COMMENTS FROM JOE D. MAY

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1 TO: FROM: DCCCD BOARD MEMBERS JOE D. MAY DATE: MAY 29, 2015 RE: WEEKEND MEMO #57 COMMENTS FROM JOE D. MAY Good afternoon! In spite of the fact that the spring semester has ended and summer classes are still on the horizon, this week was filled with many activities and efforts during what felt like a very short four days. I would like to share some events and programs we ve been involved with over the past two weeks, especially the Texas Legislature and the JPMorgan Chase Dallas Skills Gap Report. I know that the summer semester will be busy. As we prepare to welcome those students, I know you will work with them in many ways to ensure their success. Have a great weekend! Joe May (Note: For the best viewing experience, please use the latest version of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, or Apple Safari.) North Lake College Our Students North Lake College has been selected to participate with Complete College America (CCA) to develop and implement one of CCA s Game Changer strategies to improve student completion rates, Guided Pathways to Success (GPS). The GPS structure provides step-by-step road maps to completion for students and is accompanied by intrusive advising. The GPS design leads students to make more informed, deliberate decisions and contains default choices that are in the best interest of the student, given his/her educational goals. Funding for consultants to assist the college in this endeavor and for travel to an annual academy by the North Lake College team will be provided through the Lumina Foundation Community Partnerships for Attainment program, which focuses on increasing

2 the number of community members with higher education credentials. The assistance provided is valued at $20,000 and will support North Lake College s GPS efforts through Our Employees The Irving Schools Foundation s 28th Annual Breakfast with the Stars was held on April 28 in the Grand Ballroom of the Irving Convention Center. Irving ISD students receiving scholarships and the sponsors who awarded those scholarships were honored. Attending the event were North Lake College s Christa Slejko, president; Eddie Tealer, vice president of business services; and Guy Melton, director of outreach. The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Educational Foundation hosted its 2015 Spring Gala on April 24. The fundraising event was held at Dallas Palms in Carrollton. Veterans Affairs Coordinator Horace Ragler represented North Lake College at the Gala. A group of Tiger Cub Scouts recently earned journalism badges with the help of North Lake College Student Publications Manager Kathleen Stockmier. To earn the badge, the Scouts were required to visit a newspaper office or a television station. They were having trouble locating someone to help when they contacted Stockmier. Eight second graders (and their parents) were very appreciative of her efforts and enjoyed their visit to North Lake College. Cedar Valley College Our College Success Cedar Valley College and its Business and Technology Division are pleased to announce that the college is a new grantee in the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education program. The three-year grant is for approximately $200,000 and will take effect September 1. The grant is for the project, Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing Program, which is under the direction of Dr. Ruben Johnson, executive dean of the Business and Technology Division at Cedar Valley College. The mission is to provide a high-quality education that furthers regional economic development, enhances the quality of life in the region, and supports students marketability in the global economy. The Mentor Connect project, formed out of Florence-Darlington Technical College s South Carolina Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence, supported Cedar Valley College s grant application. Our Participation Cedar Valley College will participate in the biggest graduation celebration in Dallas/Fort Worth, Senior Nite at Six Flags Over Texas, which takes place on May 29, from 6 to 12 p.m. The event is open to 10,000 high school seniors. Sponsored by Hot 93.3 FM, Senior Nite will feature music, entertainment, and other activities in celebration of the 2015 graduates. Cedar Valley College will have an outreach and recruiting booth near the concert stage where hip hop/pop duo Kalin and Myles will be the featured performers. Radio commercials for the college have been running on Hot 93.3 FM leading up to the event. Our Job Fair On June 23, Cedar Valley College will host an Adjunct Job Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. in the main entrance of Building A. Day, evening, weekend, and early college high school/dual credit adjunct instructors are needed in numerous subject areas. Attendees should bring printed copies of their resumés, unofficial transcripts, and certifications. Applicants are asked to apply online prior to the Job Fair at El Centro College Dr. Chemene Crawford, vice president of student services and enrollment management at El Centro College, has been selected to serve as 2015 New Professionals Institute (NPI) Faculty for Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA)/Region III of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). The Institute is held annually on the University of Alabama - 2

