“Titanic: A Retrospec-tive,” the play produced by Theatre Columbus State last season, was the winner of three 2012 Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable Awards January 27, including Best Director for theater instructor Frank A. Barnhart.
As part of the continuing Achieving the Dream project, a number of Columbus State faculty and staff members will facilitate discussions about current gaps in our students’ success.
Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., NH Lounge
February 7, 2013
Physical Plant specialist is quick, efficient, courteous
At the first “First Wednesday” briefing held Feb. 6 in the Conference Center ballroom, more than 150 employees heard about Shelley Sills-Toale’s outstanding performance in Physical Plant, and why she was given the February Staff Employee of the Month award.
Shelley Sills-Toale, center, celebrates with co-workers after receiving Staff Employee of the Month on Wednesday.
In order to expand the monthly recognition ceremonies and open the event up to the entire campus, President Harrison has opted to hold them in the Conference Center once a month, and add a short update on campus activities, a question-and-answer period, and even a new award for professional part-time staff employees, which will begin at next month’s First Wednesday meeting.
Sills-Toale was nominated for SEOM by Sabrina Ayers, who has been impressed with her work completing work orders for Ayer’s department, Student Engagement and Leadership. “Shelley’s professionalism, courtesy, attention to detail and efficiency are rare qualities to find continuously,” says Ayers. “Every time I call on Shelley, she reminds me of the responsibility I have to continue striving to uphold excellence. She also reminds me how one person’s kindness, patience, and assistance really does make the difference in another’s day!”
“Shelley’s professionalism is a regular reminder that performing well is simply what exceptional people do. And Shelley is definitely one of the world’s exceptional individuals!”
First Wednesday briefings will continue to be live streamed on the web each month, and the event recorded for later viewing on the First Wednesdays website. Nominate a Staff Employee of the Month or Professional Part Time Employee of the Month! You will find the nomination forms on the First Wednesdays site, as well as on the Faculty & Staff page under “Recognition.”
Have you heard? We’re turning 50!
Most everyone would agree that reaching a 50th birthday is reason for celebration. And that’s what we intend to do here at Columbus State. But reaching such a significant milestone also prompts looking forward. And we intend to do that as well!
The Columbus Technical Institute campus in 1968, as Phase 1 construction proceeds on Madison, Eibling and Rhodes Halls.
From modest beginnings in the basement of the former Central High School (now the site of COSI), where our first classes were held on September 30, 1963, Columbus State has grown into one of the largest colleges in Ohio.
Activities being planned throughout the 2013-14 academic year are intended to connect, and in some cases reconnect, many of the people who have contributed to our first half-century of accomplishments.
The same Campus Quad today, with stately Aquinas Hall still anchoring the view.Retirees will be invited back to campus to get a current view of the college as well as insight into our plans for the future. We intend to open our doors to the community, giving them a unique glimpse into the great teaching occurring on campus. Our faculty, staff, and students will mark our birthday with a party on September 30. And we will conclude the celebratory year with a surprise event for the entire Columbus State family. And those are just some of the activities that are in the works.
"The Library team is looking forward to its role in this 50th anniversary celebration, “says Bruce Massis, Director of Libraries who heads the History Subcommittee. “During the anniversary year, the library will present an exhibition in our main gallery focusing on the historical significance of the college that may be viewed by any visitor to the building."
Kimberly Rhyan, director of Student Engagement and Leadership is heading up the Campus Engagement Subcommittee. “We are planning a Birthday Celebration that will engage students and the campus in a festive celebration for everyone to enjoy!” says Rhyan. “We are focusing on 50 with our ‘50 Acts of Kindness’ campaign, and ‘50 Ways to Live your Life Well.’
“Celebrating our golden anniversary is exciting and memorable,” says committee member Dean Bortz, associate professor in Construction Sciences. “I view this first half century as not so much what we have accomplished, but how we can build upon it and what is doable over the next fifty years, and beyond.”
Watch future issues of UPdate for more details on a year brimming with pride in how far we have come and excitement for what is yet to come. And mark your calendar now for a year to remember!
The latest news on CCSSE
In the spring of 2010, Columbus State administered the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) for the first time, establishing a baseline of information in support of student success. This spring, we will have the opportunity to participate again in this national survey focusing on teaching, learning, and retention in community colleges. The project is part of the Center for Community College Student Engagement and the Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin.
Research shows that the more actively engaged students are with college faculty and staff, with other students, and with the subject matter being learned, the more likely they are to persist in their studies and to achieve at higher levels.
Identifying what our students do in and out of the classroom, knowing their goals, and understanding their external responsibilities can help us create an environment that can enhance student learning, development, and retention. CCSSE will help us better understand these variables.
