February 2008
Quick Highlights of Several Recent College Successes
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, Margaret Bartow, Nancy Penney, Retta Duncan, Jim Brumbaugh, legislators, high education and business leaders and I joined BRENT KENDRICK at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond to celebrate the presentation of his SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award, the Commonwealth's highest honor for faculty at Virginia's public and private colleges and universities. This award recognizes superior accomplishments in teaching, research, and public service. Governor Tim Kaine presented him with this prestigious award. BRAVO, Dr. Kendrick! We are very proud of you!
On Jan. 25, Dr. Kerry McKenna, Biology instructor, presented for the January meeting of LFCC’s Scientific Society about her studies in Antarctica. She included photos and a description of her voyage. Over 140 were in attendance including LFCC students, faculty, and the public.
Frost McLaughlin, an English professor, has been asked to give a presentation on publication opportunities at the Two-Year College English Association-South East Division Conference in Illinois this February. She will present preliminary data from her doctoral dissertation on teaching composition at the William and Mary Graduate Research Symposium in March.
The Office of Learning is especially proud of the wonderful and varied program developed to observe Black History Month at LFCC. Special thanks to Andrea Ludwick for her coordination of the Middletown Campus events.
Joan Osborne has been appointed to the position of Director of Instructional Technology. Joan brings a wealth of experience as a faculty member and information technology professional, as well as having served as Interim Coordinator of Instructional Technology over the past year.
Gregory MacDonald and Jeffrey Hollar joined LFCC in January. Gregory was hired in the position of Librarian. He recently completed an ALA-accredited master’s of library science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies/Russian studies from Illinois Wesleyan University. Most recently, he worked as a research assistant contracted to the Army Corps of Engineers, where he conducted extensive research and also contributed to the creation, organization and updating of an electronic taxonomy of global cultural information.
Jeffrey Hollar was hired as an Instructor of Biology. Jeffrey has been working with LFCC as an adjunct and in a full-time teaching capacity for Massanutten Military Academy. Jeffrey is fluent in Japanese and taught for 11 years in Japan and one year in China. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from James Madison University.
On April 8-11, another team of SACS evaluators will visit LFCC, including the Luray-Page County Center and several dual enrollment high schools. Our substantive change requests for these programs have been approved (thank you, Elaine Cassel), and this is a follow up visit. In preparation for the visit, the college is preparing several substantive change update reports, and a report responding to the visiting team findings and recommendations. Many individuals throughout the college have been involved in preparing these reports, and special thanks to Brenda Byard and Caz Zuckerman for their extensive work.
As Virginia’s presidential ambassador for Phi Theta Kappa, I am pleased to inform you that both LFCC Phi Theta Kappa Chapters have raised more money for Virginia’s Civil Rights Memorial than any other College in the Commonwealth. As of this morning, Alpha Beta Omega (Middletown) raised over $1,400 and Alpha Psi Iota (Fauquier) raised over $500. Last fall, I promised Governor Warner our chapters would raise $20,000 by the end of February (Black History Month). Most of the 40 Phi Theta Kappa Chapters contributed over $17,000 towards the building of this Memorial. In fact, the Governor’s wife mentioned Phi Theta Kappa chapters in her congratulatory remarks last week in Richmond at the ground breaking ceremonies. Special thanks to Butch Austin, Jim Brumbaugh, Nicole Martin and Brent Kendrick, our Phi Theta Kappa advisors, for making this project a priority this year.
The Financial Aid Office hosted “Super Saturday” at the Middletown Campus on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. The event was designed to assist families with the financial aid process. This year LFCC staff members helped over 90 families file their financial aid applications. A similar event, “Fabulous Friday,” is scheduled at the Luray-Page County Center on Friday, March 7, 2008, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The deadline to apply for LFCC Scholarships is 4 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2008. Special thanks to Karen Bucher and her team!
Career Services will hold job fairs at each college location during the month of March. A fair will occur on the Fauquier Campus on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at the Luray-Page County Center on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, and on the Middletown Campus on Wednesday, March 26. All events are from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
LFCC has partnered with multiple local organizations regarding awarding scholarships to graduating GED students. These partnerships include: Northern Shenandoah Valley Adult Education, Fauquier County Tharpe House (GED), the Rappahannock County GED Preparation and Page County School’s Adult Education Program. For the spring 2008 semester, 13 scholarships were awarded that covered full costs for the student development course and the associated textbook. The recipients were 11 Caucasians and two African-Americans representing Fauquier County (3), Frederick County (6), Page County (2) and Warren County (2). Plans to continue providing this service are underway. Special thanks to Susan Utt (Northern Shenandoah Valley Adult Education Regional Director), David Urso and Heather Painter Burton for making this idea a reality.
Suzanne Park recently joined LFCC as the testing center manager for the Middletown Campus. Suzanne has been working as a wage employee since August 2007 in Student Success. Additionally, she has worked as an instructional assistant for Seton Home Study School for the past six years. Suzanne has recently earned her associate in applied science degree from LFCC. Brian Richardson joined LFCC on Jan. 31 as the coordinator of student success at the Fauquier Campus. Brian comes to us from Arizona State University with 14 years of service. He served in the roles of director/academic advisor of student success, assistant director of academic support and associate director, Office of Student Athlete Development. Brian received his bachelor of arts degree from Virginia Wesleyan College and his master’s degree in education from VCU.
The LFCC Educational Foundation Inc. raised more than $1.2 million between Jan. 1, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2007. In addition, 34 new funds were established, including 25 scholarship funds. Thank you to everyone who supported the Foundation in 2007! Special thanks to the LFCC Educational Foundation Board, Office of College Advancement team and the Office of the President!