3 Huntsville campus. NPI is the preeminent professional development opportunity for new student affairs professionals in the South. Co-sponsored by NASPA Region III and SACSA, the NPI is an intensive, interactive week of learning, sharing, networking, and professional and personal development. This unique opportunity allows new professionals to draw on their first years of experience to improve their effectiveness and to learn from others. It is a time of professional and personal renewal, and assists new professionals in the development of their careers. El Centro College students have received three additional scholarship awards from TheDream.US, a national scholarship fund for immigrant youth who have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), who want to attain a college education and give back to their communities. Through this partnership, a total of 12 students have been awarded scholarships that cover tuition and books. These students will receive case management advising and services through the El Centro College Multicultural Center. As a group, the students will also develop a community service project. On May 15, the Student Services, Grants, and Special Programs Department at El Centro College celebrated student milestones by recognizing student successes during the spring semester. Areas of recognition included academic, career, and life milestones. El Centro College President Dr. Jose Adames and Vice President Dr. Chemene Crawford delivered heartfelt messages and empowered students to remain committed to their educational goals through life changes and adversities. Students were given the opportunity to personalize a touchstone as a visual to stay connected to their goals. A team of faculty and administrators from El Centro College attended the 2015 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 23-26, in Austin. The Conference was sponsored by the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. David Barrientos, grants management and compliance coordinator, conducted a poster presentation on the Health Professions Pathways (H2P) grant titled Best Practices & Lessons From a Round 1 TAACCCT (Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training) Grant Recipient. Developmental Studies faculty Monica Stansberry conducted the poster presentation, The Implications of Accepting Personal Baggage in Academic Expression. Also, Joselyn Gonzalez, human development faculty, facilitated the breakout session, Meaningful Assessment in First-Year Experience Courses Using Signature Assignments. Derrick Payne, speech communications faculty, and William Smith, assistant dean in the Communications, Mathematics, and Developmental Studies Division, co-presented the breakout sessions: Effectively Serving the Male Student Population: Keys to Success and Exploring the First-Year Experience: Setting Up Success. Payne was named a Master Presenter by the NISOD organization. This conference provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the programs and strategies being used at El Centro College to increase student success, to a national audience of community college and higher education professionals. Eastfield College Foster Employee Success Eastfield College Automotive Technology faculty Kevin Giles, Speech faculty Courtney Brazile, English faculty Kassandra Buck, and Director of Workforce and Economic Development Christa Jones gave a presentation about their unique learning community during the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development s (NISOD) 37th Annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, which was held in Austin, May The group explained the background, process, and organizational challenges in developing and integrating learning communities in career technology with a focus on student completion. Only four students received associate degrees in the Automotive Technology program between the years 2008 and However, since the development of the learning community in fall 2013, eight students were on track to complete their associate degrees at the conclusion of the 2015 spring semester. 3

4 Eleven Eastfield College employees who graduated from the DCCCD Basic Leadership and Career Institutes programs were recognized by college President Dr. Jean Conway at a celebration on May 20 at the Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development. Receiving a Certificate of Mastery from the Basic Leadership Program, which is designed for supervisors and employees who want to increase their knowledge and skills in foundations of leadership, were: Cliff Bradley, Facilities; Philip Bueno, Completion Center; Marcia Hasenyager, Criminal Justice; Kevin Levingston, College Police; and Cynthia Taylor, Health Center. Graduating from the Student Services/Enrollment Management Career Institute, which provides content-driven professional development programs that foster and promote career development