August 2011 - Cedar Valley College

August 2011
Volume 12, Number 1
President’s Message
Inside This Issue
Gates Foundation grant
awarded to CVC
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TexPREP gives campers
glimpse of real world
3
Sun Athletics ready to
kick off new year
4
Honors College launching this fall
FMT to hold auditions
Aug. 22 & 23
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Leaders enhance
problem-solving skills
5
Staying on track at CVC
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New “pay-for-print”
program saving money
Experts needed
Hip Hop for HIV
tour vists CVC
New employees
New Veterans Affairs
Coordinator joins CVC
Reduced meeting schedule in 2011-2012
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In reflecting on the past year, we successfully implemented
Student Success strategies that continue to improve
retention and student success rates.
Presently, as we prepare for our upcoming reaffirmation we
must use data for decision making. By August 31, we must
“close the loop” on program reviews for the 2010-2011
year. This information will help direct strategies for
improving student learning and college processes.
Moving forward, it is important for us to do the following:
•
Use our leadership role on the national
“Completion by Design” project to
improve student completion rates.
•
Commit to using data for decisionmaking and to being accountable for
improvement.
•
Pursue more Strategic Economic and
Workforce Development opportunities.
Dr. Jennifer Wimbish
•
Continue to be efficient with our resources.
•
Connect campus change agents to members of the
community to create an innovative college.
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Let’s work together to make CVC one of the premier colleges in the nation. Have a wonderful year.
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Dr. Jennifer Wimbish
President
DCCCD and Cedar Valley
College awarded Gates
Foundation grant
Dallas County
Community College
District/Cedar Valley
College, along with four
community colleges in
Texas, will share a
$500,000 planning
grant to launch a fiveyear “Completion by
Design” project
supported by the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The “Texas Completion by Design” colleges
are collaborating as part of a national effort to
devise and share new approaches to help more
young people obtain a degree, certificate or
credential.
Participating colleges include Lone Star College
System (managing partner), Alamo Colleges,
Dallas County Community College District, El
Paso Community College and South Texas
College. CVC will be the pilot institution for
DCCCD. The colleges were selected because
of their innovative ideas on improving the
completion rates on their campuses. This
group represents more than 235,000 students,
approximately one-third of all community
college students in Texas.
Once the implementation plan submitted by the
Texas group in April 2012 is approved by the
Gates Foundation, additional funding will be
awarded.
Other Grants Received by CVC
University of Texas at San Antonio -- $7,000
provides funds for the annual Texas Prefreshman
Engineering Program (TexPREP) at Cedar Valley
College. This program identifies high-achieving
middle and high school students with the interest
and potential for careers in engineering, science,
technology and other mathematics-related areas.
The curriculum emphasizes the application of
mathematics and logic to diverse disciplines.
Grant manager – Joe Colbert.
Continuing Education and Workforce
Development was awarded a grant in the
amount of $367,543 from the Texas Workforce
Commission’s Skills Development Fund. The
funds will be used to launch a customized
training and enhancement program for
approximately 460 employees working at Solar
Turbines’ DeSoto and Mabank facilities.
Grant manager – Nikki Thomas.
AUGUST 2011
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1
Dr. Jennifer Wimbish
President
Sonya Spencer
Director of Marketing
Reginald E. Lewis
Editor & Designer
Susan Gordon
Editorial Assistant
The Cedar Post is published
monthly (Sept.-May) by:
Cedar Valley College
Marketing and Public Information Office
3030 North Dallas Ave.
Lancaster, Texas 75134
Send story contributions and photos
by the 20th of each month to:
[email protected]
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TexPREP gives campers
glimpse of real world
After seven weeks of rigorous math,
science and engineering course work, 27
middle and high school students graduated
from the Texas Prefreshman Engineering
Program (TexPREP) on July 28. TexPREP
is held annually at Cedar Valley College and
emphasizes preparing minorities and women
for careers in math, science, engineering and
technology fields.
TexPREP students visited three exciting
locations this year. The first trip was to the
Waste Water Treatment Plant in Waxahachie,
where students learned how water is
filtered, cleaned and processed for human
consumption. The students also traveled
to the University of Texas at Arlington
Planetarium to learn about the stars, planets
and things associated with the sky. Lastly,
Professor Sheryl Lumbley performed some
engaging science experiments during the
kids’ visit to the new Math, Science, and Allied
Health Building.
The students also heard from several guest
speakers who shared their professional
experiences in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) careers.
Financial aid update
TexPREP students share their experiences
during graduation ceremony.
Be aware of the most accurate information
regarding financial aid - our new call center
is experience record numbers of calls from
students. The District FA webpage contains
the most accurate and up to date information,
as well as talking points for you to use with
students.
