A Message from the Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

This President’s Report will be my last as your interim president. On August 11, CCAC will usher in a new era with the arrival of our new president, Dr. Stewart Sutin, who is leaving his post as senior vice president and international department head of Mellon Financial Corporation to join the college. Much of the information distributed by CCAC, as well as the various news articles in local publications, has detailed Dr. Sutin’s accomplishments and very important role within our community. It is an honor to welcome Dr. Sutin to our institution. His extensive management experience, business expertise, community ties, and contributions to initiatives in higher education are just a few of the attributes that qualify him to lead CCAC in its continued pursuit of excellence in education.

During the last few weeks, Dr. Sutin has met with various college administrators to learn about how their departments function within the college and how he can augment their efforts once he takes office. He will have the chance to meet with more faculty, staff, and administrators at the Fall All-College Conference at Boyce Campus on August 13. I know the college leadership looks forward to helping Dr. Sutin transition into his new role.

In closing, I would like to thank the college, board of trustees, and the many members of this community for their support during my tenure as interim president. The last few months have been challenging and enlightening, and I feel fortunate to have been able to learn more about the hard work and commitment the faculty, staff, and administrators demonstrate each day. You should be proud of your accomplishments and proud of this college.

Again, thank you.

Warm regards,
Martin Olshinsky, Ed.D.

CCAC News & Initiatives

Annual Fall All-College Conference set for August 13

As I mentioned earlier, the Annual Fall All-College Conference will be held on August 13 at Boyce Campus. This year’s conference will be especially important as Dr. Sutin will deliver his first official address to the college community. Other highlights will include keynote speaker Randall Kennedy—noted author and scholar at Harvard Law School . The topic of Kennedy’s address will be “The Race Line in American Life.” Following his address, Kennedy will lead an informal discussion. Additional activities will include software training, classroom technique workshops, and meetings of the Middle States Task Force groups. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

I hope to see you there!

First recipients of FireVEST scholarships selected

Earlier this year, CCAC and Allegheny County announced the FireVEST (Volunteer, Education, Service, and Training) Scholarship Program, which awards full scholarships to volunteer firefighters in exchange for a commitment of at least five years of service in a local volunteer fire department. As many current volunteer firefighters look to retirement, local fire departments have to confront the possibilities of firefighter shortages. The FireVEST program offers a special incentive for local volunteer firefighters. They have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills with a quality education while serving their communities.

The first seven recipients of the scholarship program were announced in late June. We wish them the very best of luck and thank them for their dedicated service to the safety of our community. Congratulations!

Scholarships established for GED test fee atMonValleyCenter

The Mon Valley Providers Council Catalyst for Change Fund has awarded CCAC’s Mon Valley Center a grant to establish a scholarship for GED examinations. While the center provides free GED preparation courses, the $40 examination fee was a problem for some students. The $500 grant from the council will fund at least 12 full GED scholarships and 33 partial scholarships, which will be awarded to eligible students. The college hopes these scholarships will provide an incentive for students to stay in the GED program and ultimately help increase the number of GED diplomas obtained.

CCAC is very appreciative of the council’s generosity—as their effort helps us provide accessible education to diverse populations.

Child and Family Studies Program pays tribute to Mr. Rogers

Earlier this summer, the college’s Child and Family Studies Advisory Board program paid special tribute to Fred Rogers with a tree-planting ceremony in front of Milton Hall at Allegheny Campus. About 30 students, faculty, and administrators gathered to remember Mr. Rogers. To help preserve his legacy, the college has purchased videotapes that will be used on all CCAC campuses to enhance courses such as Introduction to Child & Family Studies, Health & Safety of Children, and Children with Special Needs. A poster of our favorite “neighbor” will also hang in one of the child and family studies classrooms at Allegheny Campus.

Special thanks to the CFS Advisory Board and the CCAC Educational Foundation Board for funding this special tribute. Thank you also to the Allegheny Campus grounds crew for their wonderful landscaping work around the Allegheny tree. A tree in memory of Mr. Rogers will be planted on the grounds of each campus.