The survey will be administered in classes randomly selected (approximately 150 sections will be chosen out of 3,080 sections) by the Centerto ensure a representative sample and to preserve the integrity of the survey results. Instructors whose classes are selected for survey administration will receive specific information.
The survey is tentatively scheduled to be administered between March 25 and April 15, 2013, during a class time of the instructor's choice. Because the survey takes about 50 minutes, faculty may want to build this into their syllabus calendar. Survey proctors are also still needed. Contact Laurie Johns at ext. 5998 to volunteer.
In conjunction with the college's work on Achieving the Dream and our broader student success agenda, this survey may assist the college in improving course completion rates, as well as the rate of student persistence to the completion of their educational goals. The results of the 2010 survey are on the college's assessment website.
To learn more about CCSSE, visit www.ccsse.org or contact the Center for Community College Student Engagement at (512) 471-6807 or info@cccse.org.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in this important effort!
Human Resources Policy Forums are open to all faculty and staff
Dr. Harrison has announced that the college will hold open forums to review and discuss the next phase of updates planned for our personnel policies and procedures (Chapter 3 of the Policy & Procedure Manual). Chief of Staff Kim Hall will conduct the forum presentations on Tuesday, February 12, from 2:30 -3:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 14, from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. in the Conference Center Ballroom (WD-435C).
If you cannot attend, but would like to watch the live stream broadcast online, visit http://www.livestream.com/ColumbusState. You will be prompted to enter a password to enter the site. The password is cougars. A chat feature will be enabled on the site to allow for questions at the end of the presentation. The live stream will be recorded for later viewing on the Human Resources website.
We strongly encourage you to attend one of the forums. This phase of updates is the second stage of a comprehensive policy audit that began last summer. The process reflects an ongoing commitment to legal compliance and alignment with best-practices in higher education.
You do not need to preregister to attend one of the forums. Everyone is welcome to attend, and each forum will conclude with a question-and-answer session.
Student Landscape Association to sell Valentine’s Day flowers
Help the members of the Columbus State Landscape Association finance their upcoming trip to their national competition, and avoid the crowded florist this Valentine’s Day! CSLA is taking orders for bouquets of roses or tulips (or both!) through Friday, February 8, and you will be able to pick up your order on Wednesday, February 13 or Thursday, February 14, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
You can order a dozen roses in pink, red, white or yellow for $30; a half dozen for $15, or a single rose for $3. You can also order a bouquet of five tulips for only $5! Email your order to csla.secretary@gmail.com, then pick up your order and pay for it Feb. 13 from noon – 6:00 p.m., or Feb. 14 from 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Davidson Hall second floor lobby. CSLA members will also sell bouquets in the cafeteria during the day on February 14 if you miss the pre-ordering deadline and are desperate!
Valentine’s Day is also “Destination Day!”
Advising Services and the Transfer Center have initiated a series of events for students called “Destination Days,” and the first one is coming up fast on Thursday, February 14.
Destination Days will feature representatives from area colleges “bringing their college to our campus,” with a wide array of transfer information ranging from student services and activities, to transfer degree specialists from their respective areas.
On February 14, The Ohio State University will bring reps from more than 20 departments of the university to share and promote their transfer options for Columbus State students who are interested in that “pathway.” The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Nestor Hall student lounges.
In order to build some excitement for the first event, employees who are alumni of Ohio State have been invited to stop by wearing their scarlet and grey!
The schedule for Destination Days continues through February and March on the Columbus and Delaware Campuses, and at select Regional Learning Centers.
Tuesday, February 19 - Transfer Day at the Dublin Center with OSU, Franklin University, Ohio University, Capital University, Ohio Dominican University, Otterbein University, and Ohio Wesleyan University.
Wednesday, February 20 - Transfer Day at the Westerville Regional Learning Center with OSU, Franklin University, Ohio University, Capital, Ohio Dominican, Otterbein, and Ohio Wesleyan University.
Tuesday, February 26 – Destination Day with Franklin University on the Columbus Campus
Thursday, February 28 – Destination Day with Ohio University on the Columbus Campus
Tuesday March 19 – Destination Day with Bowling Green University on the Columbus Campus
Thursday, March 21 - Transfer Day on the Columbus Campus with Ohio State, Franklin, Ohio University, Capital, Ohio Dominican, Otterbein, and Ohio Wesleyan
Monday – Thursday, March 25-28 - Delaware Campus Transfer Days with Franklin, Ohio Wesleyan, OSU, and Otterbein
Destination Days and Transfer Days are supported by Columbus State's U.S. Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant.