A Message from the Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

CCAC’s first summer session is well underway with enrollment figures up throughout the college. Head count has remained strong over the last year. As of May, the total number of students to earn associate’s degrees, certificates, or diplomas from CCAC this year surpassed 1,700. Sixty-five percent of these graduates completed career programs enabling them to join the region’s work force, while the remainder completed transfer programs qualifying them to continue their studies at four-year institutions.

CCAC is proud to help thousands of residents from southwestern Pennsylvania achieve their goals each year, but several looming legislative issues place the college in a precarious position. In fact, the proposed state budget for 2003-04 presents many concerns for community colleges across the state. It does not provide for:

• supplemental funding for enrollment increases;
• funds for non-mandated capital; and
• funding to support the increase in reimbursement for workforce development courses from 70 to 90 percent.

In order to educate legislators on the effects of these shortfalls, a CCAC team has engaged in strategic initiatives to present our issues. While I will highlight these initiatives later in this report, I will take the opportunity now to ask that you consider writing to your legislators asking them to support sufficient funding for community colleges. CCAC – and community colleges across the state – are necessary for training and retaining qualified workers and equipping them with skills for today’s jobs.

Consider CCAC’s role in the community:

• 94 percent of CCAC’s graduates stay and work in southwesternPennsylvania .
• CCAC conducts more computer training than anyone else in the region.
• CCAC is the No. 1 provider of health care graduates in the state and second highest in the country.

We need to maintain this momentum so we can continue doing what we do best—providing the community with quality education and helping to ensure a robust, energized work force.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,
Martin Olshinsky, Ed.D.
Interim President

CCAC News & Initiatives

CCAC education will serve you well, Governor Rendell tells graduates

On May 15, more than 300 of our graduates took the stage at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate their accomplishments and receive degrees, certificates, or diplomas. Joining the college on this special evening was Gov. Edward G. Rendell, whose commencement speech addressed the need for education that satisfies the ever-changing work place and job market. Rendell told the graduates that “no one prepares them better” for the challenges of today’s work environment than CCAC. He also offered some sound advice – “Never let anybody else define what success is for you…happiness is the key to success; if you love what you’re doing you’ll be successful.” His words were encouraging, genuine, and enlightening, and we are delighted he joined the college for this milestone.

Another highlight of the evening was our four student speakers, who delivered heartfelt speeches detailing their journeys to graduation. We are proud of them and the hundreds of men and women who completed degree or certificate requirements this year.

Congratulations to the Class of 2003! And a special thank you to all of the faculty, staff, and administrators who made the evening a memorable night for our graduates.

Legislative updates

As I mentioned earlier, CCAC is tackling legislative issues through several strategic approaches—one of them includes an increased state profile. In recent weeks:

• CCAC continued our annual participation in the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Reception held each spring inHarrisburg . Nancilee Burzachechi, director of corporate and government relations, Dr. Charles Blocksidge, dean of organizational development, and I represented CCAC at the event, held May 5 at theKeystone Building. The reception draws significant participation from the regional corporate and education community and is well attended byPennsylvania ’s legislators. Immediately following the chamber’s annual reception, CCAC hosted a small dinner for several members of the legislature, including Rep. James Roebuck, minority chairman of the House Education Committee.

• CCAC’s annual Legislative Breakfast Briefing for the House and Senate regional delegation was held on Tuesday, May 6, in the Capitol building. I presented to the group, and, afterwards, Ms. Burzachechi, Dr. Blocksidge, and I visited individually with several House members and Senators.

• The Pennsylvania House Education Committee traveled toPittsburghMay 21-22. On May 21, committee members and I attended a Pirates game that showcasedPittsburghperfectly as the Pirates won the game before a near sell-out crowd. Ms. Burzachechi and I hosted the committee members at a breakfast briefing the following day.

• CCAC hosted a legislative briefing forAllegheny CountyandWashington Countylegislative delegations and the CCAC Board of Trustees on June 13 at Allegheny Campus.

I appreciate the dedication of my staff in helping the college to pursue legislative support and ultimately enhance CCAC’s capabilities as a leading educational provider.

Middle States committee recruits task forces

In preparation for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation review in 2004-2005, CCAC appointed a steering committee last year to produce the self-study required for re-accreditation. In March, the Middle States Accreditation Office approved the self-study design—the first step in the re-accreditation process.

For the next step, the Middle States Steering Committee is recruiting members for the 12 task forces set to begin their work in the Fall 2003 term. Each task force will be responsible for producing a report for one area of the self-study. While the Steering Committee will manage each task force, it will up to task force members to evaluate and address the college processes in this area of the study and then produce a report. Invitations were mailed to CCAC administrators and faculty in late May, and plans are underway for an initial meeting at the All-College Day scheduled for August 13. In the interim, the task force members will be contacted by the chairs of the steering committee this summer to prepare for this first and important meeting.

Sen. Orie brings annual Senior Citizen Expo to North Campus

North Campus was pleased to once again host Senator Jane Orie’s annual Senior Citizen Expo on May 16. More than 130 exhibitors were on hand to provide information on programs and services available to Pennsylvania ’s older residents. The college was thrilled to welcome Gov. Ed Rendell back to the college to address the crowd briefly about legislative issues impacting senior citizens. Other special guests included Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd, Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin, Ray Landis, Pennsylvania AARP legislative representative, Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey, former Pittsburgh Pirate Frank Thomas, and former Pittsburgh Steeler Dwight White. Record numbers attended the event this year. More than 8,000 men and women were at the expo—which is designed to provide seniors with a "one-stop resource" for information on a wide range of services.

