|
What you might not know about presidential candidate Bill Law
 Presidential candidate Bill Law interacts with faculty on the Clearwater Campus. |
When Bill Law’s father died at an early age, it left a lasting impression on his son. He didn’t want to follow the same path. To avoid a similar fate, he took up running.
In fact, he hasn’t stopped running. He has run 25 marathons (a marathon is 26.2 miles) and is training for No. 26, the Boston Marathon on April 19. It will be his fifth Boston Marathon. He did it in his 40s and 50s, and hopes to complete it at age 61 next month. The last time he ran the Boston Marathon was in 2007.
To stay in shape, he is out the door almost every morning about 6 for about an hour of running. Last Sunday it took a little longer because he ran 16 miles.
“I can’t say that all runs are enjoyable, but it always allows me time that is all mine,” he said. “That is very important to me. I listen to a book while I am running.”
When not running, he enjoys seeing the world with his wife, Pat. Last year they went to Egypt.
“Ten days away and I come back completely recharged. That’s all I need."
Check the Presidential Search Web site for specific dates, times and locations for each candidate's visit and how you can make your voice heard.
Logon to MySPC to see if you have completed your wellness requirements
 To verify how many wellness requirements you already have completed, logon to MySPC using your SPC user ID and password. Then click on the link to "Wellness History". If you have any questions, contact Steve Malla at Ext. 3083. |
Final round of wellness activities must be completed by June 15
It’s time to review what you’ve done to make sure you will qualify for the discounted insurance rate in 2010-11. Follow this checklist to check your progress:
1 - Non-smoker certification
Did you take the non-smoker certification (a.k.a. “puff test”)? If you have done this since June 2009, you have met the requirement.
2 - Health Risk Assessment
Did you complete Aetna’s online confidential Health Risk Assessment? If you have done this since June 2009, you have met the requirement. It only takes 15-20 minutes and is completely confidential. Human Resources will know who has taken it but will not see the results. If you still need to complete the online assessment, be sure to use your Aetna username and password (not your SPC username and password).
3) Two wellness programs
Did you already complete either of the following wellness programs?
- two Aetna Online Wellness Programs - This option is available 24/7. The Health Risk Assessment must be completed before starting the online programs; or
- one Aetna Online Wellness Program and one Wellness Challenge; or
- the SPC Fall 2009 Wellness Challenge and you plan to complete the SPC Spring 2010 Wellness Challenge.
If you answered “yes” to all of the above, congratulations. You are done.
4) If you answered “no” to any of the above, you must complete any of the requirements you are missing by June 15. Failure to complete the requirements means you will be automatically placed on the regular (non-discounted) rate in the 2010-11 plan year.
The Spring 2010 Wellness Challenge starts March 22. This wellness program option adds the motivational, team, competition and fun factors.
Get all the facts online
Learn more about the insurance discount on the Wellness Web site including:
- Links to different options
- Step-by-step guides
The choice is yours. Not only can you choose to live healthier, but you can save money too. Give yourself every opportunity to feel better. There is no limit to where good wellness habits can take you. Join the movement at SPC!
Ulmer named Campus Executive Officer for SPC Downtown, SPC Midtown
 Karen Kaufman White |
 Yvonne Ulmer |
Yvonne Ulmer is now the Campus Executive Officer for the SPC Downtown and SPC Midtown locations and will join President’s Cabinet and provosts and deans councils.
It’s a new title with many of the same duties. Ulmer previously was responsible for both sites and reported to St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus Provost Karen Kaufman White. With her new title, Ulmer will report to Anne Cooper, Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. Cooper previously oversaw the International Programs, but that job now belongs to White.
The moves were approved by the Board of Trustees Tuesday.
“I’m very, very excited about it,” Ulmer said. “It will give me an opportunity to firsthand be able to voice the needs of the campus and solicit support for new programs and expanding facilities.”
Approximately 2,300 students are served between the SPC Downtown and SPC Midtown sites.
White formerly was Dean of International Programs for about half a year before becoming Provost of the SP/G Campus in June, 2008.
“I enjoyed working with International Programs before, and am glad to again work alongside Violetta Sweet and the collegewide International Programs team that reports to her,” White said.
There is one big difference for White. About a year ago, the former International Programs department was merged with International Student Services. So, this area of responsibility now includes not only study abroad and other international initiatives; but also International Student Services, which serves and supports SPC’s international students.
Graduation reminder to faculty and staff
Spring graduation is at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 8, at Tropicana Field, and the deadline to order rental or purchase graduation regalia is March 31.
Processional participation is mandatory for all full-time faculty who did not participate in the fall 2009 ceremony, and for all 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 the president by April 23 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 $20 late fee. Questions should be directed to your campus bookstore.
Cecil Keene honored in SPC Midtown ceremony
Family, friends and fraternity brothers honored the late Cecil B. Keene Sr. Tuesday at SPC Midtown before the Board of Trustees meeting.