Click here for the latest information.
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and seriously compete for a NJCAA College
World Series title.
One of the more exciting games around is
women’s volleyball. Head coach Paul Wisden
has assembled a Lady Suns team that features
some serious firepower. This could be the year
the Lady Suns win the conference title and
make a serious run in the playoffs.
Sun Athletics ready to kick
off new year
Are you ready for some college sports? Athletic
Director Kezia Drake anticipates great things
from each Sun squad this year. Last season, all
four teams fell just a game or two short of the
National Championship Tournament.
Ron McDowell, men’s basketball head coach, is
already using the motto “Unfinished Business.”
He expects to use last season’s controversial
loss to eventual national champion Mountain
View as a rallying cry for this upcoming season.
Coach McDowell’s goal is to not only win the
2012 regional finals, but to capture another
national title--the team’s first since 2001.
Overall, there are approximately 60 new
student-athletes joining the Cedar Valley
College family. They are eager to conquer the
challenges of academic and athletic life. Please
help our new and returning student-athletes
feel welcome this season. They are expected to
wear student IDs this year, a pilot program for
the athletic department.
Honors College launching
this fall
The Women’s Soccer program has two new
coaching faces—head coach Richard Smith
and assistant Brittany Martin. The Lady Suns’
first game of the season is Saturday, August 27
against Ranger College. The team’s first home
game is August 30 against Schreiner University.
All home games will be played at the Mountain
View College Sports Complex.
CVC is taking a giant step this fall when it
launches The Honors College for exceptional
students. This rigorous program offers
students a
mechanism for
developing the
competitive
edge needed
for career
options and
admission to
some of the
leading colleges and universities.
This could be a big year for the men’s baseball
team. Head coach Robert Dally has sculpted
a perennial power at CVC. After last season’s
solid showing, Coach Dally expects the team to
dominate the Metro Athletic Conference (MAC)
Students seeking an extra challenge during
their college experience are encouraged to
apply. For more information about The Honors
College, please contact
[email protected].
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Family Music
Theatre to Hold
Auditions
for “Thoroughly
Modern Millie”
Artistic director Sam Germany expects
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” -- a high-spirited
musical romp -- to have audience members
dancing the Charleston this fall. This zany
1920’s musical has already captivated
audiences on Broadway and around the world.
Taking place in New York City in 1922,
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” tells the story of
young Millie Dillmount, who has just moved
to the city in search of a new life for herself.
It’s a New York full of intrigue and jazz--a time
when women were entering the workforce
and the rules of love and social behavior were
changing forever. Based on the popular movie,
the stage version of “Thoroughly Modern
Millie” includes a full score of new songs and
bright dance numbers.
Leaders enhance problemsolving skills
On June 28, Dr. Wimbish and members of the
CVC family honored the first 25 graduates of
the College’s two new leadership programs—
Professional Support Staff 2011 Leadership
Academy and Supervisors Spring 2011
Leadership Academy.
The participants were forced to step out of
their comfort zones to collaboratively work on
developing solutions to real CVC problems.
Facilities Services staff member Yolanda
Williams says attending the leadership
academy was transformational. “Even though
I don’t have a leadership position, I play a
leadership role,” said Williams. “I also learned
that a leader can develop at all levels of
this institution. In addition to our faculty and
administrators, our support staff is capable
of using strategies to achieve superior
performances.”
Are you down with QEP?
Auditions are scheduled for August 22
& 23 at 7 p.m. in the Performance Hall.
Opening weekend is October 14-15 and
continues October 21-22 & 28-29. Evening
performances are 7:30 p.m. and matinees are
1:30 p.m.
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Staying on track at CVC
Cedar Valley College Summer Intensive
Program participants took time to celebrate
their successes on Friday, July 22. Nineteen
Summer I students received intensive
instruction and tutoring for English 1301 and
Math 1414 under the innovative teaching of
Dr. Emmett Cook, English instructor, and
Dr. Tommy Thompson, Math instructor and
coordinator. Overall, there was an 89% passing
rate among all the participants.
English tutor Ellen Bland and Math tutors
Isador Affat and Julie Bielamoqicz were vital
components of the program. They were actually
in the classroom with the instructors. Student
evaluations were quite positive. One student
wrote “the tutors being in the classroom was an
advantage because they knew exactly what we
had covered in class that week.”
The Summer Intensive Program is a
collaborative endeavor by the English, Math,
advising and tutoring departments for student
success and retention under the Title III grant.
