TO: FROM: DCCCD BOARD MEMBERS JOE D. MAY DATE: AUGUST 14, 2015 RE: WEEKEND MEMO #68 COMMENTS FROM JOE D. MAY Good afternoon! As our 50th anniversary celebration nears, we are all busy preparing to remember the past 50 years of our district s proud history and accomplishments as we plan for the next five decades of success, too. Today, find out what your colleagues have been doing this summer, and please make sure you have registered for the 50th anniversary event on August 28. Enjoy your weekend, and we ll catch up again next week! 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 students, Andrea Ocampo and Martha De Leon, have been selected as 2015 Telemundo Scholarship recipients. Representatives from Telemundo were on campus August 6 filming the students. Both are 2013 North Lake College Rising Star students who continue to excel academically and are active members of numerous organizations at the college, including the Rising Star Club. Our Community During July, North Lake College North Campus hosted the DFW Sunray Academy Summer Camp. This educational institution prepares students for higher education academic programs. Classes are offered for math contests, the SAT, and Chinese language skills as well as math for K5 through high school. DFW Sunray Academy also offers reading comprehension and writing programs that help students establish a strong foundation for their education. Approximately 50 students, ages of 10-16, participated in the Camp.
Our Employees The Sustainability Management Association (SMA) has invited North Lake College Sustainability Coordinator Brandon Morton to serve as a volunteer advisor on its board of directors. Formed in October 2013, the SMA is a nonprofit that promotes incorporating economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. The mission of the Association is to create opportunities for its members and to educate and build awareness of sustainable management practices. The SMA offers professional certification to a global workforce. The Mayor and Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) Proud Partners Awards reception was held on August 10 at the First Baptist Church of Irving Fellowship Hall. Award recipients were honored for their support of the KIB mission of improving the environment. KIB is designed to inform the community about lessening litter and reducing recycling and waste. Gina Federer, director of marketing and public information, and Eddie Tealer, vice president of business services, represented North Lake College at the event. El Centro College Seventy-three El Centro College employees participated in the On Course workshop for front line staff, which was held at El Centro College West Campus, July 30-31. The workshop is designed to address the unique interactions between front line staff and students as an opportunity to enhance student responsibility and success in college. The importance of the role of front line staff as educators and empowerers of students and, also, retention specialists is recognized during the workshop. On Course workshops for faculty and staff support the principles presented in HDEV 0092, the El Centro College student success course that utilizes the On Course text by Dr. Skip Downing. Faculty have the opportunity to attend a two-day On Course for Faculty workshop or a one-day Staying On Course in a Diverse World workshop during college return week. On August 11-12, El Centro College Food and Hospitality Institute, in partnership with The Humane Society of the United States, hosted the first Food Forward Culinary Experience event in Texas. This two-day culinary experience taught both budding chefs and experienced industry pros about plantbased, cost-effective, sustainable foods. Attendees received hands-on training led by Chef Wanda White, former executive operations chef at the University of North Texas, who opened the nation s first vegan university dining hall, Mean Greens. White instructed participants on how to prepare delicious meat-, egg-, and dairy-free entrees and desserts that would appeal to guests of all dietary preferences. Chef Timothy Prefontaine, executive chef of The Fort Worth Club, is this year s national winner of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Dr. L. J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award. Part of his prize package is a $2,500 scholarship to the ACF accredited culinary program of his choice. He has chosen to donate that scholarship to the El Centro College Food and Hospitality Institute. In 2014, Prefontaine also received the U.S.A. Chef of the Year Award. He is a preeminent authority on competition cooking and is an ACF Apprenticeship Program graduate. Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. Early College High School at El Centro College Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. Early College High School at El Centro College met standard with distinctions for the 2015 state accountability ratings. All four indices were met: Student Achievement, Student Progress, Closing Performance Gaps, and Postsecondary Readiness. The school also received five distinctions this year for Academic Achievement in Reading/English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies, as well as Top 25 percent in Student Progress and Top 25 percent in Closing Performance Gaps. 2
Cedar Valley College Our Community and Resource Development Cedar Valley College representatives Patricia Davis, executive dean of community and resource development; Dr. Jennifer Wimbish, president; Huan Luong, vice president of business services; Dr. Anthony Wade, executive director of human resources; Dr. Ruben Johnson, executive dean of business and technology; Anna Mays, executive vice president of academic and student services; and Monroe Mayes, manager of community, resource, and economic development, are participating in the Best Southwest (BSW) Partnership 2015 TGIF Legislative Series each Friday in August. This Breakfast with the President series is being hosted by Methodist Charlton Medical Center and its new president, Fran Laukaitis. A hot and delicious (complimentary) breakfast is served in Methodist Charlton s main auditorium, located on the first floor of the Outpatient Building, at 7:15 a.m., with the program running from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. Jim McDonald, State Farm Insurance, is the Series sponsor; TXU Energy and Hillside Village are the August 21 sponsors. Marcus Knight, mayor of Lancaster, is facilitating the Series, which features BSW legislators