and planning opportunities in the field of student services, were: Veronica Yarbrough Vargas and Jeanette Brookshire-Washington, Student Services, and LaKisha Wooden, Rising Star. Graduates of the Administrative Assistant Career Institute, which focuses on improving competence and interpersonal skills, were: Veronica Carrion, Resource Development, and Jessica Lopez-Munoz, Student Services. Meet Community Educational Needs The City of Mesquite has signed a formal agreement to become a Friendly City with Xiangtan County, China. The agreement begins the process to create new economic and cultural opportunities for Mesquite. Delegates from Xiangtan County were in Mesquite May 14-16, and included Eastfield College in their visit. The six-member delegation, including the education bureau director, specifically toured the college s Technology Building, Workforce Education Building, and Children s Laboratory School. Leading the Eastfield College tour with college President Dr. Jean Conway was Michael Gutierrez, Johnnie Bellamy, Roy Bond, Dr. Mike Walker, and Sharon Cook. The delegates visit to Mesquite was supported by the Texas Performing Chinese Arts Association. Brookhaven College Community Outreach An opening reception on May 22 welcomed students from four area high schools, along with their parents and teachers, to view the student exhibitions at the Brookhaven College School of the Arts galleries. From May 22-29, artwork by 63 students from Creekview, Newman Smith, and R.L. Turner high schools (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD) was exhibited in the Forum Gallery, and works by 25 students from Lewisville High School (Lewisville ISD) were displayed in the Studio Gallery. Along with providing an opportunity for community engagement and outreach, these annual exhibitions are a significant recruiting activity hosted by the Brookhaven College Art Department. As the spring semester concluded, members of the basketball team were out and about in the community. On May 22, three Brookhaven College Bears spent a day at Hedrick Elementary School in Lewisville. Jacob Haggerty, Cameron Copeland, and Markus Burkhalter participated in Career Day for the fifth graders where they spoke about the importance of hard work and education; Basketball Coach Kevin Hurst delivered the keynote speech. Also, the group took time to read to the kindergarten classes. On April 30, Hurst and sophomore Aaron Peterson volunteered their time at Lewisville High School to help with Field Day for the local elementary schools. At both events, the young men did an outstanding job of representing Brookhaven College and being involved in the community. Institutional Effectiveness The Brookhaven College Green Team Coalition blew The University of New Orleans Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering away in a Recycling Rumble during the month of April. The Recycling Rumble pits two groups against one another in collecting and recycling used inkjet and laser cartridges, cell phones, and small electronics to raise funds to support green initiatives in schools. The Green Team Coalition recycled 56 items and raised $44.44 for the student club fund. 4

5 Richland College Student Success On May 21, Richland College s Jean Carter, director of school alliance and institutional outreach, and Manal Al-khateeb, Rising Star assistant, participated in the Richardson High School Decision Day celebration. This annual event acknowledges and celebrates the high school seniors accomplishments and future plans to attend college, enter the workforce, or enlist in the military. College representatives are on-site to assist students with questions about attending college and advise those students committed to specific colleges. The college coordinator for Richardson High School indicated that more than 110 seniors had committed to attend Richland College for summer and fall Employee Success Richland College s Dr. Zarina Blankenbaker, vice president for teaching and learning, and Fonda Vera, executive dean of planning, research, effectiveness, and development, participated in Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award examiner training, June 18-22; Bao Huynh, director of institutional effectiveness, trained June 4-8. As examiners, Blankenbaker and Huynh will evaluate applications submitted by organizations, conduct site visits to verify practices described in applications, and write reports used by the panel of Baldrige judges for selecting award recipients. Vera serves on the Baldrige Panel of Judges, responsible for reviewing scoring data submitted by Baldrige examiner teams to determine which organizations receive site visits and which are named as national award recipient role models. Institutional Effectiveness On May 27, the Richland College Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Resource Team reviewed comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data regarding continuous improvement being made in Richland College s QEP, Learning to Learn: Developing Learning Power, student performance, professional development training, and implementation. The data review, facilitated by the Richland College Office