September 2007
Quick Highlights of Several Recent LFCC Successes
New Faculty: Please join me in welcoming Kim Kiefer (Nursing-Middletown), Vince McGregor (Emergency Medical Services-Middletown) and Christy Stefnoski (Speech-Fauquier). Four other faculty positions remain vacant (Math-Fauquier, Education-Middletown and two Biology-Middletown). Special thanks to all search committee members.
LFCC’s Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Faculty Assessment Council representative: Special thanks to Beth Guiliano, who serves as the LFCC faculty representative on the VCCS faculty assessment council.
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP): On August 31, 2007, we shipped our QEP to SACS-COC in Atlanta. The QEP is a six-year plan to enhance student critical thinking skills at LFCC. We have already begun the initial phases of the plan through workshops and seminars, and we have several other exciting QEP Days scheduled this fall – watch for further details. Special thanks to Miriam Moore, Joe Whitehorne, Nancy Penney and the QEP team for providing leadership for this important and exciting project.
Second Career Coach Location Named: Through state grant funding, a second career coach for LFCC will be selected to work at Warren County High School and Skyline High School in Warren County for the 2007-08 academic year. The career coaches help students plan academic programs that link their high school studies with college career choices. Special thanks to Brenda Byard and her team for making this a reality.
Great Conversations: “Great Conversations” is a special event being planned for October at the College. This is a dinner event that revolves around different topics. Each table would have a subject matter authority and six to seven guests who are interested in learning more about the subject and discussing it over dinner. The subject matter authority would provide the topic. The invited guests would be given the list of topics and asked to select their top three choices. Tables would be assigned based on the topics selected. The subject matter authority would create a one- to two-page synopsis that would be distributed to their table guests prior to the dinner. Finally, everyone would have an informative evening discussing a topic they enjoy. If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact Tammy Haire, LFCC special events coordinator, at thaire@lfcc.edu by Monday, September 10.
New Student Orientation: During the months of June, July, and August, the New Student Orientation (NSO), team led by David Urso and Tammy LaDrew, served over 1,000 new students at all three College locations. During these sessions, the NSO team presented 102 information sessions, facilitated 136 academic advising sessions and offered 17 parent/student supporter sessions. The NSO team engaged students and paved the way for their success. In the process, 3,562 slices of pizza were consumed!
LFCC Soccer: LFCC Men’s and Women’s Cannons kicked off a third season at the start of the fall semester. This month, Cannon Men will play at LFCC on Wednesday, September 19 and Thursday, September 20. Cannon Women will play at LFCC on Saturday, September 22. Visit the LFCC website at http://www.lfcc.edu/Athletics/index.htm for the full schedule of games. Come out and support our teams. Special thanks to David Urso for acting as our athletic director.
LFCC to Hold College Day/Night Events: LFCC is hosting College Day/Night events in September featuring representatives from numerous colleges and universities. The events are free and open to the public. The events will take place on both the Fauquier and Middletown Campuses. Detailed information about each campus event follows:
In addition to assisting individuals with learning about various colleges and universities, the events will help students attending LFCC or other institutions with the transfer process.
Library Donation: Thanks to a recent gift from Fauquier Bank (Warrenton), the Fauquier Campus Library recently added to its shelves the Everyman's Library 100 Titles Set, made of up of 100 essential titles in world literature. Special thanks to Linda Harper, Rebecca Shieler and John Owens for keeping our Fauquier Campus Library “current” and serving our students so well!
College Plans: The Office of College Advancement partnered with the Office of Learning, Office of Student Success, Office of Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education and Human Resource Office to develop a variety of plans ranging from student recruitment to employee recruitment. Please visit the intranet to view the plans: http://www.lfcc.edu:800/presentations.html.
LFCC Educational Foundation projects: For information about the projects the LFCC Educational Foundation is raising money for this year and to learn how you can invest in your community college, please visit the Web site: http://www.lfcc.edu/Foundation/investmentopportunities.html. The Foundation has raised $747,084.53 since January 1, 2007. If you were one of those who donated, THANK YOU!