reporting on the recently concluded 84th Texas legislative session: Texas State Representative Helen Giddings, District 109 (August 7); Texas State Representative John Wray, District 10 (August 14); and Texas State Senator Royce West, District 23 (August 21). (The featured speaker for August 28 has not been announced.) Knight discusses hits and misses with each guest legislator. In 2015, the BSW Core Initiatives are Transportation, Education, and Health Care, which help improve the quality of life in our region and promote economic development. Our College and Community Outreach On August 15, representatives from Cedar Valley College Recruitment and Community Outreach Department will participate in the Lancaster ISD 2015 Power Up, Mayor and Superintendent s Back to School Fair and Community Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lancaster High School Coliseum. Marcus Knight, mayor of Lancaster, and Dr. Michael McFarland, superintendent of the Lancaster ISD, are partnering with the Lancaster Education Foundation and the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce to host the family-fun event filled with information, contests, games, and activities. Lancaster ISD is about creating strategic and innovative learning experiences for its students. The 2015 Power Up event will enable the school district to strategically connect with the community; inform families about the upcoming school year; provide students and families with needed health and wellness services and connect them with service providers and local business owners; and equip students with back-to-school tools for success. Our Workforce Development & Continuing Education The Cedar Valley College Workforce Development & Continuing Education Department, in partnership with Methodist Charlton Medical Center, will be offering no cost phlebotomy skill refresher courses for former Cedar Valley College phlebotomy students on August 17-18 at the college. These refresher courses will provide an opportunity for students wanting to draw experience and review steps for safe and sterile phlebotomy techniques, and to review industry protocol, standards, and expectations along with hands-on use of the standard in industry equipment and supplies. Cedar Valley College now has a clinical site willing to take students to complete Phlebotomy II. In order for past Phlebotomy I students to enroll in Phlebotomy II, they must: have successfully passed the Phlebotomy Refresher; be currently CPR/Basic Life Supportprovider certified; have successfully completed Phlebotomy I at Cedar Valley College; have current vaccinations, including flu and tuberculosis; purchase malpractice/liability insurance (paid directly to the college Business Office); and be covered under private health insurance. For more information, please contact Rose Chivers at 972-860-8228. Eastfield College Advance Student Success Officers of the Eastfield College Rotaract Club attended the 2015 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) North America Conference, which was held at George Washington University in Washington, DC, July 21-26. RYLA is an intense leadership training program designed to recognize, encourage, and further develop the leadership skills of college students who have shown a 3
potential for rendering important service to their local communities. In addition to participating in the Conference program, RYLA students visited the Argentina and Ecuador Embassies, U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and various U.S. monuments. Attending the Conference with Eastfield College Rotaract Club Co-advisor Kassi Buck (English faculty) were students, Andrea Carrizales, president; Danny Lam, vice president; Aaron Sustaita, secretary; Nicole Ceron, public relations officer; and Vanessa Trevino, ambassador. The Rotaract Club officers are excited to share their new knowledge and experiences with their fellow club members during the upcoming school year. Meet Community Educational Needs On August 6, speech faculty Courtney Brazile, advisor for Eastfield College s revamped Men s Achievement, Leadership, Empowerment, and Service (MALES) Retention program, addressed the Eastfield College Pleasant Grove Campus Advisory Council about the program s strategies for engaging and retaining minority male students. Approximately 20 community leaders attended the meeting and engaged in a discussion about possible partnerships and community outreach opportunities as well as plans for involving students at the Pleasant Grove Campus. Several community leaders also expressed an interest in visiting Eastfield College and speaking with program members. The mission of the MALES Retention program is to engage and retain male students by involving them academically, socially, culturally, and professionally in their campus and in the community. The second class of lieutenant cadets from the Barro Branco Military Police Academy in São Paulo, Brazil has successfully completed the International Law Enforcement Cultural and Technical Interchange Certificate Program, created by Eastfield College Police Chief Michael Horak. Phase I of the training included distance learning to improve participants English skills by communicating via the WhatsApp Messenger program for typing and short voice messages, and Skype for face-to-face interviews. During the Phase II training at Eastfield College, the cadets trained and patrolled alongside officers from the Eastfield College Police Department, the Mesquite Police Department tactical team, the Texas Rangers Special Response Team in Waco, and the Garland Police Department SWAT team. They also took (and passed) the Eastfield College Police Department physical agility and weapons tests, and were taught the philosophy, policies, and procedures used by the Eastfield College Police Department. The cadets visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Dallas Heritage Village, and NASA (in Houston) and engaged with Eastfield College students, faculty, and staff. At the conclusion of the two-week training, a formal graduation was held where the cadets were presented certificates and awards to recognize their accomplishments. At that July 31 ceremony, the cadets surprised Horak with the Forca Tactica arm band. The lieutenant of the group, who is in the special Tactical Force unit in São Paulo, stated that the arm band is given only to those who have earned the respect of that elite unit. On August 10, the Eastfield College Criminal Justice Programs partnered with the Regional Organized Crime Information Center, Purdue Pharma, and North Texas Crime Commission to host a Prescription Drug Crimes Training session. Topics covered included prescription drug identification, prescription abuse, diversion of controlled substances, prescription investigation for law enforcement officers, and major case studies. The session was attended by 81 representatives from 36 different agencies. Richland College Employee Success Tom Motley, Richland College art professor, recently contributed a review of On the Wall and Beyond, art by Seymour Fogel, pioneer of modern and abstract art in the mid-20th century. The solo exhibition is currently on display at The Grace Museum in Abilene. Motley s submission appeared on Eutopia, a website for contemporary art reviews and concise means to accessing contemporary art. 4