New “pay-for-print” program
saving money
Cedar Valley College recently introduced a new
student printing/copying management system
on campus called “Pay-for-Print.” The new
system will reduce wasteful printing and lessen
our impact on the environment by reducing the
College’s carbon footprint. It will also reduce
printing costs and enhance information security
and privacy. Students can scan to a USB drive
and print/copy single-sided or double-sided
pages in B&W or color.
Cost to Print or Copy
• Black and white single-sided pages: 10
cents
• Black and white double-sided pages: 15
cents
• Color single-sided pages: 50 cents
• Color double-sided: 75 cents
• Scanning to a USB: 5 cents per page
Students must use an “add value station”
to create and add funds to their print/copy
account. To get started, students can manually
input their student ID or scan the barcode on
the back of their student ID cards. “Add value
stations” will be located at the Library and the
Labs. These machines will accept $1, $5, $10
and $20 bills.
The following locations feature the new
“pay-for-print” system:
Library (C-104)
SRC (A-206)
BIT Lab (B-116)
Math Lab (B-229)
Experts needed
In order to effectively meet the demands of
journalists, the Marketing & Public Information
Office is currently
developing an Expert
Guide featuring faculty
members and their
areas of expertise.
We aspire to have our
experts widely quoted
in local, regional and
national media for their
thought leadership.
If you would like to be added to the Experts
Guide, please contact [email protected].
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Shaun Gilligan is a new temporary full-time
faculty in Government. Prior to joining CVC,
Gilligan served as an adjunct at Richland
College and has formerly taught as an
Assistant Instructor and Teaching Assistant at
the University of Texas at Austin.
Hip Hop for HIV tour visits
CVC
Cedar Valley College once again partnered
with the City of Dallas, KBFB 97.9 The Beat,
AIDS Arms and The Martin Luther King, Jr.
Family Clinic to bring the Hip Hop for HIV Tour
to campus.
On August 2, more than 100 people received
a free HIV test, onsite medical counseling
and one free ticket to the August 21 Hip Hop
for HIV concert presented by KBFB 97.9 The
Beat. Hip Hop for HIV encourages the Dallas
community to get tested at any of the tour’s
testing sites and to know their HIV status.
New employees
The following new CVC employees and
personnel changes were approved at the
August 2 DCCCD Board of Trustees’ meeting:
New Faculty
Euka (Maame) Anderson was approved
as a Chemistry Visiting Scholar. This is
a replacement position due to Thomas
Brayden’s retirement. She joined the
Chemistry Department in 2009 as an
Instructional Support Associate. During this
period, she also served as adjunct Chemistry
faculty at Tarrant County College and
Cedar Valley.
Robin Washington-White is a new Faculty
Counselor in Counseling Services. Her
experience as a Licensed Professional
Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist has been proven during
her employment at Brookhaven College as a
Career Counselor and Adjunct Instructor. She
has also worked at Texas Woman’s University
as Manager/Counselor in the Counseling
Center.
New Administrative Roles- Effective Sept. 1
Lucia (Lucy) Johnson has been approved as
the Interim Director of Admissions/Registrar.
She is currently employed as Assistant
Director of Admissions at Cedar Valley College
and has been involved in succession planning
with Carolyn Ward, the current Director of
Admissions/Registrar, who is retiring effective
August 31. Lucy has previously worked as an
International Advisor at El Centro College.
Grenna Rollings has been approved as
Interim Dean, Student Support Services.
Grenna previously served as a Counseling
Associate, Program Coordinator and Director
of Special Populations at Cedar Valley College.
Grenna’s previous position as Director of
Special Population has been eliminated as
part of the Student Services & Enrollment
Management Division reorganization. She
will be administering Special Populations
(Disability Services and Veterans Services),
Counseling, Human Development courses,
Student Life and Career Services.
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New Veterans Affairs
Coordinator joins CVC
Reduced meeting schedule
in 2011-2012
Cedar Valley College is proud to announce
the appointment of Ann McCowin as the
new Veterans Affairs Coordinator. Ann was
previously the Veterans Affairs Specialist and
Financial Aid Advisor at Mountain View College.
She has nearly 20 years of experience as a
Veterans Certifying Official in Texas. In addition
to her daily responsibilities, Ann has also been
actively involved in the leadership of the Dallas
County Community College District’s Veterans
Council.
After reviewing data from a recent campus
study and vote conducting by members of
the College Management Team, the group
has decided to hold meetings on Tuesday,
Wednesday or Thursday afternoons during
the 2011-2012 school year. This is an effort to
minimize the amount of time spent in meetings.
Dr. Wimbish has requested a Sept. 1 start date
for the trial.
Ann can be contacted via phone: 972-860-8219,
via email: [email protected] or you may
visit her in Room L125.
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