the Seminole State College Board Collegian Seminole, Oklahoma Volume 36 Number 1 SEPTEMBER 2007 Regents Elect Officers During August Meeting

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1 Seminole State College Collegian Seminole, Oklahoma Volume 36 Number 1 SEPTEMBER 2007 Regents Elect Officers During August Meeting Regent David Wilson (center) completed his term as chair of the SSC Board of Regents. Wilson is joined by President Utterback (right) and newly selected chair William Harrison Jr. At their August 23 meeting, the Seminole State College Board of Regents elected new officers and approved the purchase of passenger buses for the college. In his President s Report to the Board, Dr. Jim Utterback, provided information about recent personnel changes on campus. He informed the Board that two new employees had been recently hired. Loretta Rush, biological science instructor, and Nyree Cunningham, veterans upward bound adviser, are the newest additions to the SSC staff. Utterback also updated the Board on campus construction and reminded them of some upcoming college events. As their first item of business, the Board elected officers for the coming year. William Harrison Jr. of Justice was elected chair. Regent Roger Nansel will serve as vice chair, and Regent Jon Flowers as secretary. Harrison was first appointed as a Regent in 1994 and reappointed in Utterback complimented Regent David Wilson on his service as chair during the past year. I personally appreciate your leadership. The new programs we have started and undertaking the largest building campaign in the College s history have all been under your leadership, Utterback said. Wilson responded that the eight years he has served as a Regent have been very enjoyable. My year as chairman has been a great learning experience. The staff at this institution is second to none. Everything is done professionally which makes our jobs as Regents easy. I appreciate having the opportunity to serve as Chairman. I look forward to seven more years, Wilson said. The Board then reviewed and accepted the FY07 audit report, conducted by BKD, LLP of Tulsa. The report, which reviewed procedures used in the College s global studies program as well as departmental purchasing, was presented to the Audit Committee at their meeting and then presented to the full Board in the regular meeting. The Board also approved the purchase of two 24-passenger buses. Utterback explained that the buses will help alleviate some transportation conflicts the College is facing with sports teams, federal TRiO programs and other academic programs. The purchases also addressed safety concerns with the use of vans and an aging transportation fleet. The Board approved the purchase and a related action item which entered the College into a master lease agreement with the State of Oklahoma for the purchase of vehicles. The Consent Agenda contained one item this month: approval of the continuation of an agreement with Summit Insurance Agency to provide athletic insurance for the College. This agreement was developed through a consortium with six other Oklahoma community colleges. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17.