Allegheny Campus hosts Intergenerational Festival

In June, Allegheny Campus hosted the Intergenerational Arts Festival, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh ’s Generations Together Artist Resource Program in partnership with CCAC. The festival offered two days of workshops in the visual, performing, and literary arts, giving artists ages 55 and older a chance to share their knowledge and artistic visions with elementary and middle school students. Dozens of students from several local schools attended the event.

CCAC was excited to host this festival because our institution is committed to providing education for all generations. Working together with other colleges and universities not only forges relationships, but also increases opportunities in learning. We thank Generations Together for bringing this wonderful program to our campus.

Upcoming Events

New faculty orientation planned for August 11

As part of the Professional Development Program, full-time faculty members who are new to the college this fall will attend a day-long orientation session on August 11 at Allegheny Campus. They will learn about CCAC’s student services and college governance, and have the opportunity to chat with academic deans, directors, and veteran full-time faculty members about how to get off to a good start in the classroom. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

Rewards & Recognition

CCAC deans graduate from nationally-recognized leadership program

Kudos to Charlie Blocksidge, Ph.D., dean of organizational development, and Mary Frances Archey, M.Ed., dean of arts and sciences at South Campus and college coordinator of social and behavioral sciences, on graduating from the Pennsylvania Education Policy Fellowship Program. Fellows participate in a 10-month professional development program designed to help individuals enhance and broaden their understanding of education policy issues as well as policy process. The program also strengthens leadership skills.

Drs. Blocksidge and Archey are already effective leaders whose strategies and ideas have positively impacted CCAC and its educational resources. Their experiences and enhanced knowledge will bolster their roles with the college.

Appointments

Dan Lowe named dean of occupational technologies at Allegheny Campus

Congratulations to Dan Lowe on his appointment to dean of occupational technologies at Allegheny Campus. Dean Lowe has served Allegheny Campus in various roles for the past 11 years, including associate professor of English, head of the English department, and acting dean of occupational technologies. He has also been instrumental in helping the college form key partnerships with local associations, such as UPMC Health System, iCarnegie, Inc. (a subsidiary of Carnegie Mellon University ), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 5, and more. Dean Lowe has contributed to programs crucial to the college’s growth, including the associate’s of applied science degree, online tutoring, the online legal library for the paralegal program, and enhancements to the court reporting program. I know Dean Lowe will continue to help lead Allegheny Campus forward in its educational endeavors.

CCAC Educational Foundation

“Biotech Boot Camp” unites young girls with the sciences

In late June, the Women in Science Committee and the Allegheny Campus Science Department offered a “Biotech Boot Camp” for girls entering the seventh grade this fall. Fifteen girls had the opportunity to learn how DNA technology affects the environment, medicine, food, and the future. The girls toured the Carnegie Science Center and the ALCOSAN facilities. They also met local female scientists who work in the fields of DNA research and education. Special thanks to Dominion Peoples, the Charles M. Morris Charitable Trust, and the CCAC Educational Foundation for funding this program.

CCAC Educational Foundation Golf Tournament set for September 8

The 13th annual CCAC Educational Foundation Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, September 8, 2003 at Treesdale Golf & Country Club in Gibsonia. Sponsors of the event include: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 5, National Electrical Contractor’s Association (NECA) Labor Management Cooperation Committee (Western Pennsylvania Chapter), FedEx Ground, Ripple Effects Interactive, National City Bank of Pennsylvania , Pittsburgh Steelers, and West Penn Allegheny Health System. The field is limited to 45 foursomes, so anyone interested should reserve their space today by calling the Educational Foundation at 412.237.3065.

In Memoriam ~Frieda Shapira

As most of you know, Frieda Shapira, member of CCAC’s Board of Trustees, passed away on July 7. In addition to influencing many of the initiatives that have helped shape CCAC, Mrs. Shapira was a lifelong social worker who served on numerous boards throughout the Pittsburgh region, including the Pittsburgh Foundation, the

United Way of Allegheny County , the United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, WQED, and others. She also helped establish one of the country's first nonresidential Job Corps centers for women, and co-founded a preschool program in the Pittsburgh Public Schools that preceded Head Start. Mrs. Shapira also campaigned to establish the city’s first free in-school lunch program in 1964.

We live in a better place because of Mrs. Shapira. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.