. N, Largo, Fla.  The meeting will be held for the purpose of continuing efforts in the presidential search process; however, there are no rules being presented for adoption or amendment at this meeting.

A copy of the agenda, if applicable, may be obtained by writing to the Board of Trustees in care of the Board Clerk,
P. O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL, 33733, or calling the Board Clerk at 727-341-3260.

If any person wishes to appeal a decision made with respect to any matter considered by the board, he or she will need a record of the proceedings.  It is the obligation of such person to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made.  Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes.

Those planning to attend who have a disability and are in need of an auxiliary aid or other accommodation are requested to telephone 727-341-3260 at least seven days before the meeting date so that their needs can be accommodated.

The Development Committee of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art’s Board of Directors will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the museum’s Interactive Gallery to discuss general museum business.

The Board of Directors of the SPC Alumni Association Inc. will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at SPC’s District Office, 6021 142nd Ave. N, Largo. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss general business.

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Connecting with family through fitness

The bell rings and your kids are out of school.  You may have worked a long day and are feeling a little stressed.  How are you going to alleviate the stress and spend quality time with your family? 

Just it keep it simple.

Believe it or not, video games may be part of the answer.  Although video games are often a negative in the fitness world, there are some positives to them.  The Nintendo Wii offers an excellent way to combine the video world with family fun and health.  The Wii Fit collection features anaerobic, aerobic and yoga options that are geared to get you off the couch.  Wii Sports will allow you to compete against family members in sports such as bowling, boxing, golf, tennis and baseball. 

Have you ever coached or mentored a team?  There is not a youth sports organization in our community that does not need help from parents – take an active role in working with your kids’ team.  You do not have to be on the field to make a difference; the team “mom” or “dad” has many critical responsibilities that build teamwork, social wellness and leadership.  Make a choice to be an active part of the team.    
 
Parents and children do not have to be athletes to benefit from an active lifestyle together.  Let’s not forget the simplistic side of family fitness.  Riding bicycles together, going to the park, and playing games like tag and red light-green light are all easy ways to combine quality time with exercise. 

Let fitness be a social activity for your family.  It’s amazing how much you can engage in conversation around invigorating activities.  Getting creative and taking input from every family member is the start for a healthier tomorrow. 

Wellness Coordinator Steven Malla Human Resources Epi Services, Room 148 727-341-3083 Explore the SPC Wellness blog for additional wellness articles.

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Friends of Florida Environmental Club lecture

The Friends of Florida Environmental Club will host a Science Lecture Series presentation on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, in the Natural Sciences Building, Room SC 236. Light refreshments will be served.

Andrea Alden, Marine Wildlife Legacy Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife Legacy Initiative, will discuss red tide research, sea grass restoration and Tampa Bay conservation efforts.

Alden is responsible for coordinating and implementing the initiative within marine habitats.  Her work focuses on supporting regional and statewide coral reef and sea grass conservation and restoration. The goal of this initiative is to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered before they become more rare and costly to protect, using partnerships rather than rules and regulations. 

To join the St Petersburg/Gibbs Campus-based Friends of Florida Environmental Club, contact staff advisor Crystal Davenport at davenport.crystal@spcollege.edu.

Sustainability Coordinator Jason Green Epi Services, Room 258 727-341-3283 Explore our Sustainability Web site or our Sustainability blog for additional articles.

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Onward & Upward

Nerina Stepanovsky, EMS Program Director, presented her dissertation topic, "Predictors of Success for the National Registry Cognitive Paramedic Certification Examination," to 124 EMS educators from the U.S. and other countries as part of the 14th Annual Education Symposium for the National Association of EMS Educators, in Orlando.

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SPC TV

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 SPC Foundation Presents: Snapshots - WATCH THE VIDEO: (25 mins)
Or watch it on SPC TV: Sunday at 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 7 p.m.
For details on other Foundation initiatives, visit the SPC Foundation Site

» The Music Center Presents: SPC Summer Chorus
Sunday at 4 p.m.; Tuesday at 8 p.m. and Friday at 8 p.m.

» A Night at the Palladium: La Traviata Opera
Sunday at 11 a.m.; Wednesday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.
For details on other Palladium events, visit the Palladium Web site.

» Frontline: Behind the Lines
Sunday at 6 p.m. and Friday at 9 p.m.
For details on other Palladium events, visit the Palladium Web site.

» The Music Center Presents: Rebecca Penneys
Monday at 9 p.m.
For details on other Department of Music events, visit the Department of Music Web site.