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» SPC named Outstanding Business of the Year by U.S. Green Building Council chapter » May birthdays/anniversaries (pdf) |
 Comotion celebrates 25 yearsCoMotion Dance Theatre, SPC’s resident dance ensemble, performed its semiannual concert of modern dance at the Clearwater Campus Arts Auditorium April 22-24. Established in 1985, CoMotion is under the co-direction of Nancy Feagans-Smith and Cynthia Hennessy. It celebrated its 25th year anniversary with new choreography by local artists performed by the college’s dance repertory I and II classes. View concert images »
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SPC named Outstanding Business of the Year by U.S. Green Council chapter
SPC was named “Outstanding Business of the Year” by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, a sustainable building organization whose membership covers 15 counties from Citrus to Collier.
The award recognizes businesses that demonstrate a commitment to green building initiatives and a culture of sustainability through the services or products it provides, and how it conducts day-to-day operations.
“Environmental issues are no longer a fad, but rather a mainstream philosophy,” said Jason Green, SPC’s Sustainability Coordinator. “Now, more than ever, the college has the opportunity to provide the leadership needed to help guide the community to a more sustainable future.”
Since 2008, the college has opened two of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the Tampa Bay area. The buildings, St Petersburg/Gibbs Campus’ Students Services building and Clearwater Campus’ Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building, both were awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the USGBC.
The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is a nationally accepted certifier of high performance and environmentally sensitive buildings.
Three other buildings are under various stages of development and will be built to meet a LEED Silver certification or higher.
Additionally, the college developed an Associate of Science in Environmental Science Technology, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainability Management; an online LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance 2009 examination training course; an online and face-to-face solar energy generation, installation and inspection training course; and soon will offer nearly 50 other environmentally focused continuing education/certification programs.
The college also recently installed its first solar energy system, a thin film solar blanket for use as a teaching tool. This system, along with other energy-conserving initiatives, has resulted in a cost avoidance savings of more than $500,000; preventing 1,888 metric tons of carbon dioxide from polluting the air, equivalent to removing 310 cars from the road; supplying electricity to 235 homes for one year; or planting 42,729 trees.
Among many other initiatives, the college is developing a natural habitat park/environmental center for passive recreation, observation and education, and has initiated an Energy Star purchasing policy, a native plant policy, and exclusively uses “green cleaning” products.
The college hosts four active environmental clubs and a chapter of USGBC Students.
To learn more about SPC’s sustainability initiatives, visit the Office of Sustainability website.
Changes in staffing for academic computing
 Vicki Westergard, Executive Director of eCampus, and Web and Instructional Technology |
Vicki Westergard, former Director of Web and Instructional Technology, has been named Executive Director of eCampus, and Web and Instructional Technology. She will be working to implement an improved system of project requests and management as well as a new process for project prioritization.
“It’s time for eCampus to expand in new ways,” Westergard said. “Things have changed dramatically in the last 12 years, since eCampus began. What we need to best serve students and faculty requires a different set of skills now than it did when this all began.”
To better align and strengthen academic computing services, Ken Pereira and his Learning Management Systems staff now will fall under the eCampus umbrella. The team will manage various servers used for Web and Instructional Technology Services.
Former Senior Web Programmer/Analyist Bill Bliss also will join web development as its new manager. He will supervise all Web projects and assist with developmental strategy. Other proposed changes that will better match the college’s needs to the department’s structure are being reviewed by SPC leadership. Plans in the coming year also will provide enhanced instructional technology support.
Yevstigneyeva new director for Honors College
 Nadia Yevstigneyeva, Director of the Honors College |
Nadia Yevstigneyeva has been promoted from Assistant Director to Director of the Honors College.
“Nadia has done a great job of establishing the Honors College as one of the outstanding programs offered at the college,” Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Cooper said in announcing the move. Cooper has been serving as director with Yevstigneyeva given supervision to grow the program.
“My first reaction to the great news was a desire to share the joy of my new title with my colleagues as well as with my honors students who always called me director or head of the Honors College,” she said.
“I will be happy to play an active role in our school growth, innovative initiatives of student undergraduate research development, new service-learning initiatives, and, most importantly, expansion of the baccalaureate degree honors curriculum,” she said.
Yevstigneyeva was recently elected by her honors colleagues to become a Vice President of the Southern Regional Honors Council.
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Article published about SPC entrepreneurship
Select SPC faculty and staff wrote an article that was published in the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, detailing how the college’s model encompasses all facets of entrepreneurship education and how it supports and serves the community’s economic growth.
The article was collaboratively written by Shri Goyal, Dean of the College of Technology & Management; James Olliver, Provost of the Seminole Campus; and Sharon Setterlind, Dean of Business Technologies and is on page 12 of the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Community College Entrepreneurship (pdf).