In light of our current budget situation, the position of vice president for workforce solutions and continuing education has been modified to an assistant vice president position. Therefore, with this change, we will reconvene the search committee again with the hope that a successful candidate is named shortly.
In August, the training program, “Love and Logic: 9 Essential Skills for Highly Successful Educators” was delivered to Rappahannock County Public School employees. This was the first time LFCC provided a customized training program in Rappahannock County. This training program was also delivered to returning public school teachers in Augusta and Fauquier Counties.
The success of the Office of Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education continues to grow! Compared to July 2006, our July 2007 open enrollment classes were up 26% and 39% more customized contracts were delivered to our business community and beyond. Congratulations Phyllis Armel, Larry Baker, Jeanian Clark, Donna Eagle, Kathy Howard, Patricia Jennings, Patricia Leister, Bill Pence, Cindy Soltis, and Katie Vandermer.
Science and Health Professions Building (Middletown): The brick exterior is 100 percent complete, and the roof is 95 percent complete. The roof top HVAC equipment has also been installed and 80 percent of the HVAC, 50 percent of the electrical and 80 percent of the plumbing is “roughed in.” Drywall will begin within the next several weeks. Thanks to Kathleen Johnson for keeping this project on task.
William H. McCoy Special Events Center (Middletown): Currently, the space is being repainted and drywall and carpeting will be installed within the next several weeks. New “Andrea Ludwick” stage curtains have been ordered and will arrive by the end of the semester. Special thanks to Bruce Armstrong, Richard Farrow, Anastasia Triplett and others for keeping this project on task.
Kummli Student Center (Middletown): We are awaiting our first shipment of furniture next month. Special thanks to Richard Farrow, Mike Spivey, Anastasia Triplett and others for keeping this project on task.
New Learning “Cottages” (Middletown): “Cottages” are currently being delivered. They will be assembled and ready for classroom/office use by early October. Special thanks to Richard Farrow, Kathleen Johnson and Mike Spivey for keeping this project on task.
Remodeled Offices (Fauquier): New and or remodeled offices should be installed and/or completed before the end of the semester. Special thanks to Bruce Armstrong, Cindy Bambara, Carolyn Garrison, Kathleen Johnson, Sandi Pope and Mike Spivey.
During the SACS review process, it became clear that the College as a whole needs to engage in more institutional effectiveness and planning activities at multiple levels. In light of this pressing need, I am appointing Judy Rinker to serve as executive assistant for planning and compliance, reporting directly to me, effective Wednesday, September 5. Please join me in congratulating Judy on her new role. Judy’s office is in room 152B at the Middletown Campus.
To enable Judy to assume her new role, Crystal Foltz will be solely responsible for providing administrative support in the Office of the President.
PHYSICAL FITNESS AND FOOD: Thanks to Walt Malinowski, Front Royal Fitness and Dominion Health and Fitness, both located in Front Royal, are providing special membership rates for LFCC employees. At Front Royal Fitness, all LFCC employees may join for $25 a month (in addition to a $10 enrollment fee) for one year. At Dominion Health and Fitness, all LFCC employees may join for $39 per month (no enrollment fee) and receive one free personal training session and one free month. This rate includes the use of all facilities (including the pool and excluding the tennis courts). If you are interested in joining either of these clubs by the end of September, please take your LFCC identification with you to receive this special offer.
Also, the Village Square Restaurant (Winchester) is now offering LFCC employees (with an LFCC identification card) a 10-percent discount on all meals.
LFCC COCA-COLA SCHOLAR
LFCC student Holly DeMoss was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the Foundation awards a total of 400 scholarships annually to students attending higher-education institutions granting two-year degrees. Holly received this prestigious scholarship through her demonstrated academic success and community service within the past 12 months. Thanks to all you helped her achieve this special recognition!
Since the last Ski Gram, I am proudly posting some of the letters or e-mails I’ve received about some of our LFCC peers under headings associated with our Quality Enhancement Plan.