Student Success Quinn Mason, Richland College music composition student, was featured in a KERA 90.1 FM radio story on July 30. He was one of six winners out of 141 applicants from 35 states of the American Composers Forum inaugural NextNotes High School Composition Awards. Mason entered his self-titled Masonian Rondo, a nine-minute brass quartet that he composed while he was a student at North Dallas High School. He applied the scholarship funds he was awarded from the competition to begin his music studies at Richland College this summer. On August 12, the DCCCD Foundation sponsored the purchase and presentation of national championship rings to the Richland College Thunderduck Men s Basketball Team student athletes, who won the 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championship in New York in March. Ruben Esquivel, DCCCD Foundation board secretary; Dr. Joe May, DCCCD chancellor; Dr. Pyeper Wilkins, DCCCD Foundation chief of advancement initiatives, along with families, friends, faculty, and staff, celebrated the success of the student athletes, both on and off the court, at a presentation and reception hosted by the Richland College Office of Student Life. Sustainable Community Building Debbi Richards, Richland College director of corporate and community relations, participated in Texas State Representative Angie Chen Button s Senior Awareness Fair on August 7 at the Richardson Civic Center. Representatives from 59 local agencies, organizations, businesses, and health service providers serving senior citizens staffed exhibit booths at the event. On August 10, Richards also participated in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions at the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. Sessions discussion focused on the Iran sanctions, Social Security, China, corporate inverse taxes, and immigration. Brookhaven College Community Engagement On August 7, Dr. Thom Chesney, president of Brookhaven College, served as moderator for the Legislative Update and Cookout, co-sponsored by the Metrocrest and Farmers Branch chambers of commerce. Brookhaven College, the host site for the annual event, welcomed more than 80 chamber members to hear from Texas State Senator Don Huffines, Texas State Representative Linda Koop, and Texas State Representative Matt Rinaldi. Chesney asked the legislators to share their work from the recently concluded legislative session on areas of interest to the chamber members, such as small business, open carry, transportation, and education. Employee Success Roy Allen, Brookhaven College saxophone professor, was part of a unique program with Southwest Airlines on a recent trip to San Jose, CA. Allen was traveling there to perform at the 2015 World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference as part of the Dallas Winds. Southwest Airlines invited the group to participate in its Live at 35 video series where musical groups perform live music at 35,000 feet. Since they were going to San Jose, the saxophone section of the Dallas Winds performed an arrangement of the classic, Do You Know the Way to San Jose! Mountain View College Academic Success On August 11, Mountain View College Workforce and Continuing Education Division staff attended the 2015 Dr. Emmett J. Conrad Leadership Program 22nd Annual Intern/Sponsor Recognition Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel. They had the privilege of honoring Mountain View College summer intern, Jalen Baker, for his work and dedication to the division. The keynote speaker was Serita Jakes, first lady and co-founder of The Potter s House church in Dallas. Representing Mountain View College at the Luncheon were Liz Jackson, Mary Ann Campbell, Anna Garcia, and Lulu Plankraiphet. This sponsorship event was an excellent way to bridge Mountain View College with its local community in advancing equal opportunities in education. 5
The Mountain View College Office of Student Life (OSL) will hold cheerleading and mascot tryouts on August 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (cheerleading) and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. (mascot). The OSL will be looking for the most spirited male and female students to form the Mountain View College cheerleading squad and pride pack. The requirements for students to participate in the tryouts are: a minimum grade point average of 2.3; enrollment in at least six credit hours - fall and spring semesters; a positive attitude; full of Mountain View College spirit; and no previous experience necessary. Come one, come all and show off your Mountain View College spirit! Community Success The YWCA will conduct a series of Financial Empowerment workshops for four weeks beginning August 22 (plus additional workshops through November). All Financial Empowerment workshop series 12-hour courses provide instruction on how to reduce debt, build or repair credit, reach financial goals, invest in the future, and save for emergencies. Classes will meet once a week at Mountain View College. The workshops are free, but registration is required. To register, please call 972-860-5633 or email ffc@ywcadallas.org. Employee Success The Mountain View College Police Department will conduct a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event presentation on September 15, at the college in Rooms W181/W183 from 1 to 4 p.m. This course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy. The training was developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training in 2004 to provide guidance for surviving an active shooter event. The course also offers professional development credit. For further information, please contact Cpl. Gonzales, Officer Johnson, or Officer Willie at 214-860-8758. 6