Phi Theta Kappa chapter earns awards
The Eta Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society cleaned house this month at the 2010 Phi Theta Kappa Annual Convention in Orlando. During the Hallmark Awards presentation, the St. Petersburg/Gibbs chapter was presented with 22 awards, including 14 Florida region awards and honors, and nine international awards.
The chapter, which has been around since 1950, is one of the organization’s five chapters within the college. Other chapters include the Alpha Omega Beta, Alpha Zeta Tau, Beta Theta Omega and Zeta Tau.
Below is a list of Hallmark Awards won by SPC chapters:
- Alpha Zeta Tau (Tarpon Springs Campus)
Five Star Chapter Award
- Beta Theta Omega (Seminole Campus)
Pinnacle Award
- Eta Nu Chapter (St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus)
Florida Regional Awards
Most Distinguished Chapter - Florida Region (No. 1 Florida ranking)
Five Star Chapter Award
Leadership Hallmark Award
Scholarship Hallmark Award
Service Hallmark Award
Distinguished Chapter President – Cassandra Sirmans
Distinguished Chapter Officer – Jonathan Belles
Distinguished Chapter Member – Ana Maria Quintero
Most Outstanding Alumnus – Theresa Furnas
Poetry Award – Miguel Hernandez
Essay Award – Miguel Hernandez
All-Florida Academic Team – Jerri Daez
2008-10 Leadership Hallmark Regional Officer Appreciation Award
Elected 2010-11 Scholarship Hallmark Regional Officer
- International Awards
First Runner-up to Most Distinguished Chapter
Scholarship Hallmark Award
Leadership Hallmark Award
Service Hallmark Award
Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award
Top 100 Chapter
Distinguished Chapter President Award - Cassandra Sirmans
Distinguished Chapter Officer Award - Jonathan Belles
Distinguished Member Award - Ana Maria Quintero
Seminole Campus named Business of the Year
The Seminole Campus received the Business of the Year Award at the recent Seminole Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet. It is one of three major awards presented each year, along with Boss of the Year and Mr. Seminole. The campus also received a President’s Award for its support of entrepreneurship education. President’s Awards were provided by outgoing Chamber President Paul Zeigler, recognizing areas of excellence in the community by chamber members.Mock courtroom makes a home at SPC Clearwater
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In what was formerly a Natural Science chemistry lab, a judge presides in a newly-constructed mock courtroom is in use in the Clearwater Campus’s Social Science building.
The courtroom, which opened in April, is complete with a three-seat judiciary bench, a witness stand, a table for the clerk of the court, defense and plaintiff tables, a 12-seat jury section and a rail that separates the court from the 60-seat spectator area.
“We have borrowed courtrooms in the past,” said Susan Demers, Director of Paralegal Studies. “Judge (John) Schaefer would take his students down to his courtroom at the criminal complex, or Judge (William) Overton would have his students either to the criminal complex or to his courtroom in south county traffic. So we would often be doing mock trials; now we just have a courtroom to do our mock trials.”
Although no lives are on the line as the result of the cases, the courtroom provides real experiences to the students enrolled in the college’s Paralegal Studies program. Students in classes like Logic in the Law take turns working as defense attorneys and prosecutors for mock court cases.
“Since we don’t have paralegal classes during the day, it’s often being used as a setting for guest speakers, student government meetings, filming, and a veteran’s history project,” Demers said.
“We anticipate by the fall it will be in use most of the time,” she said. “Another thing that we want to do — and we hope this courtroom will give us the opportunity to do it — is take part in intramural mock trial competitions.”
Faculty/A&P staff expected at graduation
Spring graduation is at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 8, at Tropicana Field. All full-time faculty and Administrative and Professional staff who did not participate in the fall 2009 ceremony are expected to participate. Commencement is an opportunity to exhibit to students and their families our respect for the work they have done and the sacrifices they have made to earn their degrees.
According to college policy, May graduation day is considered an official duty day with pay for faculty, and participation in the ceremony satisfies the duty requirements for that day (for more information, contact your program director or campus provost.)
Faculty excused from participating will be expected to complete the appropriate leave form or arrange for an alternate duty day as directed by their supervisor.
Those who need to order a cap and gown should do so immediately at any on-campus Follett’s Bookstore.
Adjuncts and percent-of-load faculty
Adjunct instructors and percent-of-load faculty are invited, but not required, to participate in the May 8 graduation ceremony. Participation includes marching in the faculty processional, along with full-time faculty and A&P staff, in full academic regalia. Program directors can provide further instructions as necessary for participation.
Those adjuncts and percent-of-load faculty who wish to take part are asked to inform their program directors immediately, and make any necessary arrangements for regalia.
