Thursday, July 12, 2007

Extra help with Web Time Entry earns Staff Employee of Month selectionChristina Stillion, Help Desk specialist in IT, has helped so many people sign on to the new Web Time Entry system that she was nominated by Teresa Kackley in the Payroll Department for her work. Says Teresa, "Christina makes the transition to Web Time Entry so much smoother, and I think people appreciate the extra attention to help them along."

"Christina sets a wonderful example for the department with her sincere approach to assist students, faculty and staff," says Stillion's supervisor, Bart Prickett, director of IT Support Services. "She consistently brings ideas for improvement to customer service and takes the initiative to promote change. She also volunteers for numerous external committees for the department."

Stillion served as group leader for the development of an internal communication action project for AQIP and continues to serve on that team as the project goes forward. She was recently elected to the Shared Governance Council as well, and she sits on a committee for Enrollment Services that deals with student communication.  

If you've seen Christina lately, you know she wears her hair short. What you may not know is that she recently donated over 10 inches of her hair to Locks for Love, the agency that makes wigs for cancer patients. "I grew my hair long before I was married, so I could have it up for the wedding," explains Christina. "One day I was in a salon and saw someone donating her long hair, and I thought that was a lovely idea, so after my wedding, I went back for a short haircut."

Cost Center Manager Training session now fullBusiness Services is pleased with the response for the July 13 Cost Center Manager Training session, which is now full. The department will try to schedule another session soon if there is enough interest. Please contact  Beth Bates at ebates@cscc.edu  to sign up.

Val's Book Club to read "Hope Dies Last"The President's book club will read Studs Terkel's 2003 book "Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Difficult Times" and discuss it on Thursday, August 23, in Nestor Hall Seminar Room D at noon. To sign up and receive a copy of the book, contact Vickie Hunter in Institutional Advancement at vhunter@cscc.edu.   The first 25 participants to respond will receive the book free.

About "Hope Dies Last," Donna Seaman of the American Library Association says:

"A master oral historian, indefatigable humanist, and charming raconteur, Terkel has always tackled the big questions of poverty, race, war, work, and, in "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?"(2001), death. In his newest collection of conversations, he speaks with socially conscious individuals--some famous, others best described as extraordinary ordinary folks--about hope. Where does hope spring from? How does hope sustain us? How does one instill hope in others? Terkel talks with objectors, dissenters, observers, protestors, and do-gooders to find out what makes these committed and generous souls tick.

"He speaks with Ohio congressman and Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, a doctor who treats the homeless, teachers, labor activists, recent immigrants, Pete Seeger, and John Kenneth Galbraith. Some of the most moving moments occur in heart-wrenching conversations with Leroy Orange, one of the Illinois death-row inmates pardoned by Governor George Ryan after serving 19 years for a crime he did not commit, and Kathy Kelly, the courageous founder of the peace group Voices in the Wilderness.

"As a collector of true stories and a guardian of free speech, Terkel ensures that grass-root alternatives to the 'official word' are heard from sea to shining sea."

Terkel has won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for his book "The Good War," an oral history of World War II. He has written more than 15 books, starting with "Giants of Jazz" in 1957, up to his current memoir not yet published entitled "Touch and Go." He is best known for his oral histories, in which he assembles the recollections of people he has met in his 95 years.

Kaczmarek scores AP tests for College BoardAssociate Professor Steve Kaczmarek, Communication Skills, joined 900 other educators recently for a week of scoring 290,000 essay exams for The College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) in English Language and Composition program.

Based on the results, colleges and universities throughout the U.S. award course credit or place incoming freshman in classes. For Steve, it brought things full circle.

"I took the exam 20 years ago and received course credit," he said. What's changed? "Fundamentally little, as organization, development, and creativity are still hallmarks of great writing--and there was some great writing from students."

Steve said he was impressed by the professionalism of everyone involved.

"The College Board gave us excellent training and support," he said, "which was matched by the integrity of the readers. Conversations invariably turned to making sure students were being scored accurately."

AP exams are offered annually in a wide variety of academic subjects.


Andy Rezin

Rezin nominated to Who's Who publicationAndrew Rezin, Ph.D. , administrator for Applied Technologies, Automotive and Real Estate technologies, has been nominated to the 11 th Edition of "Who's Who Among American Teachers & Educators, 2006-2007."   Each year, educators are nominated by their students for the honor.

 

 

Business Services publishes FY2008 newsletterIn welcoming employees to the new fiscal year, the team in Business Services has published some news and information in newsletter format for your convenience. Inside are tips and information about student accounting, purchasing, travel reimbursement, grants, loans and contracts, and much more. Click here for newsletter.

Sport & Exercise Studies named top degree producer for ninth year runningUsing U.S. Department of Education data, Community College Week has again named Columbus State's Sports & Exercise Studies program the top producer of associate degrees in the nation, in the area of parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies.  

The department awarded 71 associate degrees in the 2005-2006 academic year, up 58 percent from the previous year's 45 degrees. The college with the second largest number of graduates in related programs was Kingsborough Community College, N.Y., with 31 degrees awarded.

Columbus State's program has topped this category for the past nine years, according to Dave Litt, Ph.D., coordinator.