CCAC makes efforts to help teachers meet Act 48 requirements

As an approved provider for Act 48 professional education, CCAC is offering a number of opportunities for educators this summer. We have developed several experimental classes, along with other courses to assist educators in acquiring skills to enhance classroom performance. Many of the offerings have been conveniently scheduled to allow for easy access. They are designed to award a .5 credit to 3 credits in just one to several days. This translates into 15 to 90 hours of Act 48 training.

This initiative was aggressively marketed with a new brochure, a notice on the website, a press release to the media, and direct mail to school district officials and educators who had enrolled in Act 48 classes in the past. CCAC is very excited about its role in helping educators maintain proper certification and serve their classrooms with the most current skills and knowledge.

Campuses receive accolades for child care centers

Congratulations to the child development centers at North, South, and Boyce campuses for receiving Keystone Stars Merit Awards from the Child Care Resource Developers (CCRD) of the Western Region. The Keystone Stars Merit Award is based on the star rating that the facility attains and the size of the facility. The centers were awarded four-star designation for achieving and maintaining National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation.

CCAC faculty to attend leadership conference

The Professional Development Program sponsored nine CCAC faculty members who attended a one-day conference at Bucks County Community College on June 13. The day’s keynote speaker was Mark Milliron, president and CEO of the League for Innovation. One purpose of the conference, titled “Faculty of the Future: Learning and Leading,” was to foster development of faculty as leaders.

Two faculty members presented papers during the concurrent sessions: Peg Pankowski, of South Campus, spoke on "Training Faculty to Teach Online.” Liberty Pyros, of Allegheny Campus, spoke on "Algebra, Fractions, and Patterns.”  The other attendees were Rob Farinelli, Roberta Dunlap, Kay Post, Helen Schlatterer, Gail Boyea, Anna DelVitto, and Lee Nott.

Airport West students honor our troops

Several Airport West Center students gave a warm welcome home to returning soldiers May 5 by presenting a U.S. flag specially designed and painted to honor area servicemen and women at Pittsburgh ’s 911th Air Force Base. Approximately 30 AWC students and staff signed the flag with messages of support. In return, officers at the base took the students and AWC staff on a unique tour of the base that included a firsthand look inside a C-130 Cargo airplane. The event was sponsored by the Office of Student Life–North Campus/Airport West Center. Attendees included Sandy Talbott, student life specialist, and Linda Kern, Airport West Center Director, as well as students Jennifer Cumpston, Loree McIntosh, Tiffany Wieczorkowski, Christina Mazza, and Kara Kulesa.

Allegheny Campus “Forever Free” exhibit dates announced

Dates for the traveling exhibit “Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation” were announced in late April. As I previously mentioned, CCAC-Allegheny Campus was selected as one of 40 national sites out of 165 applicants to host this prestigious exhibit, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), the Henry E. Huntington Library of San Marino, Calif. , and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. The library will host the exhibit between Oct. 27 and Dec. 10, 2004.

CCAC Educational Foundation

Legends in Leadershiphonors CCAC contributors

The Community College of Allegheny County Educational Foundation held its sixth annual An Illumination of Legends in Leadership dinner on Wednesday, May 7, at the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh . Nearly 300 people were on hand to join us in saluting this year’s recipients. The Hall of Fame/Lifetime Legend Award was presented this year to Frieda G. Shapira, CCAC Board of Trustees member and former vice president of the Pittsburgh Foundation, and posthumously to Alfred W. Beattie, Ph.D., the first chairman of CCAC’s board of trustees, who wrote much of the legislation that helped shape the college.

Also honored were International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Number 5, Legendary Friend; Lisa M. Kustra, Legendary Alumna; Alice P. Greller, Legendary Faculty; and Ashley S. Rourke, Legendary Student.

The annual An Illumination of Legends in Leadership awards celebration funds the Leadership, Excellence, and Academic Dedication (L.E.A.D.) Scholars program. L.E.A.D. provides full academic scholarships to eligible incoming first-year students. Recipients are selected based upon demonstrated superior academic achievement in high school and involvement in community activities. For more information, please contact Rose Ann DiCola, executive director of the CCAC Educational Foundation, at 412.237.3065 or rdicola@ccac.edu.

Please consider donating to the CCAC Educational Foundation. Your support helps the college achieve its mission.

Scholarship applications available in Foundation office

The CCAC Educational Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the fall semester. Funds are available for students in specific programs, such as health sciences or teacher education, or for students who meet certain academic or financial need criteria. Applications can be requested by calling the Educational Foundation at 412.237.3065, via e-mail at apauley@ccac.edu , or through the financial aid office at each campus.

Other scholarship opportunities include:

Dominion Peoples is offering a scholarship through the CCAC Educational Foundation for single heads of households with custodial care of children. Students must demonstrate financial need and be making a career change or preparing to enter the work force for the first time. Students may be enrolled in any program on any campus or center. The scholarship will pay for developmental courses if necessary. Ten $700 scholarships are available.

Also, the Alumni Association Scholarship will fund up to eight $500 scholarships for students enrolled in an associate degree or certificate program. Applicants must have a parent or guardian who graduated from CCAC.

If you or someone you know meets these criteria, please contact the Educational Foundation at 412.237.3065 for more information or for an application.