For questions about graduation participation, please call Kim Corry at ext. 3260 in the President’s Office between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Applied Ethics student determined to make a difference
Elizabeth “Beth” Clark, a 48-year-old displaced worker and Seminole Campus student, wrote a critical thinking application paper titled “Drug Wars” for her Applied Ethics class. Students were assigned the task of applying the seven-step critical thinking model to the war in Afghanistan. She had to write a minimum of 2,000 words. Topping out at 8,500 words, her paper received a perfect grade — the first ever offered by her instructor, Mary Dawn Pyle.
Then she e-mailed it to the President of the United States.
“Greetings Mr. President,” Clark’s letter to the Commander-in-Chief began. “Thank you for taking the time to review my thoughts regarding the ethical implications of and logical solutions to our initiatives in Afghanistan.
“I hope you find the paper helpful in your own decision-making process as you lead our great nation toward victory and renewed honor.”
The paper, which was sent electronically to President Obama via e-mail, was rejected by the White House server because of its large size.
But Clark is not giving up.
“I'm going to visit Congressman Bill Young's office over at the library (Seminole Campus) next week to enlist his assistance in distributing the paper to Congress as well as the President himself,” Clark said.
Read the paper.
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SPC cares about employees
In this fast-paced, hectic world, the balance between work and family life can be quite a struggle. Sometimes having a little support to help ease the tension is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity.
That’s why SPC offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), administered by Corporate Care Works, where that support is nothing more than a click or a phone call away. This free resource, provided to all budgeted employees and their families, offers confidential help and information in areas such as:
- Health: health assessment tools, videos and articles.
- Legal issues: wills, legal forms and real estate.
- Finance: budgeting, auto financing and retirement planning.
- Counseling: licensed professionals offer counseling with marital/family concerns, alcohol/drug abuse, managing stress, depression and workplace problems.
- Personal growth: communication skills, writing and managing change.
These resources are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including holidays).
Next week, employees will receive information in their mailboxes that can serve as a quick reference to contact Corporate Care Works and they can begin taking advantage of all these practical resources.
If you have any questions or would like more information on how to access and use SPC’s EAP program, please contact Cynthia McLeod (ext. 3096) or Anh Nunag (ext. 3044) in Human Resources.
AAA-Allied Group is SPC’s primary travel service provider
As of May 1, AAA-Allied Group, which has been handling the “after hours” service for SPC for the last few years, will be available to handle all the college’s business travel needs 24 hours a day.
The college’s two primary travel counselors are Becky Hall and Celeste Fegan, and they can be reached toll free at 888-369-3170 or corporatetravel@aaa-alliedgroup.com. Both counselors have been trained in all aspects of the college’s travel policies and procedures, and Hall has specialized in International Travel for more than 20 years.
For details, contact the AAA Corporate Travel Team (pdf). They also have added a Cliqbook Support Desk toll free number, 877-463-0453.
For more information about SPC travel policies, please visit the SPC Travel website.
Critical Thinking Assessment Scoring workshop
From left: Darlene Westberg, Business Technologies; David Allen, Mathematics; Linda Kelsey, Radiography; and Larry Goldsmith, Parks & Leisure Services attend to scoring the critical thinking assessments. Faculty participated in the Critical Thinking Assessment Scoring Workshop on April 23 at the EpiCenter.
CAT is the instrument designed by Tennessee Technological University (TTU) to assess and promote the improvement of critical thinking and real-world problem solving skills.
For more information about CAT at the upcoming Fall Critical Thinking Institute on Friday, Oct. 8 at the Health Education Center, visit the Critical Thinking website.
Legacy Luncheon
Joan Sapp, right, treasurer of the South Pinellas County Retired Educators Association presents Cindy Tully, Director of Planned Giving at the SPC Foundation, with a donation check during the Legacy Luncheon at Regency Oaks retirement community. Thirty-five guests, donors and friends of the college attended.
Meeting notices
The Board of Directors for the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art will meet on Wednesday, May 5, 2:30 p.m. for the annual meeting and 3:30 p.m. for the quarterly meeting in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Tarpon Springs Campus to discuss general business. On the same day, the Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. at the same location; the Governance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in the Director’s office.SPC Foundation Executive Committee Board of Directors Meeting will be Tuesday, May 11 at noon at the District Office, Consular Corps College conference room 102.
The St. Petersburg College Foundation, Inc. will have a Planned Giving Committee Meeting on May 18 at noon at the District Office, Room 102 of St. Petersburg College. This meeting will be to consider routine business of the Foundation.
Board of Trustees Notices
The St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees will meet on the following dates at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. N, Largo, Florida:
May 18, 8:30 a.m. - View notice of meeting
Routine business, EpiCenter,
Room 1-453