A plaque with a bust of the former SPC Board member and counselor now hangs in the entryway to the center. A similar plaque is planned for all college sites.
From left, are: Board member Evelyn Bilirakis; Bernice Keene (wife); Cedric Keene (son); Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers Michael Clarke, Charlie Colquitt, Henry Blyden, Board member Deveron Gibbons; fraternity brother George Brown, Board chairman Terry Brett and SPC President Tom Furlong.
Podcast training and the new SPC iTunes U
The Web and Instructional Technology Services (WITS) department conducted a second round of podcast production training in February. Podcasting is a popular Internet technology that allows faculty to provide students with subscribable audio and/or video course materials that can be utilized any time and place, even when not connected to a computer.
Watch an introduction to iTunes U
The purpose of the training is not only to teach instructors the technical aspects of creating a podcast, but also to explore the application of fundamentally sound educational pedagogy in the podcast creation process. Coinciding with the push to create new, pedagogically sound podcasts is the unveiling of SPC's new public iTunes U. To explore for yourself, log in at www.spcollege.edu/iTunesU/.
The new public SPC iTunes U provides flexibility and a concise general structure through which SPC presents its podcasts to the world. The new site accentuates easy navigation, has Featured Content and Top Downloads sections, and strong aesthetic appeal. Participants who attended the first podcast training session offered in October 2009 have created a number of excellent podcasts that now can be viewed in the new public iTunes U site, specifically in the Featured Content section.
Future faculty podcast training
The WITS department is dedicated to helping SPC faculty create quality podcasts by providing the tools and training to do so. Additional training sessions have been scheduled for next month:
- Thursday, April 23, 1-4 p.m.
- Friday, April 24, 9 a.m.-noon
Both sessions will be held at the EpiCenter. If you would like to register for this upcoming training, please complete this survey: https://it.spcollege.edu/cfsurveys/survey.cfm?su_id=4463.
Workshop to help create faculty learning community
 Milton Cox |
The Staff and Professional Development department will host two presentations in April that highlight the importance of learning communities and teaching in higher education.
“Building community in your classes and among your colleagues is a very important and often missing part of higher education,” said Milton D. Cox, Associate Director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning, Teaching, and University Assessment at Miami University in Ohio. Cox directs the college’s Lilly Conference on College Teaching and also serves as Editor-in-Chief for the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching and the Learning Communities Journal.
The presentations, which will take place April 14-15 from 1-3:30 p.m., at the Seminole Campus Conference Center, will cover topics from opportunities and problem-solving in faculty learning communities to facilitating active, learner-centered teaching. Both presentations will allow time for question-and-answer sessions.
Faculty learning communities help establish connections across disciplines and institutional units, and achieve most of the outcomes of increased interest in learning, retention, active learning and levels of civic engagement.
Cox said these communities of practice for faculty and professional staff in higher education have specific requirements.
“It runs yearlong; it is structured,” Cox said. “It meets every three weeks, and it features the following important components: Building community, and developing the scholarship teaching and learning.”
“Next week we’ll be going to King Abdullah University in Saudi Arabia,” said Cox, who has presented at about 50 colleges and universities in more than five countries. It’s an international movement now.”
The free sessions will take place in the Seminole Campus Conference Center. Pre-registration is required and can be completed here.
FAFSA Outreach to be held at five campuses
FAFSA Outreach, an event that aims to help students and families get speedier financial assistance results, will be at the Health Education Center, St. Petersburg/Gibbs, Clearwater, Seminole and Tarpon Springs campuses beginning March 25.
Financial assistance experts will be at all locations to help students file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Those who participate can expect to get their financial assistance results in two weeks or less from the Federal Processor.
Participating students must bring their FAFSA PIN and their completed 2009 Federal Income Tax returns. Dependent students must bring their parents’ tax returns also.
FACC newsletter gives legislative update
Curious about what is happening during the current Florida legislative session? The Florida Association of Community Colleges publishes Perceptions, a weekly legislative update that covers news of interest to Florida's community colleges.
Meeting notices
The Board of Directors for the St. Petersburg College Alumni Association meets on Tuesday, March 23, 6 p.m. at the District Office, Consular Corporate Conference Room 102, 6021 142nd Ave. N., Largo.
The Board of Directors for the St. Petersburg College Alumni Association meets on Tuesday, April 6, 6 p.m. at the District Office, Consular Corporate Conference Room 102, 6021 142nd Ave. N., Largo.
The St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, April 1, 3:30 p.m., at the EpiCenter, Room 1-453 to interview a presidential candidate. View Legal notice.
The final decision on who will be SPC's next president will be made at a Board of Trustees public meeting on Tuesday, April 13, at 4 p.m., EpiCenter, Room 1-453.