2 2 Seminole State College COLLEGIAN/ September 2007 Seminole State College COLLEGIAN/ September College Welcomes Students to Engineering Academy Each team had a chance to let their robot strut its stuff in a group maze race. Forty-two junior and senior high school students from across the state participated in Seminole State College s Peek Into Engineering (P.I.E.) Academy in July. Under the direction of the College s Math, Science and Engineering Division, the P.I.E. summer academy demonstrated what it takes to be an engineer during a sixday residential camp. The weeklong academy was one of several Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education summer math, science and multidisciplinary academies underway at various higher education institutions across the state. The participants spent the week taking a hands-on approach to their studies. The students used their knowledge to build miniature robots that they competed with on the final day of the program. During the camp, the participants took field trips to the University of Oklahoma s School of Engineering labs and the Jasmine Moran Children s Museum. They also heard a presentation from University of Central Oklahoma Department of Engineering and Physics Chair Baha Jassemnejad and a representative from the Gordon Cooper Technology Center. We wanted the students to have fun while learning important aspects of engineering and at the same time, strengthening their math and science skills, said Richard Walcott, SSC math, science and engineering instructor and P.I.E. director. The students apply what they learn through hands-on experience. We also wanted to give them a chance to visit important Oklahoma engineering industries in an effort to bridge the gap between industry and the classroom, he said. Second-year program participant Trey Gaylord, a senior at Norman High School, said he enjoyed his return to SSC s summer program. I took a leadership role this year and I really enjoyed the responsibility. Coming in with more knowledge of science made this year s experience even better. I would definitely recommend it [camp] to other students, said Gaylord. Gaylord said his most memorable moment of the summer was when his team s robot worked for the first time. After three days of building and testing, it finally worked. It is challenging to get everything programmed, but it is worth the wait to finally see everything come together, he continued. The students ended the week with a final robotic challenge, which included a maze race; minesweeper, where the robots had to retrieve as many bombs (mouse traps) in the least amount of time; and a photovore challenge, where the robots had to navigate through a maze to find the brightest spot in box. The students were chosen to be a part of the academy based on academic merit. Walcott noted that the students are among Oklahoma s best and brightest future engineers. The students participating in the academy represented 26 schools from across the state. Seminole Faculty/Staff Get in Gear for Fall Semester Employees enjoy an Oklahoma Centennial themed luncheon and the sounds of Too Old to Die Young during In-Service. SSC employees kicked off the beginning of the year by holding Fall In-Service on Monday, Aug. 13 and Tuesday, Aug. 14. Employees recapped past accomplishments and heard about things planned for the coming year during the meeting. First on Monday s agenda was the welcome from President Jim Utterback. He then turned the floor over to the vice presidents who introduced the new employees in their respective areas. New employees include: Nyree Cunningham, veterans upward bound advisor, Jason Garrison, English instructor, Amy Gillespie, women s volleyball coach, Brian Nelson, men s and women s tennis coach, and Loretta Rush, biological science instructor. President Utterback updated employees on campus construction. Attendees also heard from renowned higher education law and policy expert Gary Pavela. Pavela teaches in the honors program at the University of Maryland and writes law and policy newsletters to which over 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada subscribe. Identified by the New York Times as an authority on academic ethics, Pavela has been a consultant on law and policy issues at many leading universities. Pavela spoke on the subject of Disruptive Student Behavior on Campus. He made a similar presentation on the campus of Virginia Tech University in July. Pavela recently returned from Wisconsin after working with the Governor s Commission on campus responses after the Virginia Tech incident. Following Pavela s presentation, employees filled the Foundation Hall and enjoyed an Oklahoma Centennial themed barbeque dinner. Special entertainment for the luncheon was provided by the musical group Too Old to Die Young. Members of the band are: Rusty Dawson, Howard Byerly, Larry Vickers, and Travis Qualls. SSC Faculty Amy Gillespie Head Volleyball Coach Jason Garrison English Instructor Loretta Rush Biological Science Instructor The Seminole State COLLEGIAN is published during the fall and spring semesters by the Seminole State College Office of Media Relations, under the direction of Yashanda Anderson Scruggs. The staff reserves the right to edit submitted material for spelling and style. Consideration is given to all submitted material, but submission does not ensure publication. No anonymous material will be considered. All views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Seminole State College. The COLLEGIAN is distributed on the SSC campus and mailed to over 200 friends of the college. Seminole State College, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order as amended, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and other Federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, handicap, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This inlcudes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. This publication, printed by the SSC Print Shop, is issued by Seminole State College as authorized by the President of the college. At a cost of $280; 1,000 copies have been prepared and distributed. Questions, concerns, can be directed to Yashanda Scruggs at (405)

3 Fun Day/ Shrimp Boil Night 2007

4 6 Seminole State College COLLEGIAN/ September 2007 Seminole State College COLLEGIAN/ September 2007 Building for the Future - Campus Construction Heavy Construction H Heavy Construction Heavy Construction Parking lots overflowing with cars are a sure sign that school is back in session at Seminole State College. Students returned to the campus and saw several new faces and probably noticed the changes to the look of the campus. Currently there are several major construction projects underway, including the building of a 150-bed housing facility to the immediate north of the Roesler Residential Learning Center, a new maintenance facility on the far north end of campus, and a wellness/athletic training facility and softball complex on college property just south of Highway 9 across from the main campus. I was ready to come back to school. The campus does look different with all the work going on. I m excited to see my friends and get the year started, said returning student Brook Bailey, a sophomore from Sasakwa. 7

5 8 Seminole State College COLLEGIAN/ September 2007