of Planning, Research, Effectiveness, and Development, included feedback from student focus groups and focus groups with faculty completing QEP professional development and classroom implementation. Based on feedback results, the team identified modifications to inform the scale-up of year three implementation of the QEP. Mountain View College Employee Success Mountain View College employees recently enjoyed a break from the office to have coffee with college President Dr. Robert Garza. Each month, Garza will host Coffee with the President as a way for employees to visit with him and ask questions and/or discuss suggestions regarding the campus. This event is intended to connect the campus and facilitate real administration communication. Community Success The Mountain View College Office of Student Life and the Mark Wilson Magic Club present the second Mountain View College Family Magic Shows on the evenings of June 16, 17, and 18, in the East Foyer of the college. The entertainment begins with close-up magical performers at 7 p.m., followed by the stage shows at 7:30 p.m. Each show will present a different performer and magical set. All performances are open to the public and admission is free. The Magic Shows are produced by Dr. Geoffrey Grimes, Mountain View College professor, Magic Club sponsor, and local magician. Other magical entertainers who will be performing include Dr. Mike Smith, Van McGee, Hal Doc Haliday Hudgins, Rick Burcher, and Will Baffle. Special guest performers are Past President of the Texas Association of Magicians, Bill Irwin, and his young, award-winning son, James, in a father/son prestige magical performance. The Mark Wilson Magic Club at Mountain View College honors worldfamous American magician Mark Wilson, a graduate of Dallas Sunset High School and Southern Methodist University. Wilson and his wife, Nani Darnell, broadcast the first-ever televised magic shows from WFAA-TV in Dallas during the late 1950s. Mountain View College Family Magic Shows are family friendly with lots of interaction for children and the young at heart. Come prepared for plenty of fun, laughter, and mind-blowing magical entertainment! 5

6 Academic Success Mountain View College Continuing Education is partnering with the Athletic Department to hold a summer 2015 Football Camp for boys ages with Dominic Rhodes; Session 1 is June 8-12 and Session 2 is June Rhodes is a former National Football League (NFL) running back who attended Cooper High School in Abilene and played college football at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in Rhodes set an NFL record for the most rushing yards by an undrafted rookie, with 1,104 yards, and the record still stands today. However, the major highlight of his career came in 2007 when Rhodes team won Super Bowl XLI. For more information and/or to register, please call District Office On May 20, Talent Central/Development celebrated the graduation of employees who successfully completed the Basic Leadership Program, Administrative Assistant Career Institute, and Student Services/Enrollment Management Career Institute. These programs create the opportunity for employees across the District to develop their talents, knowledge, and skills, which will help them grow in their careers at the DCCCD and support student success. The graduates of these programs completed up to 80 hours of classroom training and online coursework. Administrative representatives from all the DCCCD colleges and locations attended the ceremony and honored their employees commitment by presenting the graduates with certificates, medallions, and pins that identified the institute or program they completed. The Bill Tucker Award for Outstanding Leadership was presented to Sergeant Barry Orton from Richland College. Two financial aid specialists from the District Office Financial Aid Department recently walked the stage during commencement exercises at Angelo State University. Quaadir Singleton and Monica Medina both earned their master s degrees in education, with a concentration in student development and leadership in higher education. Congratulations to both of you! LeCroy Center The STARLINK Advisory Committee met on May 28 at the LeCroy Center. Representatives from across Texas attended, including Brad Johnson (chair, Texas Association of Community Colleges elearning Committee and president, Northeast Texas Community College); LeCroy Center Provost Dr. Pam Quinn (ex officio); Robert Rosenbalm (National University Technology Network); Ed Bowen (Dallas Learning Solutions); and the STARLINK staff. STARLINK Advisory Committee members are: Patsy Lemaster (chair) - Amarillo College; Debbra Esparza - Lonestar College; Anne Cunningham - Delmar College; Dr. Richard Jolly - Midland College; Dani Day - Collin College; Dr. Patricia McKenzie - Angelina College; Dr. Dana Watson - Central Texas College; and Gina Cano-Monreal and Steven Szymoniak - Texas State Technical College Harlingen. The meeting was very productive and covered the State of STARLINK, fiscal notes, member services, marketing, elearning committee reports, webinars, partnerships, outreach, a programming review, and a roundtable discussion. 6