It’s never too early to contribute to the LFCC Educational Foundation Inc.! There are more than 25 ways to support LFCC financially! Please visit the LFCC Web site to learn more: http://www.lfcc.edu/Foundation/investment/index.html.
FUN FACTS TO KNOW AND TELL: Virginia’s community colleges serve 63 percent of all the commonwealth’s undergraduate students attending a public college or university. We are also where 80 percent of the commonwealth’s higher education enrollment growth is occurring. According to SCHEV calculations, Virginia’s community colleges are funded at only 87 percent of base adequacy guidelines–the lowest level of base adequacy funding in Virginia! In addition, at this time, the amount of General Fund support for community colleges is projected to shrink by $228 per FTE student between FY2007 and FY2009.
Therefore, I/we are working with our legislative partners who understand our mission and will support it with tangible state investments for both operating and capital needs; appreciate the role community colleges are playing in some of Virginia’s biggest blockbuster economic development deals like the Sweedwood factory and the Rolls Royce airplane engine facility, to name just a few; recognize what it takes for the VCCS to produce nearly half of Virginia’s new registered nurses every year; understand that both families ($4,000 per student, per year) and the state government (an additional $4,000 per student, per year) save money when students attend a community college versus a four-year institution; and realize that all of that progress is threatened by a drop in General Fund support.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time in Richmond meeting with our legislators, their aides and others and participating and facilitating conference calls regarding legislative issues facing the VCCS and, most especially, Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC). I am pleased by the House and Senate responses regarding some of our initiatives and you can learn more by reading my recently distributed Advisory Council of Presidents notes.
Through the Office of Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education, LFCC becomes the first community college in Virginia to offer the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) program, which is intended for HR professionals who develop and implement global HR strategies, manage HR operations internationally and oversee international assignment management. Globalization is the defining economic force in the business world today. We will be offering a 12-week preparatory this spring for HR professionals who will be sitting for the rigorous GPHR Certification exam. This course is one of only two offered in the state, and the only one offered by a community college. GMU is the only other endorsed provider. Please join me in congratulating Cindy Soltis on passing her certification!
The Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education team hosted an open enrollment showcase for our internal college community on Feb. 7 in the Special Events Center (SEC) at the Middletown Campus. The program featured workforce programs for January through June 2008. The goal of the showcase was to help our fellow employees provide better customer service to our students and community. Information was shared to familiarize everyone with the dozens of professional and career training programs LFCC offers employers and students! Special guests were invited from our regional economic development offices, chambers of commerce, county administrators and county public school superintendents. A networking lunch was held after the showcase and input from the participants was gathered on what Workforce Solutions should be doing to prepare for the workforce of the future.
An Industry Skills Summit was hosted at Shockey’s in Winchester on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. There were 28 area employers in attendance who discussed technical and career skills training in the workforce. Discussion was centered on current and future workforce challenges that these organizations face; including finding qualified employees who are not specialized in just a few areas, but rather a “super technician” with skills across mechanical and electrical functions. Jeanian Clark, Larry Baker and I also facilitated a similar session yesterday at our Luray-Page County Center with over 25 business, education and government leaders in attendance.
Currently, the Science and Health Professions Building progress has been delayed because of mechanical systems and contractual issues, which we are working out. Unfortunately, we will not begin occupying the building until the end of the semester at the earliest. Special thanks to Kathleen Johnson for her focus on this project.
The construction bid documents are ready to be submitted to the State shortly. However, we need to resolve some contractual issues with the Science and Health Professions Building first. I am still hoping we will have the groundbreaking ceremony of this building and the dedication of the Science and Health Professions Building in early June.
The former Children's Garden on the Middletown Campus is currently being retrofitted to become an inviting place for students and employees. Wireless access in the area will eventually be available. Repaving of the garden and driveway/parking spaces in front of the SKI LODGE will be resurfaced within the next week, weather permitting. Special thanks to Bruce Armstrong and his team for their work on this space when the weather permits.
New stage curtains for the William H. McCoy Special Events Center have been purchased and installed in time for the Fairfax Follies. I hope you will join me in supporting Andrea Ludwick at this year’s Fairfax Follies performances on April 12 and 13! The sound system is currently being enhanced, too! Special thanks to Richard Farrow, Anastasia Triplett and others for making sure these were hung before the Follies.
Grace Friel joined LFCC in a one-year restricted position as the Coordinator of Research and Special Projects. Grace has been working with LFCC as a research analyst since April 2007 in various research and statistician roles. She has a bachelor’s degree from The College of William and Mary and a master’s of arts degree from the University of Virginia. Grace will report directly to the Vice President of Financial and Administrative Services.
The “Learning Luau” 2008 LFCC Professional Development Conference will be held on the Middletown Campus on March 19, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This conference is for all classified and administrative staff employees from all LFCC locations; faculty members are welcome to attend. Stay tuned for more information from the Human Resources Office. Special thanks to Karen Foreman and her team for coordinating this important activity!
On Feb. 18, Sherry Cook joined the Human Resources Office as a part-time classified HR analyst. Sherry has 13 years of generalist experience in HR. She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Pennsylvania State University and is PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certified.
Please mark your calendars to attend the Spring Employee Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Doors to the William H. McCoy Special Events Center will open promptly at noon for this festive occasion. A formal invitation will be issued closer to the event date. Special thanks to Tammy Haire for all she does to ensure this event is a celebration!
Since the last Ski Gram, I am proudly posting some of the letters or e-mails I’ve received about our LFCC peers under headings associated with our Quality Enhancement Plan.